Discussions
Reader comments
On Do you think the state of Kansas should cut income taxes this year?
Marketplace
Arts & Entertainment · Bars · Theatres · Restaurants · Coffeehouses · Libraries · Antiques · Services
- Club Magic manager says he's trying to turn around a new business at an old, and troubled, location May 25, 2013 · 12 comments
- Simons' Saturday Column: KU’s legislative lobbying effort lacks clout, continuity May 25, 2013 · 9 comments
- Blog: Two new senior housing projects getting under way in Lawrence May 24, 2013 · 6 comments
- Faith Forum: Can prayer really heal people? May 25, 2013 · 1 comment
- Former area Boy Scouts react to decision allowing gay scouts May 24, 2013 · 21 comments
- Opinion: Discrimination more than just poor service May 25, 2013 · 6 comments
- Blog: Brownback signs 'Celebrate Freedom Week' bill May 23, 2013 · 16 comments
- Police department's case for a new facility not likely to show on next year's budget, officials say May 25, 2013 · 5 comments
- Proposed cuts to corrections system could endanger Kansans, secretary says May 24, 2013 · 15 comments
- 59 minors, several local businesses, cited for alcohol violations in state regulator's patrols in May May 23, 2013 · 33 comments
- Bill Self: Security tricky subject May 25, 2013
- Club Magic manager says he's trying to turn around a new business at an old, and troubled, location May 25, 2013
- Simons' Saturday Column: KU’s legislative lobbying effort lacks clout, continuity May 25, 2013
- Graduation and 'stepping up' an all-school event at Bishop Seabury May 24, 2013
- Wool ballcaps go out with a whimper as baseball flips its lid April 15, 2007
- Former Lawrence resident Sri Srinivasan confirmed for prestigious D.C. Court of Appeals May 23, 2013
- Wichita might fine residents over use of water May 24, 2013
- Kansas baseball moves to 2-0 in Big 12 tournament May 25, 2013
- House rejects Senate-approved tax package; Legislature adjourns; new plan teed up May 24, 2013
- Thread of pain ran through Jackson’s career June 28, 2009
Comments
laredo 4 months ago
How should a person feel making 30k and paying taxes working for some one making millions and doesn't pay any taxes
Cant_have_it_both_ways 4 months ago
Or better yet, have the government take from the working poors family and give it to some welfare queen or 400 lb walmart breeder.
News reports have Phil Mikelson, the golfer, pondering a move from California to somewhere like Texas to avoid having to pay upwards of $1.8 million in personal state income taxes. Would it not be nice to have someone like Mikelson move to Kansas, and support the local charities in our state before Obama takes away the charitable contribution exemption? New York has almost ran off most of its people of means, many of which have relocated to Florida. Part of retirement planning is reducing your tax burdon. The playing field is level as anyone can do this, they just have to plan.
What the left does not understand is, the rich do not have to live in the United States. They have the means to live anywhere. It appears that most don't mind paying some income taxes, but when they are singled out many take offense.
We are back to some type of a consumption tax, where everyone pays taxes on what ever they choose to consume. This is the only fair way.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 4 months ago
While the vast majority are in a race to the bottom, why should they give a damn where Mikkelson goes to hoard his millions?
tomatogrower 4 months ago
Why on earth would anyone move to Kansas to pay fewer taxes? Texas has a lot of oil money, so they can still maintain most of their services, Kansas doesn't. People on retirement don't pay a lot of taxes, unless they are really rich, but Florida has enticed them because it's warm and there are beaches. Why wouldn't you go, if you could afford to. And if there are no taxes in Florida and Texas, are the governors and state reps all voluntary? Are there no police? Did they go to all public schools?
wounded_soldier 4 months ago
So you think, Can't have it both ways, that the president has the power to tax or take away deductions and exemptions? Where did you read that? In a comic book. It is the Congress who taxes not the President.
Katara 4 months ago
by Katara
Cant_have_it_both_ways 4 months ago
You should get with it soldier. Educate yourself in what is going on in Washington. I would think that with your service you have a clue about how government works, their Friday night quitting time executive orders and the like. Yes, contained within the new tax plan is talk about taking away the charitable contribution. Please do not grow up to be an uninformed voter. Remember, believe only half of what you see and none of what you hear.
