Americans for Prosperity calling on legislators to sign anti-tax pledge

Posted by Scott Rothschild December 27, 2012 at 11:54 a.m.

Americans for Prosperity calling on legislators to sign anti-tax pledge

Topeka — The Kansas chapter of Americans for Prosperity wants members of the 2013 Legislature to sign a pledge that they will vote against tax increases.

So far, 25 have signed the anti-tax pledge. Here is a link to those who have: http://bit.ly/ZDIy73

But would a legislator be breaking that pledge if he or she supported extension of the 6.3 percent state sales tax rate? Under current law, that rate is set to decrease to 5.7 percent on July 1, 2013.

The answer to that question is yes, but there is a caveat. According to Jennifer Rezac, a spokeswoman for AFP-Kansas, if extending the 6.3 percent state sales tax rate "were included in legislation that has an overall net reduction in taxes, then it wouldn't be violating the pledge."

The Kansas Chamber of Commerce, which vehemently opposed the temporary sales tax increase when it was passed in 2010, now supports maintaining the rate if it means further reductions in state income taxes.

Both the Kansas Chamber and AFP have worked hard, and succeeded in many instances, in helping defeat legislators who voted for that temporary state sales tax increase, which was approved to avoid deeper cuts to schools, social services and public safety.

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consumer1 4 months, 3 weeks ago

I don't see Marci SanFrancisco's name on this list or Barbara Ballard's either.

Catalano 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Nor Rep-elect John Wilson's. Nor Rep Paul Davis'. Nor Rep Tom Sloan's. Nor Sen Anthony Hensley's. Nor Sen Tom Holland's. The only two names representing Douglas County that you'll see on the list are Rep-elect Ken Corbet and Rep Connie O'Brien. Do you know who YOUR Representative and Senator are?

KiferGhost 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Yeah, our representives have brains!

chootspa 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Probably because they're not idiots owned by the Kochs.

doolindalton 4 months, 3 weeks ago

You mean those legislators are going to exercise independent judgment and do what they think is best for their state and districts without bowing down to the radical, extreme right wing who oppose everything? How dare they?

yourworstnightmare 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Slow - Children at play.

Slow children at play.

tomatogrower 4 months, 3 weeks ago

The only thing that they better say a pledge to is the United States. You better believe I'll share these names.

none2 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Is this some kind of beauty pageant where they smile with their Vaseline smeared teeth and say they believe in whirled peas?

cait48 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Grover Norquist's star is rapidly falling in DC. But then Kansas always has run a good two years behind the rest of the country.

pace 4 months, 3 weeks ago

I prefer they keep their oath to serve the people.

verity 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Well said!

boltzmann 4 months, 3 weeks ago

To reference an old Twilight Zone, the better make sure it is not a cookbook first!

costello 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Do they never learn?

Catalano 4 months, 3 weeks ago

"The Kansas Chamber of Commerce, which vehemently opposed the temporary sales tax increase when it was passed in 2010, now supports maintaining the rate if it means further reductions in state income taxes."

Translation: We're against taxes. Except when we're for them.

ksjayhawk74 4 months, 3 weeks ago

The higher sales tax puts a much greater burden on people with lower incomes, because they spend a much larger proportion of their earnings on taxable purchases. That is why AFP, Chamber Of Commerce and the Kansas GOP are all supporting keeping the sales tax high.

verity 4 months, 3 weeks ago

We didn't elect Grover Norquist or Americans For Prosperity. I don't think we elected the CofC either. Who are they to demand pledges from people who are supposed to be representing us?

FlintHawk 4 months, 3 weeks ago

You do know that the unemployment rate is (1) a lagging indicator, (2) doesn't reflect the unemployed who are no longer looking for work, (3) doesn't reflect those who've left the state to find a job elsewhere and (4) doesn't take into account the unemployed who do not or who no longer collect unemployment? It truly does NOT mean we're in better shape. Buffalo Commons.

scarlett 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Yup, and what about those kansas jobs, the one's that don't pay enough to pay the almost 9% douglas county tax rate. Kind of like being in NYC, right. Too bad the jobs are dead end, dumbed down for uneducated kansans, and almost non-existent in douglas county.

cowboy 4 months, 3 weeks ago

And if they don't sign the pledge

Screw you AFP

KiferGhost 4 months, 3 weeks ago

What a funny name, Americans for Prosperity. I wonder if they know what the tax rate was during the times we had the most economic growth in this country or if they know what the tax rate is in countries like Germany which is breathing down our neck economically. If they were really for prosperity the facts would show we'd better raise rates so we can start doing things that are more important and long term instead of frittering away on conspicuous consumption.

verity 4 months, 3 weeks ago

My TP House Rep has signed---of course, he never saw a Koch induced hallucination he didn't like, but my conservative (now considered moderate, I guess) Republican senator was not on the list. I have emailed her urging her not to sign. Told her she was pledged to supporting her constituents, state and country and shouldn't be making pledges like this to organizations that would box her in.

Please let your state reps and senators know that signing pledges like this is not what they should be doing. Whatever your political persuasion, I don't think this kind of intimidation and manipulation of OUR political representatives is constructive or right. They should be answerable to us, the voters.

WristTwister 4 months, 3 weeks ago

We all know that you did not vote for your "TP House Rep". Are you really his "constituent?

cait48 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Yes she is. Whether she voted for that rep or not, they is under an ethical obligation to represent ALL of their constituents, not just the ones that "voted for them".

WristTwister 4 months, 3 weeks ago

I wonder if the "TP House Rep" sees it that way? Do Democrats really think along ethical lines? Coulda' fooled me.

verity 4 months, 3 weeks ago

The Republican senator---the one who was targeted by the governor but won anyway---has made it very clear that she represents all the people in the district.

