U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins, R-Topeka, on Friday said Congress must overhaul the tax code to avoid a financial collapse in the United States.
Jenkins also told the Lawrence Journal-World that she didn’t believe Congress should consider any new laws on guns.
Some have called for consideration of new firearms regulations after the shooting deaths of 12 people in the Aurora, Colo., movie theater. A 24-year-old man, James Holmes, is accused of opening fire on the theater crowd. Police have said Holmes had legally purchased four guns and ammunition, including a high-capacity clip, he used in the shooting that also injured 58 people.
“What was the problem there isn’t a problem that Congress can fix,” Jenkins said. “If crazed individuals want to hurt people they will find a way to hurt people.”
On the issue of tax reform, Jenkins said, “It has to happen. We are so close to being Greece, it’s not even funny. We can either fall off the cliff or we can fix it.”
Her comments on taxes were made during a roundtable discussion at the Eldridge Hotel with business and community leaders that was set up by the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce.
Jenkins described the current tax code as “broken,” adding, “it needs to be thrown out the window.”
Earlier this week, the Senate voted 51-48, mostly along party lines, to support President Barack Obama’s plan to let the President George W. Bush-era income tax cuts for top earners expire, but to extend for one year the cuts for individual income up to $200,000 per year and married couples earning up to $250,000 per year.
Jenkins said the Republican-led House next week will approve a measure to keep in place the income tax cuts for one more year for all income levels. During that year, Congress will work on overhauling the tax system under the plan.
She said House Republicans are proposing to lower corporate taxes to “repatriate” offshore funds that are “trapped” in other countries. The plan also would set two income brackets for individuals at 10 percent and 25 percent and eliminate loopholes “that only the very wealthy take advantage of,” she said. It would also repeal the alternative minimum tax, she said.
Jenkins, who is a member of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, said Republicans and Democrats are working together.
“You would be surprised about how close we are,” she said.
Jenkins is seeking a third term in office and is unopposed in the Aug. 7 Republican primary. Three candidates are vying for the Democratic nomination. They are Scott Barnhart, a farmer from Ottawa; Robert Eye, a lawyer from Lawrence; and Tobias Schlingensiepen, a pastor from Topeka.
Comments
KansasLiberal 9 months, 3 weeks ago
It sounds like Jenkins is attempting to challenge Michelle Bachman as the dumbest woman in Congress.
M. Lindeman 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Please explain, I am really curious is to how you come to that point.
danelb 9 months, 3 weeks ago
M. - I am curious how one could define "dumbest" in the constext of this congress, but one very obvious path to the referenced point might be the claim that our deficit is making us like greece, followed by a proposal for more of the tax cuts that got us in this mess.
M. Lindeman 9 months, 3 weeks ago
After over 10 years of being in place, it is no longer a tax cut, I believe it is a tax rate. So if they are let to expire or sunset back to the higher rate, then it would be called a tax increase.
yourworstnightmare 9 months, 3 weeks ago
"The plan also would set two income brackets for individuals at 10 percent and 25 percent and eliminate loopholes "that only the very wealthy take advantage of," she said. It would also repeal the alternative minimum tax, she said."
Lynn Jenkins, class warrior. Who knew?
Jayhawk1958 9 months, 3 weeks ago
"If crazed individuals want to hurt people they will find a way to hurt people," she said.
Oh yeah Lynn. Almost every massacre has been with a semi or fully automatic gun.
Orwell 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Well, let's make it as easy as possible for them, eh, Lynn?
M. Lindeman 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Not the one in colorado, the ar jammed and he used the shot gun.
Jayhawk1958 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Then how was he able to shoot 50 rounds in less then a minute?
Liberty275 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Some probably were from a semi-auto rifle or from an automatic pistol. It's probably bad that the AR jammed because an AR15 isn't nearly as lethal as a shotgun at 30 feet.
That's a horrible thing to say, as both are deadly, and both probably killed innocent people in this tragic atrocity. The difference in the lethality of both weapons at 30 feet is obvious, but I've already been more callous than I should be, so I'll leave it there.
Jayhawk1958 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Exactly my point. THere is no reason why people should own rapid firing weapons.
Liberty275 9 months, 3 weeks ago
I can't think of any reason a person without a criminal or mental health history should not be allowed to own a semi-auto rifle or an automatic pistol. Shooting them can be a great hobby and an excellent way to teach responsibility.
bad_dog 9 months, 3 weeks ago
"I can't think of any reason a person without a criminal or mental health history should not be allowed to own a semi-auto rifle or an automatic pistol."
a) I believe a fully automatic firearm in any form is illegal for the public to obtain or own. b) these items can be stolen and used by criminals that don't intend to use them for hobbies or to teach responsibility; unless of course, mayhem is their hobby. c) just because a person is not a criminal or does not have mental health issues at the time of purchase doesn't mean these issues will never arise. There's no taking it back once sold.
