Topeka ? The Capitol was an unfriendly place for taxpayers during the past legislative session, according to a fiscal report card issued by the anti-tax Kansas Taxpayers Network. And Lawrence lawmakers scored poorly with the group.

Though there was no general increase in state taxes, there were numerous fee increases and missed opportunities to cut the budget in the 2003 session, said Kansas Taxpayers Network executive director Karl Peterjohn.

“The latest euphemism for raising taxes, fees or charges by government to raise revenue is now called ‘revenue enhancements,'” he said. “There were a lot of revenue enhancements passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Katheen Sebelius this year.”

The taxpayers network rated state lawmakers based on their voting records on 13 bills in each chamber that dealt with fee increases, taxes and spending. A rating of 75 percent or more is considered as being “taxpayer friendly.”

Under that criteria, seven of 40 senators and 30 of 125 House members received the “friendly” score. Only the most conservative members of the Legislature scored 100, including Sens. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler, Kay O’Connor, R-Olathe, and Ed Pugh, R-Wamego.

Legislative leaders, such as Senate President Dave Kerr, R-Hutchinson, and House Speaker Doug Mays, R-Topeka, failed to make the “friendly” score, receiving grades of 12.5 percent and 50 percent, respectively.

Lawrence lawmakers were on the lowest end of scores because they generally supported revenue hikes.

State Sen. Mark Buhler, R-Lawrence, received a 5.9 percent, which was surpassed in the Senate only by Christine Downey, D-Inman, and Greta Goodwin, D-Winfield, who both received zeros, voting against the taxpayers network position on every bill the group used in its rating system.

In the House, Reps. Barbara Ballard, D-Lawrence, scored 10 percent, Tom Sloan, R-Lawrence, 10 percent; Tom Holland, D-Baldwin, 10.5 percent; and Paul Davis, D-Lawrence, 15.8 percent. A handful of other House members scored 10 percent or lower.

¢Kansas Taxpayer Network vote ratings

Buhler defended his marks.

“It’s a balancing act,” he said. “I’m trying to get to the end of the road here with a balanced budget and fund the things that are important to lots of people.”

Ballard, who was first elected in 1992 and is the longest-serving Lawrence legislator, said her votes reflected her district’s desire for funding of education and social services.

“I’m representing my constituents,” Ballard said. “If that means that we are voting for a budget package and we know we need money to make it work, I am going to vote for that.”

Peterjohn said the increased fees and lack of significant spending cuts during the last session were a possible preview of the 2004 session because Sebelius recently said a tax increase might be considered.

“Taxes will be the key issue for the 2004 Legislature because spending is out of control,” Peterjohn said.