Category: Kansas state government
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Kansas alternative media senate access discussed on WIBW
Kansas Watchdog reporting at Kansas Senate decides who is press and who is not may have caught the eye of Topeka radio talk show hosts Raubin Pierce and Megan Mosack, as they invited me to appear on their show today to talk about my inability to obtain press credentials at the Kansas Senate.
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Kansas property tax reform proposed
The Kansas Policy Institute has released a proposal for property tax reform in Kansas that will protect property owners from what some call “stealth” tax increases. These increases result from the fact that the property tax system has two factors or moving parts: appraised valuations, and the mill levy (or tax rate). Governments — the…
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Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission hearing today
Today the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission is holding a hearing to consider changes to its rules regarding confidentiality. James Meier of Lawrence has experience with these rules, as he relates in Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission in need of reform. Following is the testimony that Meier will deliver at the hearing this afternoon.
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Kansas tax exemptions should be cut
One of the ways that Kansas might increase revenue this year is to reduce or eliminate the many sales tax exemptions that our state has issued over the years. The governor didn’t mention this in his state of the state address, but this reform would be a good thing to do, even if we’re not…
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Resolution seeks to clarify role of Kansas courts, legislature
Kansas House of Representatives member Pete DeGraaf, a Republican from Mulvane, will soon introduce a resolution “concerning the expenditure of public moneys to finance certain litigation against the Legislature or the State of Kansas.” Dick Kelsey will introduce the resolution in the Kansas Senate.
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Kansas governor proposes taxes, smoking ban, green energy projects
Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson’s State of the State address Monday proposed two new taxes, a ecomprehensive statewide smoking ban, and a cabinet team to promote green energy projects. He didn’t propose closing tax exemptions, and he made no mention of a way that could help Kansas make it through a fiscal shortfall.
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Kansas legislative scorecards, rankings
As the 2010 Kansas Legislature prepares to convene, Kansans need to know the true voting record of members of the legislature. Legislative scorecards or ratings can be a valuable resource for leaning about the actions and record of legislators.
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Kansas fund balances disputed despite evidence of their existence, benefit
The Wichita Eagle op-ed by Kansas State School Board Member David Dennis (Fund balances won’t save schools) and another by Rhonda Holman dispute evidence that Kansas can make it through the current financial situation by making use of large fund balances in state agency accounts.
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Wichita-area legislators hear a variety of issues
Last night, members of the South-central Kansas legislative delegation heard from citizens in a meeting at the Sedgwick County Courthouse. The 2010 Kansas legislative session starts next week.
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Solution to Kansas budget crisis offered
At a meeting of the South-central Kansas legislative delegation on January 5, 2010, Dave Trabert, president of the Kansas Policy Institute spoke to legislators about ways that Kansas can make it through the upcoming legislative session without raising taxes or cuttine essential services. Following are his remarks. Due to the relatively short time limit given…
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Kansas state budget crisis largely self-inflicted
What should citizens do when they feel that local news media is not covering issues as they should be covered? You could do as I did, starting Voice For Liberty in Wichita. Others start think tanks like the Kansas Policy Institute and its featured projects Kansas Watchdog and Kansas Reporter. Now the Kansas Policy Institute…
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Kansas Policy Institute site launched
The Flint Hills Center for Public Policy, a Kansas-based think tank, recently changed its name to the Kansas Policy Institute. Now the organization’s website, formerly at www.flinthills.org, has changed. The new site is Kansas Policy Institute at www.kansaspolicy.org.