Category: Kansas state government
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Kansas long-term debt on the rise
On Saturday in Arkansas City, Kansas House Member Kasha Kelley gave an overview of the Kansas budget. One of the topics she presented was the rise in long-term debt issued by the state. I investigated, and found these figures from the Kansas Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for 2009. As you can see, the debt in…
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AFP-Kansas launches website about tobacco taxes
The Kansas chapter of the grassroots group Americans for Prosperity is working to educate Kansans on the effects of tobacco tax increases on Kansas businesses by creating a new Web site, StopTheWarOnSmokers.Com.
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Your Kansas Tax Dollars: Efficient, Effective & Targeted?
following is a press release concerning an event of interest this Saturday in Arkansas City. Arkansas City (February 16, 2010) – “In any economy, but especially our current economy, the use of tax dollars is an issue every Kansas taxpayer should be interested and involved in. As we visit with citizens, we’re finding they do…
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Kansas sales tax exemptions don’t hold all the advertised allure
Advocates of eliminating sales tax exemptions in Kansas point to the great amount of revenue that could be raised if Kansas eliminated these exemptions, estimated at some $4.2 billion per year. Analysis of the nature of the exemptions and the amounts of money involved, however, leads us to realize that the additional tax revenue that…
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Smoking ban advocate says some claims just smoke
Opponents to a statewide total smoking ban say anti-tobacco advocates are playing a little loose with their facts. They have an unlikely ally in Michael Siegel, a medical doctor and professor of community health sciences at Boston University’s School of Public Health. He’s a long-standing anti-tobacco advocate, a proponent of smoking bans and a strong…
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Americans for Prosperity model budget to be presented
This Friday Derrick Sontag, Kansas State Director for Americans for Prosperity, will address members and guests of the Wichita Pachyderm Club. His topic is “An update on the budget shortfall in Kansas, how we got there through excessive spending, and how our state’s tax burden compares with neighboring states.” AFP’s model budget for Kansas is…
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Eric Payne, Joseph Scapa address county Republicans
Last night’s meeting of the Sedgwick County Republican Party featured speeches by two candidates for the Republican party nomination for the Kansas House of Representatives from the 87th district. Democrat Raj Goyle is the incumbent, and he is not seeking re-election. Eric Payne (campaign website) and Joseph Scapa (campaign website not available) each spoke for…
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Meeting to support Kansas medical marijuana legislation
Representative Gail Finney, a Democrat who represents parts of east and northeast Wichita, has introduce a bill that would all the use of medical marijuana in Kansas. On Friday there will be a “call to action meeting” in Wichita regarding this bill.
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Kansas historic preservation tax credits audit reveals inefficiency, data problems
Yesterday the Kansas legislative Post Audit Committee received an audit recently completed by the Legislative Division of Post Audit. The audit, titled Kansas Tax Revenues, Part I: Reviewing Tax Credits, revealed that the historic preservation tax credit is not efficient. Further, the Department Revenue is not accurately tracking the cost of the program.
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Kansas advocates for disabled face well-funded challenger
Friday’s press event held by ACT (Advocates in Communities Team) of South Central Kansas provided an opportunity to learn about disabled Kansans and their families, and the challenges they face from reduced spending by the state. The stories told at the event and in supplementary materials are compelling. If there is a role for government-provided…
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Wichita-area legislators to meet with public
The South-central Kansas legislative delegation will meet with citizens on Saturday March 6 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. The location is the Hughes Metropolitan Center at Wichita State University. There will be a presentation on the Kansas budget and written questions from the audience. Representative Steve Brunk is chair of the delegation.
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Ad spotlights rise in Kansas taxes, spending
A second ad from the Kansas Policy Institute illustrates the rapid rise in Kansas general fund revenues and spending in recent years. Click on Money Management 102 to view.