Your comment really makes no sense. If you are trying to start a fight, don't bother.

KansasConscience 4 months, 3 weeks ago

You have to understand that WT doesn't see or understand shades of grey. He/she/it sees only Koch and everybody else. That's why it can't understand a representative /senator representing all constituents.

The Democrats do and the Teabag Republicans don't. For example, just try and get Jenkins or Moran to reply if you're not a Republican. It works the same at State level.

DoubtingThomas 4 months, 3 weeks ago

I submitted this a while back. Seems to fit here." A Conservative Pledge of Allegiance: I Pledge Allegiance to the PAC of Grover Norquist and Corporate America, and to the Republicans for which it stands. One Nation,Under OUR God, Indisputable! With Liberty and Justice for those who can afford it."

TheSychophant 4 months, 3 weeks ago

When I recited the pledge, I thought we were supposed to say "and to the Republican, for Richard Stans...." Always wondered who this guy Richard Stans was.

laredo 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Signing any kind of apledge should be a conflict of interest , but the americans for prosperity bought their election.

ksjayhawk74 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Just so everyone knows what kind of upstanding American patriots Americans for Prosperity are; here's a video of them cheering the news that Chicago lost it's bid to host the Olympics...

Good people...

AFP Republicans Attendees Cheer Chicago Olympic Loss - Oct 2009 by ApramaMedia

oldexbeat 4 months, 3 weeks ago

it should be a rule that any use of the term "Kansas Chamber of Commerce" must include the Koch Brothers Inc. in the name -- you know -- the "Koch Bros Chamber of Commerce" formerly known as Kansas, before it became known as Brownbackistan -- but then since Brownback is owned by Koch Bros., I guess it would be ok to call it the "Brownbackistan Chamber of Commerce" (copyright, Koch Bros Inc.). Or like that. They don't have a mind, just paid hacks.

scarlett 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Yes, Brownbackistan, 50 or 60 years behind the rest of the US.

Liberty275 4 months, 3 weeks ago

You guys that want to pay extra taxes can send a check to the Brownback regime any time you want. Have your employer withhold what you think is reasonable, say 70%, and don't ask for a refund. You can be the state's hero.

I encourage everyone to donate all they can to the state because the state is your friend.

Bob_Keeshan 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Raising taxes on low income Kansans isn't a tax increase so long as you cut taxes for the rich?

Hey, it worked last year, when Brownback's and AFP's tax shift "lowered" income taxes by raising taxes on low income Kansans. For a sizable percentage of Kansas residents the tax shift being touted in this paper as a "tax cut" in reality means more taxes.

Liberty275 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Send in an extra sizable percentage of your income. Take one for your team..

KiferGhost 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Hey Liberty, so we'll have an example of a successful country where everyone is only looking out for themselves can you name a country where your plan is working?

Liberty275 4 months, 3 weeks ago

I suggested he send in extra money so the state can spend it as they see fit. How you got "everyone is only looking out for themselves" from that is beyond me,

KiferGhost 4 months, 3 weeks ago

I wonder, when did people start believing that even the founding fathers thought a country was best off that everyone is in it only for themselves and never think of the country as a whole. It should be clear why so many of them felt education was the key to a working democracy because without the greedy little thiefs will take as much as they can even if it means bringing down the country.

KiferGhost 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Oh no, even the founding father usually who is the most misquoted believed in public education. What a communist!

http://www.virginia.edu/uvatours/shorthistory/

mikekt 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Americans For Prosperity.......for whom ???????

Bob_Keeshan 4 months, 3 weeks ago

The already prosperous.

Centerville 4 months, 3 weeks ago

A government, to obscure it's own deficiency, pits one group of citizens against another. That isn't anything new - it's tediously, historically common. But that it seems to have started working in America is disgusting. If you think the government's job is to foster your envy and get even with someone who has earned more than you, then you might consider spending the day reading some history.

tir 4 months, 3 weeks ago

I think voters should call on their legislators to sign a pledge to serve ALL of their constituents, not just the AFP, which is mostly concerned with lining its own pockets.

Centerville 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Which led to Robin Hood, who took from the King and gave back to the people. Nice outcome, yes?

laredo 4 months, 3 weeks ago

If we don't get corporations out of politics the top 4% will have it all and the rest of us will have nothing. Then we won't have any illegals from Mexico. Because we won't have any more than they do.

TheSychophant 4 months, 3 weeks ago

"but there is a caveat. According to Jennifer Rezac, a spokeswoman for AFP-Kansas, if extending the 6.3 percent state sales tax rate "were included in legislation that has an overall net reduction in taxes, then it wouldn't be violating the pledge."

Translation: When you lower income on the wealthy, the best way to make up most of the revenue shortfall that will occur is to soak the poor by extending the high sales tax rate. Yachts are expensive, you know. Let the poor eat more macroni and cheese and Ramen noodles. .

CM 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Why has Americans for Prosperity, the Koch front group, been allowed to circumnavigate Democracy and run our government? The people never elected the Kochs or AFP to any office, in any land. If elected officials make these back-door deals, with no accountability to the people, I will vote them out of office.

verity 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Classic misrepresentation. When you don't have a reasonable argument, put up a strawperson.

Liberty275 4 months, 3 weeks ago

I take it you prefer other people to have their income donated for them. :-)

Every time taxes are cut, government loses power. Every time they get money, they gain power. I would like to see the government cut down to about 1/10th the size it is now. Slight understaffing will encourage them to keep their noses out of our lives.

Government is not your buddy. Why do you want them to have more money?

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