Category: Kansas state government
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Kansas historic preservation tax credits should be eliminated
It’s time to recognize historic buildings for what they are: a premium feature or amenity whose extra cost should be born solely by those who chose to own them or rent them. Supporters of historic buildings tell us that renovating them is more expensive than building new. Likewise, building a home with granite kitchen counter…
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Insurance commissioner candidate to speak in Wichita
At the Wichita Pachyderm Club this Friday, candidate for the Republican party nomination for Kansas Insurance Commissioner David Powell speak to members and guests.
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State budget ‘gap’ is all about perspective
When businesses or individuals talk about cutting their expenses, it means they are going to spend less money that they did in the past. But when governments talk about budget cuts they often have a different perspective: they are spending less than they had hoped to but not necessarily less than the year before. For…
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Goal of Kansas tax reform is economic growth
Dr. Art Hall, who is Director of the Center for Applied Economics at the University of Kansas has proposed a radical change and simplification to the Kansas tax system. Besides simplification of the way the state collects taxes, the major goal of the proposal is to encourage economic growth in Kansas.
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Kansas model budget released
The Kansas Chapter of Americans for Prosperity has released its model Kansas budget for fiscal year 2011. Titled Commonsense Budget Proposal, it contains “a roadmap for legislators seeking to make Kansas government more efficient — and less costly — without turning to Kansas taxpayers,” according to AFP Kansas state director Derrick Sontag.
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Kansas bill would forbid taxpayer-funded pleas for tax increases
A bill just introduced in the Kansas Legislature by Representative Joe Patton, a Topeka Republican, would bar taxpayer-funded lobbying for tax increases. The bill is House Bill 2622, captioned “an act concerning the use of public funds for lobbying.” The bill is very short, the important part being: “No taxpayer funds shall be used for…
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Kansas sales tax increase would cost jobs
The Goldwater Institute has issued a report on the lost jobs that an increase in the Arizona sales tax would cause. According to projections by the Beacon Hill group, the one cent increase in the sales tax would bring in $1 billion annually to Arizona state government. But the cost of this sales tax would…
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Kansas scores poorly in initiative and referendum rights
Citizens in Charge Foundation — a transpartisan national voter rights group focused on the ballot initiative and referendum process — has released its 2010 Report Card on Statewide Voter Initiative Rights. Those familiar with Kansas will not be surprised to learn that our state scores poorly, as do many other states.
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Kansas taxes have impact
Do Kansas taxes have an impact on business location decisions? Are Kansas taxes lower than surrounding states, as claimed by supporters of raising Kansas taxes?
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Kansas tax alert system launched
The Kansas chapter of Americans for Prosperity has created an information system to help keep Kansans notified when legislators propose to increase taxes.
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Cause of Kansas budget gap is spending
Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson says Kansas has a $400 million budget gap, and he’s proposed increasing sales and cigarette taxes to close it. … If we could hold spending steady for next year — and remember that inflation is running at very low levels — we could get by without a tax increase. If the…
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Kansas Senate blocks new journalism
Does the application for press credentials to the Kansas Senate contain questions designed to limit or restrict the types of organizations that apply?