Topeka — A Kansas Senate committee has endorsed a proposed state budget that would create a deficit for the next fiscal year unless lawmakers raised taxes.
The Ways and Means Committee’s 8-1 vote Friday sent a bill containing the $13.8 billion spending plan to the full Senate, where debate is expected next week.
The proposed budget is designed to keep programs at their current levels for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
But lawmakers would need to raise taxes $364 million to sustain the spending called for by the bill.
Top leaders in the Republican-controlled Senate are working to craft a package with $300 million worth of tax increases. Democratic Gov. Mark Parkinson also is pushing for higher taxes.
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srj (anonymous) says…
You know it's bad when the Republicans vote to raise taxes.
weeslicket (anonymous) says…
ding!
oneeye_wilbur (anonymous) says…
And Kansas will be a place for retirees? And Kansas will attract new business to the state?
And Kansas will not make the budget match revenue existing.
oneeye_wilbur (anonymous) says…
And Kansas will be a place for retirees? And Kansas will attract new business to the state?
And Kansas will not make the budget match revenue existing.
weeslicket (anonymous) says…
at least the deal for boening is helpful. maybe.
(beobachter still wins this thread.
also, wtf w/ the avatar?)
PosseComitatus (anonymous) says…
Time to fire some state senators.
cdcass (anonymous) says…
Who was it three weeks ago on the phone that made the comment "Republicans have always balanced the budget in Kansas," oh yea, it was Lynn Jenkins.
31 Republican state senators and nine Democratic senators? I know who I will not be voting for. They have a complete and total majority in Kansas. No taxes huh?
FreshAirFanatic (anonymous) says…
Does anyone else feel like government is our pimp telling us to "work a little harder"?
cdcass (anonymous) says…
Yes, especially when Brownback who is wanting to be our governor wants to abolish the Department of education and medicaid. Smaller government huh? People have no idea what that would do for their wallets. We would all be homeless. Deregulate banks, deregulate health insurance companies - now we know what those scenarios have done for us. No thanks - someone needs to keep these conglomerates in check, and it is pretty clear that Republicans will not do it. They would lose too much pay-off money. People are throwing their anger in the wrong direction.
Centerville (anonymous) says…
Tax revenues have gone up 40% over inflation over the past ten years. But spending has gone up 60%. I don't think working Kansans need to pay more to keep the government in the velvet to which it's become accustomed.
merrill (anonymous) says…
Republicans in Kansas and Washington D.C. have about 30 years of experience in economic destruction.
cdcass (anonymous) says…
The president requested no earmarks, and yet, Republicans voted to keep earmarks. Brownback just gained another 12 million on top of the 23 that he already got. Chop taxes with a dull ax behind the shed? Not hardly when faced with that decision. Over $500K in subsidies for his family farm - while he sits on the committee who approves those tax dollars for his farm. And, his worth reported last year was ten million. Go figure.
Bob_Keeshan (anonymous) says…
Centerville (anonymous) says…
Tax revenues have gone up 40% over inflation over the past ten years. But spending has gone up 60%.
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Percentages are all good and well, but can you post the actual dollar amounts to substantiate your claim?
According to stories from last week, the Governor recently cut the current budget once again. The current budget is the 2010 budget, and legislators are working on the 2011 budget.
Can you provide what state spending was in 2001 and what the most recent total, including the budget cuts from last week that were reported in this paper, for 2010 is?
If you can't provide actual dollar amounts comparing 2001 to 2010, I think it is likely you are spouting talking points and not using actual data.
yourworstnightmare (anonymous) says…
Beautiful. Nothing more enjoyable than republicans raising taxes.
Kansas has had a very favorable tax environment for corporations and businesses to attract business for the last 20 years.
Where are all of the agrobusinesses, pharma, high-tech, and bio businesses that these tax cuts were designed to attract? Garmin, Boeing, and others were already here.
The way to attract businesses does involve a favorable tax environment, but it also requires that Kansas be someplace where wealthy, educated people desire to live. This means good schools and rich cultural opportunities.
The severe tax cuts and the backward christian fundamentalism of Kansas have kept wealthy educated people away from the state in droves.
Hop2It (anonymous) says…
I haven't seen coverage of this anywhere else.
cdcass (anonymous) says…
Koch was bailed of a major lawsuit by Bush to the tune of $118,000 in campaign donations and Brownback received $86,000 from Koch - their money (Koch) is spread out in many different ventures including ag chemicals, oil, paper, etc..., many of their companies are in other countries. Not only are the Koch brothers funding the Tea Party rallies -- they are the group who founded American's for Prosperity. Lots of dirty money and lobbyist paying GOP to regulate in their favor.
cdcass (anonymous) says…
Or rather - deregulate.
cdcass (anonymous) says…
Paulette - "While the economic crisis continues, I have seen no elected official mention an increase in the Kansas corporate income tax as a mechanism of balancing the state budget."
Two weeks ago, Gov. Parkinson did make the suggestion of increasing KS corporate tax.
At the Fed. level, the Bush tax cuts only affected the top 10 percent earners - decreasing their taxes while the middle class picked up the tab. The tax cuts were passed by Republicans through reconciliation. So at the Federal level, the tax cuts will not be renewed once they expire. The current administration has reduced taxes for anyone making under $250,000 annually - that is about 96 percent of the population. The difference is being paid by the very wealthy. I just got my taxes back from the preparer and noticed a considerable decrease over last year.
BigDog (anonymous) says…
Centerville,
How much of those spending increases went to K-12 education?
weeslicket (anonymous) says…
yourworstnightmare: "The way to attract businesses does involve a favorable tax environment, but it also requires that Kansas be someplace where wealthy, educated people desire to live. This means good schools and rich cultural opportunities."
so correct, and yet so simple.
edjayhawk: "Good stuff. Where's Penders and Shewmon on this?"
exactly.
coloradoan (anonymous) says…
cdcass, on the subject of deregulation:
Do you remember who deregulated the airlines? Hasn't that been a wonderful experience!