To the editor:

Kansas is currently faced with a budget deficit of historic proportions. Proposals to close the deficit are:

1. Additional deep cuts to education;
2. Raise state revenues;
3. Gov. Parkinson’s proposal.

Gov. Parkinson’s proposal includes smaller cuts to state programs and increases in state revenues. It is well thought out and well researched.

This proposal currently does not have the support of the majority of state legislators. Why? Because they refuse to listen to their constituents! Because they refuse to listen to research and data that support the governor’s proposal! Because they express extreme distrust for public schools and make misstatements about district budgets.

Kansas is being hijacked by these legislators!

Many legislators claim they have not heard from their constituents who support raising revenues. This is not true! People across the state have contacted their legislators to support the governor’s proposal, Republican and Democrat, rich and poor, rural and urban.

So what can we do if our legislators refuse to listen? Go public!

My public statement is this. I want my legislators to:

1. Support Gov. Parkinson’s budget proposal to raise state revenues;
2. Support the sales tax increases proposed by the governor;
3. Do not make deeper cuts to education or other vital state-funded programs including early childhood, mental health, support for elderly or support for the disabled.

Thank you to those legislators who are listening and researching the solutions!

Cammie Braden,

Lawrence