KS 4 months ago
That's class warfare if I have ever seen it! How should the person making millions (or even much less for that matter) feel about paying mucho dollars for all the entitlement programs, etc., etc., etc.? It is a myth that the rich don't pay taxes. They simply take advantage of the tax laws that have been presented to them. If you don't like it, change the tax law. How about a flat tax for all. Should not everyone pay something?
Katara 4 months ago
" They simply take advantage of the tax laws that have been presented to them. If you don't like it, change the tax law."
The irony is thick here.
oletimer 3 months, 1 week ago
this situation is not exactly new. It has been happening for years. The rich get richer, and the rest of us are screwed.
newmedia 4 months ago
Wouldn't it be fun to know how the results of the poll correlate to the number of people who actually pay state income taxes?
newmedia 4 months ago
Bingo! Actually surprised it took that long.........
KS 4 months ago
Right on! Just like Larry Town. A lot of free loaders that want someone else to pay!
Cant_have_it_both_ways 4 months ago
I would think a small business, that needs to replace or add some machinery or equipment, which in turn needs operators (Jobs), had the means to purchase that equipment, everyone wins. The new employees get a 30/hr week job (Due to Obamacare), and the manufacturer of that machinery or equipment the Kansas business owner can now afford, is one less piece of equipment from everyone in the plant losing their jobs.
It is pretty simple, if you control how to spend your hard earned cash thing are much better. It is when those who have nothing in the game, those who do not understand basic economics, or those who think the government knows better how to spend your cash are in charge things turn out the way they are now. No matter your political choice, we would all agree that the person who earned the money should be in charge of the way it is spent.
There is nothing wrong with acquiring wealth, unless you are the one that is not doing it.
skull 4 months ago
I didn't know the Affordable Care Act mandated a minimum wage of $30/hour. Thanks for the info.
OonlyBonly 4 months ago
Reread, please. He commented on 30 hours a week jobs - due to the fact that ObamaCare now sets that as a "full time" position and medical coverage must be paid by the employer. It used to be 40 hours a week.. Due to this absurd change many employers are having to cut back on employees hours.
theironmouse 4 months ago
funny thing about this is that Employers having to cut back is a bunch of bull. They make is seem that the Obama care is going to cut deeply into their wallets. Heck it won't do that at all. Its a minor increase that they can easly afford by not being so freaking wasteful on how the manage their money. I know 4 small business owners here in Lawrence and everyone says that the media and ding dongs that make statments about "how bad Obamacare is going to hurt us" is a bunch of bull. They say the increase is minimal and they can easily make up for the extra spending on healthcare via smarter choices on how they spend their money and manage it. Also, they get to right all this off in taxes so they are getting their money back by payin less taxes.
BlueWaffle 4 months ago
They don't have to cut back on hours they choose to cut back on hours so they do not have to pay benefits.
"Start sarcasm" But we all know its a fact that those on Medicaid and food stamps don't work at all because the jobs out there pay enough to maintain a persons basic needs especally the ones with medical issues. "End sarcasm" http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/dec/06/alan-grayson/alan-grayson-says-more-walmart-employees-medicaid-/
chootspa 4 months ago
And how is that tantrum working out for those employers?
http://nrn.com/government/health-care-backlash-blemishes-restaurants-reputations http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/04/darden-obamacare-profits_n_2237667.html
bad_dog 4 months ago
30 hours per week is the standard used to determine if an employer is "actively at work" and thus eligible for full-time employee benefits. This is a standard set by benefit providers as part of their contracts with employers. It is not something new. It has been the standard for decades.
tomatogrower 4 months ago
And yet, many companies have 40 hour work weeks and provide insurance already. Nearly 2/3 of the people in the US have been covered all along by employee provided insurance. I've never worked for a company who didn't provide group insurance for their employees. They have often had to ask the employee to pay a larger share, but these insurance rate hikes was going on long before the Affordable Care Act, and many companies were not hiking these so they could cover health care costs, but to give their CEO's big bonuses. Why would a company who has done this all along, not continue? Why is a multi billion dollar company not offering insurance to their employees, except for greed. Conservatives are suppose to be such good little Christians. Isn't greed one of the sins? You actually worship and embrace greed. Hypocrites.
