Opinion: Brownback coalition an utter failure

With the approach of upcoming elections I am reminded of a private conversation five years ago with Gov. Sam Brownback’s chief of staff, who mused: “The real issue is whether conservatives can govern.” At that time I held out hope that the relatively new governor and his legislative allies could govern effectively. I was wrong.

The Brownback coalition dominated by far-right ideologues has left Kansas government in a state of despair. Their fanatical vision of boosting the economy by eliminating the state income tax, cutting taxes on the wealthy and exempting businesses from taxation has not worked. Their delusion has wrecked state finance and caused grim repercussions for most state services.

Brownback and his allies were foolhardy to believe from the start that handing big tax breaks to a few of the highest-income taxpayers would magically trigger an “adrenaline shot” to the $150 billion Kansas economy. That has not happened. The economy has fallen behind in job and income growth. Indeed, recent numbers suggest we may be going backward.

The radical tax policy has left formerly well-managed state finances in shambles.

This far-right faction claims to be “conservative” but has repeatedly adopted unbalanced budgets, spending more than is taken in. A budget balance of $700 million only a few years ago has been depleted, leaving not a penny in the state’s pocket. Last spring lawmakers had the audacity to adopt a budget $100 million out of balance and then adjourn. Our state now behaves like a deadbeat by not paying bills on time.

Tax policy now benefits the wealthy to the detriment of other taxpayers. Business owners pay no income tax while their employees do. Lawyers pay no income tax but their secretaries do. Two sales tax increases have made the state’s sale tax on food the highest in the nation, a heavy burden on lower-income Kansans. Over this period property taxes have risen by $550 million statewide, not counting the bills taxpayers will see later this year.

A conservative posture in the use of debt has been abandoned, as current obligations are pushed onto future generations. State taxpayers have been saddled with new, long-term liabilities, and the state’s debt load has ballooned to an all-time high of $4.5 billion, a jump of 50 percent in two years. Statutory caps on borrowing were suspended to issue $400 million in highway debt, which was immediately swept from the highway fund to pay for tax cuts. Financial mismanagement has resulted in repeated downgrades of the state’s credit rating.

As a consequence of this financial mess public schools have been shortchanged, highway maintenance has been deferred, and university budgets have been cut, forcing hefty increases in student tuition, fees and debt. Support for our state’s most vulnerable citizens has suffered from inattention and poor management:

l The state is failing to ensure the safety of children in foster care according to auditors.

l A state hospital decertified last year for failure to protect patient safety continues to cost the state $1 million each month in lost federal funds.

l Private contractors hired by the state have backlogged thousands of applications from eligible clients for health care services over the past year.

l State cuts in Medicaid have diminished services by health care providers throughout the state and resulted in the loss of tens of millions in federal funds.

The list goes on and on.

Brownback and his legislative backers have failed at governing. In the upcoming elections our state desperately needs new leaders who can break out of the ideological fog, address state issues with an open mind and govern with realism and common sense.

— H. Edward Flentje is a professor emeritus at Wichita State University.