I'm not against gun ownership, (own 2 shotguns, 2 long rifles and a pistol) but I really don't see a valid need for an AR in personal arsenals. Just my opinion.
JJE007 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Note: Fully automatic firearms can be owned in many states, including Colorado, Oklahoma, Missouri, Nebraska....AND KANSAS: http://cjonline.com/stories/042208/sta_270889198.shtml
vertigo 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Any proof that he was able to fire that many rounds in less than a minute? I can't find anything stating that.
M. Lindeman 9 months, 3 weeks ago
You forget he also had 2 semi auto hand guns too.
JackMcKee 9 months, 3 weeks ago
You can bet that whatever mess they devise will be at least as bad, if not worse, than the current system.
JackMcKee 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Jenkins said, "It has to happen. We are so close to being Greece, it's not even funny. We can either fall off the cliff or we can fix it," she said.
One of the dumbest things I think I've read in a very long time. If we are on a cliff it's because of Republican obstructionism, a failure to regulate the financial industry and fighting two wars using debt to fund them. It's not because of the tax code.
rtwngr 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Obviously you don't read your own writings. Our debt surpassed our GDP this week. Our debt is now sitting at 102% of GDP. That means we are borrowing more than we are producing. How is regulating the financial industry and raising taxes on the job producers of our country going to improve anything? When demagogues say the republicans are cutting taxes, it is a lie. They are extending tax cuts that are already in place. The same rate that President Obama insisted that we should not allow to increase when the economy is in such bad shape. Those were his words from two years ago.
JackMcKee 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Exactly. It sounds just like the same drivel we've been hearing from Sam Brownback for the last year.
Liberty275 9 months, 3 weeks ago
"broads."
Some might hit "suggest removal", but I think your misogyny should be left for all to see.
Jayhawk1958 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Is that the best you can do?
Liberty275 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Pointing out bigotry is one of the better things everyone should do, don't you think?
Wiry 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Dumb broads sounds very apt to me. Definitely an even nicer description than what I would have called them.
Liberty275 9 months, 3 weeks ago
What would you call a gay man you disagree with?
Wiry 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Usually just as an S.O.B. Same as anyone except a deliberately ignorant person.
Liberty275 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Why the double standard? If you are going to use one epithet, you might as well use them all. Maybe you just don't like women.
jocknavals 9 months, 3 weeks ago
a dumb guy
superswagg56 9 months, 3 weeks ago
What do you expect from a BRAIN DEAD,, Robotic BIMBO?
Liberty275 9 months, 3 weeks ago
LOL. Bimbo. You guys have lots of derogatory names for women.
1southernjayhawk 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Lots of hate here, folks. You are not making yourselves look very good.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 9 months, 3 weeks ago
If we work on our plutocratic lockstep, would we look better to you?
mikekt 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Let's see ....... Hum, ......A Government Financial Collapse Via Incorrect Tax Codes & Bad Tax Policies ? Why, ....that sounds like "A Coming Attraction @ A Kansas Theater... Near You" !!!!...........Being Brought To Your Town & County, by "Brownie Vision..... In 3D......So Real That You Can Reach Out & Touch It" !
Nothing that a psychiatric evaluation wouldn't catch ! Or maybe a lie detector test concerning lobbyist funding of both,....... & the purchases of their political opinions ?
She and Brownie need them both !
What if they are both just nuts..... & liars for political gain, as well ?!
By the way, they just caught a guy,.... believe that it was in Maryland, who was fired from work & making threats, at the former work place, who had an arsenal at home of automatic street sweeper weapons, that would make that "clown" in Colorado, look like the worlds biggest punk in orange hair !
Seriously, this guy had enough weapons, for a small, well equipped army group ! He was just short a few human hands, of his own, to fire them all at once ?! ......Duhhhhhh ?! .....Whatever?!
Obviously, the cops got the drop on him & busted him......... i believe without a shot fired !
I hate to break it to people but all of the automatic street sweeper weapons that this guy had, or anyone could buy, couldn't stop an single M1A1 tank, from blowing one up at close or at a distant range ! Ditto for an F-whatever, with glide dropped cluster munitions ! No he couldn't realistically be expected to take out, or on, an attack helicopter with a Hell Fire Missile on board & heavy guns, with his name one it ! On & on !!!!!
Allot of why the right to bear arms exists, to begin with, was to protect oneself from the general government, which is impossible these days, due to the sheer technology & cost of it all !