Cant_have_it_both_ways 4 months ago
If you think employers are going to keep providing health insurance to their workers at over $1,000 per month when they can drop the insurance and pay a $2,000 a year fine, you might think again. Those of you that complain about corporate welfare might re think your position. Obama has just handed corporations their single largest influx of cash in their history.
As far as embracing greed, how is it greed when you want to keep, at least, most of what you earn vs. those who want to take it from you. I would think wanting to keep what you earned is natural, demanding that the government take from others and give it to you constitutes greed.
toe 4 months ago
Replace the income tax with a consumption tax. Those that save are rewarded. Those that spend pay taxes and gets stuff at a price including tax that better reflects the resources used. Especially tax food, alcohol, and sports entertainment.
KS 4 months ago
Some folks might decide to stay at home and fix dinner and sit down with the kids. Would not that be an original idea? I think the rug needs to be pulled out from under a lot of us. Get a real taste of what life is really about without using the credit card.
kernal 4 months ago
The only Kansans who will really notice the difference in a tax reduction are those individuals with an annual gross income over $250,000 and corporations. For the rest of us it's a joke.
Cant_have_it_both_ways 4 months ago
I might remind you that Obama let the tax holiday expire, which took added back the additional 2% in with holdings you had been allowed to keep. All that hype about the rich paying their fair share was a smoke screen to raise taxes on everyone. But at the same time, did those on welfare take a pay cut? I don't ever remembering people on welfare ever taking a pay cut, just numerous COLA's. Somehow the math does not work.
chootspa 4 months ago
Right. He "let" the holiday expire. Because he vetoed all the bills that included it.
Katara 4 months ago
Obviously, you have no understanding what a tax holiday is.
Hint: It is not designed to be permanent.
KS 4 months ago
True, but when the economy sucks, a lot of foks enjoyed that 2%.
chootspa 4 months ago
He asked for it to be included, even when he was making the terrible bargain to lower social security payments by using the chained CPI model. It wasn't included in the final deal, probably precisely so the GOP could get everyone angry about having their taxes raised.
Katara 4 months ago
Yes, it was nice but I also understand that making it permanent does no good for me if I hope to see any form of Social Security in my future.
bad_dog 4 months ago
You are correct, Katara. This was merely a temporary reduction in the amount of SS payroll withholding. If SS is already in danger of insolvency, extending the cut would be insane.
AsherwhitE 4 months ago
I see no evidence that 'trickle-down' (Laffer theory) works for the voters, but it may well work for the 1%. I learned in college economics that the best tax theory for the voters is the 'progressive tax structure.' Those who have the means should pay the greatest burden of taxes and those who cannot even make ends meet should not be required or expected to pay any taxes. Sales taxes and user taxes are the most unfair taxes and have nothing to do with ability to pay. Compassion is Wisdom and citizens must 'feed the poor, heal the sick and release the prisoners (who are not a threat to other citizens).'
Cant_have_it_both_ways 4 months ago
WOW... have you no shame? Some people drink and smoke weed every day...others save for retirement. Why should people who plan for retirement support those who chose a life of substance abuse?
KS 4 months ago
Sounds like the Little Red Hen! Do you remember that? Probably not. Too young!
CWGOKU 4 months ago
You can't tax yourself to prosperity. When the number of people getting aid out numbers the number paying taxes to help them............
KS 4 months ago
You run out of money. We have already done that. That is why we are borrowing so much from the Chinese. I sure hope that AsherwhitE did not go to KU?
Liberty275 4 months ago
Do not cut state income taxes, delete state income taxes and then downsize state government so it exists withing it's means.
If we have enough cops to send out on "seat belt surveillance" we have too many cops.
jayhawklawrence 4 months ago
I agree with your sentiments regarding seat belts.
Are we allowed to report the cops who are not wearing theirs?
A better alocation of resources would be along K10. ..and they should put a speed monitoring sign on the east side of town before someone gets killed.
We need better management and politics is the antithesis of good management.
Stain 3 months, 1 week ago
Trickle-down does not work. Our schools are starving. Enough.
Stain 3 months, 1 week ago
People are not going to move to Kansas because of income taxes - not when there are no jobs, and the schools are terrible and getting worse by the year.
Commenting has been disabled for this item.