Topeka — Gov. Bill Graves refused Thursday to back away from his proposal to increase the cigarette tax by 65 cents a pack, even in the face of a rival plan supported by Senate Republican leaders.
Graves announced the formation of a new coalition of public health and social service groups to promote his plan among legislators. His proposed increase also has the support of House Speaker Kent Glasscock, R-Manhattan.
Glasscock joined Graves and about 40 other public health advocates and lobbyists during a Statehouse news conference. The governor told reporters he believes Kansans may support even a higher increase.
Graves' proposal is a key part of his package for raising $228 million for the state's 2003 fiscal year, which begins July 1. The governor also wants to raise sales and motor fuels taxes and vehicle registration fees, seeing the new revenue as necessary to avoid deep cuts in education and social service programs.
"Our problem is we're short, dramatically short, on revenues for critical, needed services, and the Legislature knows that," Graves said. "They're all trying to figure out a way to sort of wiggle off the hook of addressing the real problem."
Graves' comments came a day after the rival proposal emerged as the top option for some senators.
At the request of its chairman, David Corbin, the Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee agreed Wednesday to sponsor the legislation to raise about $87 million during the fiscal year that begins July 1.
The plan drew support from Senate President Dave Kerr, R-Hutchinson, and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Steve Morris, R-Hugoton. They had drafted their own plan to cut spending and tap into rainy day funds to avoid tax increases.
Corbin outlined the tax committee plan even as the Ways and Means Committee continued hearings on the Kerr-Morris plan to cut spending.
"I think you'll find there's quite a bit of interest in sin taxes," Kerr said. "I think you'll find there are a lot of people who like budget cuts in the abstract but don't like them in the specific."
The tax committee's bill is designed to prevent spending cuts, particularly in education. Corbin, R-Towanda, scheduled a hearing on the legislation for Monday and said his committee could vote the same day.
One opponent of higher taxes said the proposal has a fighting chance.
"If the Senate supports any tax increase, it will be a bill very similar to this," said Sen. Stan Clark, R-Oakley.
The bill would increase the cigarette tax by 35 cents a pack, to 59 cents, and double the tax on the wholesale distribution of all other tobacco products to 20 percent.
It would increase all taxes on alcoholic beverages. The cost of an $8.59 12-pack of Budweiser would increase about 15 cents.
Kerr said the tax committee's bill has a reasonable chance of passing because senators see a need to compromise with Graves. He said most opposition in his chamber was to raising general taxes, such as sales, income or property.
Both Morris and Kerr said they would vote for the tax committee's bill.
"I was hoping this kind of a package would make it through the process," Morris said.
Democrats, who hold 10 of the 40 Senate seats, said they want a guarantee that the money raised by the tax increases would be spent on education.
"All of these tax increases, I could support," said Sen. Greta Goodwin, D-Winfield, a tax committee member.
The Kerr-Morris budget plan would cut the current $4.5 billion budget by about $85 million, then freeze spending for fiscal 2003. The result would be a state budget slightly smaller than the current one.
In part, it would save the state $23.7 million in the current fiscal year through a $39 per-pupil cut in state aid to school districts. Per-pupil aid would fall to $3,831 and would be frozen that level for the next fiscal year.
Also:
The Wichita chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People expressed concern about a House redistricting plan.
The Senate confirmed the appointments of four members of the state Board of Regents.
The House New Economy Committee heard a presentation about activities at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City.
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