With automatic rifles, you are either going to protect yourself in your home from crooks that you don't think that the government will protect you from
Or you are a "serious criminal" or a "nut case", with a reason to chase street sweeping weapons & buy them, for the drama of it all & where ever that leads you !
These politicians are so nut & corrupted with money & power ! You couldn't make this stuff up that they say !
RoeDapple 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Quite the rant . . .
Oh, and I saw the same article. No automatic weapons I could identify. Several semi-automatic firearms . . . like those millions of collectors and weapons enthusiasts own that obey the law every day.
Liberty275 9 months, 3 weeks ago
They don't know the difference between semi and auto, and don't care. It's just another reason to never vote democrat.
Keith 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Like you've ever been introduced to reason.
Liberty275 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Like you are a nobody. Go back under your rock.
chootspa 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Oh noez. We're just like Greece, except for that whole having control of our own currency thing. So we'll "fix" the tax code by making two brackets that are lower than the existing brackets and rewarding companies for hiding all their money overseas. After all this lousy math balloons our deficit, we'll use it as an excuse to cut social spending but not the precious, precious defense budget.
BTW, her gender should only play a role in which pronoun to use. I don't think she's dumb. I think she's hoping the voters are.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 9 months, 3 weeks ago
We all know that Greece's problems are caused by their being lazy good for nothing slackers (sarcasm)
"On the issue of tax reform, Jenkins said, “It has to happen. We are so close to being Greece, it’s not even funny. We can either fall off the cliff or we can fix it.”
One of the single greatest causes of Greece's problems is that the wealthy don't pay their taxes. Is Jenkins considering letting the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy expire?
merrill 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Tax overhaul is nothing new and these Wreckanomics RINO's come out with this nonsense every voting cycle.
Republicans have made owning a home a very risky investment which is quite a feat.
This country cannot afford this new Wreckanomics party created by rightwing radicals.
These radicals successfully took over the repub party in a coup that essentially removed sane fiscal conservatives/socially responsible republicans from the party.
The party is run by the likes of Karl Rove,Grover Norquist,Sam Brownback,Dick Cheney,GW Bush,Jeb Bush,Lynn Jenkins and the late Jerry Falwell. Republicans In Name Only (RINO) completely control the party.
The republican party is dead
merrill 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Change the gun laws...it's simple.
Make it completely illegal to own any type of military assault weapons across the board. Take automatic weapons off the street yesterday.
Plenty of documented incidents and dead bodies to back this up!
Liberty275 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Figure out what a military assault weapon is before thinking about new laws. It's obvious you have no idea what the difference is between an AR15 and an M16/M4.
However, it would be informative if you posted a link to your documented incidents where legally obtained automatic weapons have been used on our streets.
merrill 9 months, 3 weeks ago
The repub agenda:
Here we go again for the millionth time. RINO Repubs want tax overhaul & guns on the street!
merrill 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Repub Economcis
Can anyone afford this again:
Repub ENTITLEMENT - Bailing out The Reagan/Bush Savings and Loan Heist aka home loan scandal sent the economy out the window costing taxpayers many many $$ trillions (Cost taxpayers $1.4 trillion).
Plus millions of jobs were lost, retirement plans went up in smoke and loss of medical insurance. Residential real estate values went down the tubes.
Jeb Bush defaulted on a $4.56 million loan from Broward Federal Savings in Sunrise, Florida. After federal regulators closed the S&L, the office building that Jeb used the $4.56 million to finance was reappraised by the regulators at $500,000, which Bush and his partners paid. The taxpayers had to pay back the remaining 4 million plus dollars.
Neil Bush was the most widely targeted member of the Bush family by the press in the S&L scandal. Neil became director of Silverado Savings and Loan at the age of 30 in 1985. Three years later the institution was belly up at a cost of $1.6 billion to tax payers to bail out.
http://rationalrevolution0.tripod.com/war/bush_family_and_the_s.htm
merrill 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Repub Economcis
Can anyone afford this...... what again:
Wall Street banks heist aka home loan scandal sent the economy out the window costing taxpayers many many $$ trillions AGAIN.
Plus millions of jobs were lost, retirement plans went up in smoke and loss of medical insurance. Residential real estate values went down the tubes AGAIN.
Fraud certainly was very important in the housing bubble of recent years. But the housing bubble—like bubbles generally—did not depend on fraud, and most of its development was there for everyone to see. With the principal problems out in the open and with the authorities not only ignoring those problems but contributing to their development, one might say that the situation with the housing bubble was worse than a Ponzi scheme. And Madoff bilked his marks out of only $50 billion, while trillions were lost in the housing bubble.
