Cronyism

Tax increment financing in Kansas
07
Feb
By Bob Weeks

Tax increment financing in Kansas

In this excerpt from WichitaLiberty.TV: How does Tax Increment Financing (TIF) work in Kansas? Is is a good thing, or not? View below, or click here to view at YouTube. Originally broadcast June 7, 2015. (more…)
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WichitaLiberty.TV: Wichita outreach, city council, and entrepreneurship
03
Dec
By Bob Weeks

WichitaLiberty.TV: Wichita outreach, city council, and entrepreneurship

In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: A look at Wichita community outreach and communications, rewriting city council history, and entrepreneurship. View below, or click here to view at YouTube. Episode 102, broadcast December 6, 2015. Shownotes Activate Wichita and Facebook page Video from Wichita City Council meeting and references Complete remarks from Joseph Ashby Show Kauffman Foundation, Video: Myth-busting Entrepreneurship
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Abengoa, Kansas ethanol plant operator, may seek bankruptcy
25
Nov
By Bob Weeks

Abengoa, Kansas ethanol plant operator, may seek bankruptcy

A company that has a taxpayer-guaranteed loan may be entering bankruptcy. Will taxpayers have to pay? (Updated November 30) Spanish energy giant Abengoa has taken preliminary steps that could lead to bankruptcy filing. Of relevance to Kansas -- and the country at large -- is the Abengoa cellulosic ethanol plant near Hugoton. That plant received a $132.4 million loan guarantee from the United States government under the same program that benefited Solyndra. That company cost taxpayers over $500 million when it defaulted on its taxpayer-guaranteed loan. Does a bankruptcy filing by Abengoa place U.S. taxpayers on the hook for the…
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Historic preservation tax credits, or developer welfare?
18
Nov
By Bob Weeks

Historic preservation tax credits, or developer welfare?

A Wichita developer seeks to have taxpayers fund a large portion of his development costs, using a wasteful government program of dubious value. When you hear of a program titled "historic preservation tax credits" you might find yourself in agreement. Preserving history: Who can be against that? And tax credits: Aren't those just technical adjustments on someone's tax form? If you look closely, however, you'll find that the historic preservation tax credits program can include buildings with only the slightest historic significance, and has great cost to taxpayers. The Colorado-Derby Building at 201 N Water Street in Wichita has been…
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Campaign contribution changes in Wichita
07
Nov
By Bob Weeks

Campaign contribution changes in Wichita

A change to Wichita city election law is likely to have little practical effect. Currently Wichita city code prohibits certain entities from making campaign contributions to candidates for city council and mayor: "Contributions by political committees as defined by K.S.A. 25-4143, as amended, corporations, partnerships, trusts, labor unions, business groups or other such organizations are expressly prohibited." The intent of this law is to limit the influence of businesses and unions on city elections. This week the Wichita City Council will consider striking this portion of city code. The contribution limit of $500 to a candidate for the primary election,…
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29
Oct
By Bob Weeks

Wichita officials, newspaper, just don’t get it on Ex-Im Bank

Wichita's establishment prefers cronyism over capitalism. It's not surprising that companies that benefit from Export-Import Bank loans support its renewal. We can understand groups like the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce campaigning for the bank, as the Chamber is a special interest group that advocates for its members to the detriment of capitalism. But we ought to expect more from the editorial board of the Wichita Eagle and Wichita city government officials. But the shiny object before them keeps them from seeing the harm of government programs like the Ex-Im Bank. Ex-Im Bank by the Numbers In 2013, 93% of…
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Bombardier can be a learning experience
29
Oct
By Bob Weeks

Bombardier can be a learning experience

The unfortunate news of the cancellation of a new aircraft program can be a learning opportunity for Wichita. As Wichita seeks to grow its economy, the loss of a new aircraft program at one of the city's major employers is unwelcome news. Now it is important that our leaders and officials seek to learn lessons from this loss. But first, we must acknowledge the loss. Wichita economic development officials are quick to trumpet successes, but so far there is no mention of this loss from the city or its economic development agencies. The project received state, local and federal incentives.…
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Wichita Chamber calls for more cronyism
25
Oct
By Bob Weeks

Wichita Chamber calls for more cronyism

By advocating for revival of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce continues its advocacy for more business welfare, more taxes, more wasteful government spending, and more cronyism. That may be surprising to read. Most people probably think that local chambers of commerce -- since their membership is mostly business firms -- support pro-growth policies that embrace limited government and free markets. But that’s usually not the case. It’s certainly is not the case in Wichita, where the Chamber supports higher taxes,[1. Weeks, B. (2015). Wichita Chamber speaks on county spending and taxes. Voice…
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12
Oct
By Bob Weeks

Export-Import Bank threatens a revival

Last week members of the United States House of Representatives successfully executed a maneuver that will force a vote on the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank of the United States. The method used, a discharge petition, was signed by well over a majority of House members, including perhaps 42 Republicans. If the petition signers vote the same way, the bill to reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank will pass the House. It will then move to the Senate for consideration. No members of the House of Representatives from Kansas signed the discharge petition. In July a vote on an amendment in favor…
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