Category: Kansas state government
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Kansas budget, taxes, still being worked on
At the Kansas statehouse yesterday, some progress was made on the budget, but much work remains. With the session about to end, large decisions about taxation and spending have yet to be made.
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Kansas budget still being worked on
Yesterday the Kansas House failed to pass a budget that did not require raising taxes. The budget, referred to as the “cuts budget” or the “Yoder budget” had only 45 votes in its favor, and would have been vetoed by the governor, based on his stated criteria for an acceptable budget.
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Kansas budget may be settled today
Last night the Kansas Senate Ways and Means committee came up with a new tax package. The main ingredients are a one cent per dollar increase in the statewide sales tax, but no increase in cigarette taxes. The package relies on the federal government extending a Medicare matching funds program boost, which Congress has not…
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Kansas is a Republican, not conservative, state
A recent editorial prepared by the Kansas Republican Party concluded with: “Kansas Republicans are presenting a united front with sound plans to meet the challenges of a 21st century economy. Our philosophy centers on liberating the promise of the individual and family as the answer, not more government growth, on a path to prosperity.” That’s…
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Kansas sales tax studies are different
As the Kansas Legislature decides whether to balance the budget through reductions in spending or increases in taxes, two studies of the impact of a sales tax increase have emerged. The two arrive at different conclusions, and it’s important to understand the differences between them.
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Kansas House leadership plans to balance budget without tax increases
A legislative panel at yesterday’s Kansas Defending the American Dream Summit 2010 featured members of the Kansas House of Representatives Leadership presenting the case that the budget can be balanced without increasing taxes on Kansans.
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Kansas Senator outlines plan for revenue without tax increases
Yesterday in Topeka Kansas Senator Ty Masterson, a Republican from Andover, laid out a plan for generating revenue for the state that doesn’t involve raising taxes: The state could sell some of its assets.
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SEIU calls for higher Kansas taxes
At last night’s meeting of USD 259, the Wichita public school district, a local union leader described his union’s efforts in its attempt to drum up support for tax increases in Kansas.
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Kansas bills, legislature tracked by ‘Kansas Votes’
The website Kansas Votes provides information about pending legislation in Kansas as it works its way through the law-making process. This process, which can appear complicated to the average citizen, is explained in plain language on this website.
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Wichita-area legislative meeting report, commentary
Wendy Aylworth provides reporting and analysis from Saturday’s meeting of the South-central Kansas Legislative Delegation with citizens. Protesters adamantly in favor of a one cent per dollar sales tax increase crowded the sidewalk outside the South-Central Kansas Legislative Forum Saturday morning. Some wore purple shirts and some held signs reading “A Penny for Education” and…
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Wichita-area legislative meeting reveals differences in approach to government
Yesterday’s meeting of the South-central Kansas legislative delegation with citizens featured, in the words of one senator, a level of “intensity” not seen in previous meetings of this body. Senator Dick Kelsey made this observation, remarking that this is the first such meeting where the two parties have been mentioned. Following are a few notes…
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Kansas legislative ratings posted
I’ve come into possession of some of the Kansas legislature vote ratings that Karl Peterjohn of the Kansas Taxpayers Network produced. I’ve made available the annual ratings of both the House of Representatives and the Senate back to 1996.