In addition, government regulatory agencies turned a blind eye to the highly risky practices of financial firms, practices that both encouraged the development of the bubble and made the impact all the worse when it burst. Moreover, the private rating agencies (e.g., Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s) were complicit. Dependent on the financial institutions for their fees, they gave excessively good ratings to these risky investments. Perhaps not fraud in the legal sense, but certainly misleading.
http://www.dollarsandsense.org/archives/2009/0709macewan.html
beatrice 9 months, 3 weeks ago
“What was the problem there isn’t a problem that Congress can fix,” Jenkins said. “If crazed individuals want to hurt people they will find a way to hurt people.”
Yes, sometimes they get elected to public office.
JackMcKee 9 months, 3 weeks ago
If lynn was replaced by "nothing", we would be better represented, at least no harm come to us.
Sadly, truer words have rarely been spoken. In the face of Citizens United I expect things to get worse before they get any better.
Liberty275 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Do you think broads should be allowed to run for office?
JackMcKee 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Broads? How about phrasing in terms of competency instead of gender.
beatrice 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Broads? That is lame.
Liberty275 9 months, 3 weeks ago
I know. I was just wondering how you felt about the word.
JackMcKee 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Look, Lynn is not an intelligent woman. She gets talking points from ALEC or the NRA or some other right wing fringe group and she puts her own semi-literate spin on them. A minor examination of her comments is all it takes to reveal that her comments are vapid and shallow. She lacks even a layman's understanding of the Greek, or even our own, financial crisis, yet she uses it to fear monger. Lynn Jenkins is a slightly better educated version of Terri-Lois Gregory.
JackMcKee 9 months, 3 weeks ago
It's really an embarrassment to the profession, but Lynn is at least a CPA. I don't know if that still means something, but at one time it was a respected professional certification. Terri-Lois is just a ditz. I think she was a bookkeeper for some small business at one time. So I give Lynn a slight edge over Terri-Lois, but not by a whole lot. Ideologically, they could be twins separated at birth.
M. Lindeman 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Here is the REAL problem, we are all busy worring about our "side" loosing to the other. That we don't see its all who are really loosing. The real solution to the problem in Washington is we have term limits on almost every elected office except the House and the Senate. All of us should be united in getting that done then and only then will we have a chance to change the curuption that is Washington.
jafs 9 months, 3 weeks ago
I agree that the culture of Washington and politics in general is screwed up in that way, where people seem to care more about which side "wins" than whether or not our government is doing what it should be doing.
But, I don't see how term limits alone would do anything other than rotating the corruption in and out more.
We'd have to get at the corrupting influences themselves, money and the interaction between business and government.
merrill 9 months, 3 weeks ago
When Jenkins and other Kansas repubs say tax overhaul what they are saying is "WARMED OVER BUSH TAX CUTS FOR THE 1%...... aka quietly funneling MORE money from the poor,middle class and the upper middle class to the rich and politically connected. AGAIN!
Warmed Over Bush Tax cuts = the ENTITLEMENT program for the wealthy which do nothing to make an economy strong or produce jobs. Tax cuts are a tax increase to others in order to make up the loss in revenue = duped again.
Still A Bad ENTITLEMENT Idea – Warmed Over Bush Tax Cuts aka The ENTITLEMENT program for the wealthy at the expense of the middle class = duped one more time. http://www.dollarsandsense.org/archives/2001/0301miller.html
merrill 9 months, 3 weeks ago
The National Rifle Association is quite an old organization. I was a member at the age of 11 and 12. It was not designed to be a PAC for right wing politicians no way jose'. It was not designed to support ownership of military assault weapons.
What happened? More fraud.
The same thing that happened to the GOP took place at the NRA. The Republican In Name Only (RINO) party sent Charlton Heston in to destroy the once family oriented organization.
RINO's were on the march circumvent campaign finance laws by way of setting up tax deductible organizations to launder and funnel money in the direction of the RINO party. All of a sudden this organization became indulged in politics and at the same time became a source for bundles of campaign cash.
This technique also provided the appearance of a family organization supporting a radical right wing RINO party. The only part missing once this coup was accomplished was the family. Families were replaced with right wing nuts with Heston as their representative.
The GOP were replaced with radical right wing nuts again known as The Republican In Name Only (RINO) party.
RINO's are liars and frauds to the extreme.
lunacydetector 9 months, 3 weeks ago
there are far richer democrats in congress than republicans, yet we are to believe they 'the democrats' are poor.
LesBlevins 9 months, 3 weeks ago
"What the problem was there in Colorado isn’t a problem that Congress can fix,” Jenkins said. “If crazed individuals want to hurt people they will find a way to hurt em, and keeping assault weapons out of their hands is just a crazy idea, and besides I need NRA backing in order to keep my job past the upcoming election. And anyway whatever happens out in Colorado stays in Colorado and won't happen in my district, trust me, I will see to that”
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