Government spending Archives - Page 72 of 75 Voice For Liberty

29

Apr

Kansas House leadership plans to balance budget without tax increases

A legislative panel at yesterday's AFP 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. Speaking first, Representative Kevin Yoder, an Overland Park Republican who is chair of the House Appropriations Committee, said the legislature is trying to balance the Kansas state budget without a tax increase. Yoder spoke of the momentum behind increasing government spending, noting that it used to be that if you didn't get a five percent increase, it was called a budget cut. Arguments were…

26

Apr

By Bob Weeks

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 "Support Our Schools." There was no one with a sign opposing a tax increase. Inside the meeting room the crowd appeared overwhelmingly in favor of the tax increase. Sen. Jean Schodorf, who arrived late, pointed out this is what she wanted to hear, "what we…

25

Apr

By Bob Weeks

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 and observations from this meeting. Conservative groups and advocates often display a chart showing that Kansas spending increased very rapidly during much of the last decade. Representative Melody McCray-Miller reminded the audience that it is Republicans who have been in the majority of both the…

21

Apr

By Bob Weeks

AFP ads spotlight Kansas budget

One of the things that government spending advocates don't like to talk about is the fact that spending in Kansas has risen rapidly in recent years. This is particularly the case for schools, partly due to the Kansas Supreme Court ordering more spending in the Montoy decision of 2005. But other Kansas government spending has risen sharply too. As long as revenue flowing to the state kept pace, Kansas was able to afford this spending -- whether the spending was wise or not. But starting two years ago revenues failed to keep pace with spending, resulting in great stress on…

20

Apr

By Bob Weeks

Kansas budget can be balanced without tax increases

As the Kansas Legislature prepares to get to work next week producing a budget plan for the next year, Kansans are being told that tax increases are inevitable. Several sources, however, have ideas and detailed plans as to how the state can avoid tax increases. Kansas Senator Chris Steineger, a Democrat from Kansas City, has a list of cost-cutting measures that could be implemented quickly. See Kansas can have fast, achievable savings for his list. Steineger also has what he calls the billion dollar list, which contains items that could save even more money. Some of these proposals such as…

12

Apr

By Bob Weeks

Kansas taxes and spending debated

Should Kansas increase taxes or control spending in order to balance its budget? On the editorial page of the Wichita Eagle yesterday, three editorials discussed the Kansas budget, taxes, and spending. Rhonda Holman's editorial featured Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson and his claims that the temporary one-cent sales tax used to fund the Intrust Bank Arena in downtown Wichita wasn't noticed, and therefore didn't harm the economy. The governor's reasoning is incorrect, as taxes do indeed harm the economy. When it was proposed in Wichita in 2002 to have a sales tax increase of one-half cent per dollar to build an…

27

Mar

By Bob Weeks

Obama not first with trillion dollar deficit

A Wall Street Journal column from last year highlights the lack of honesty in government accounting. The column speaks of fiscal year 2008. That period of time ended on September 30, 2008. It has been widely noted that 2009 will have the first "trillion-dollar deficit" in American history. Actually it's the second. In fiscal 2008, the national debt increased from $9 trillion to slightly over $10 trillion. Yet the budget deficit in the last fiscal year was officially reported as being $455 billion. How could the national debt have increased by considerably more than twice the "deficit"? Simple. Just call…

22

Mar

By Bob Weeks

Kansas Economic Freedom Index launched

The purpose of the Kansas Economic Freedom Index is to identify Kansas legislators who vote in favor of economic freedom -- and those who don't. Financial issues like taxes and spending will be important, but I will include issues like smoking bans and seat belt laws. This is the first version of the index. As I become aware of votes that should be included, and as new votes are taken, I'll update the index. In the index, each bill has a weight. This is a number from 1 to 10, with 10 meaning the bill is of greatest importance. When…

18

Mar

By Bob Weeks

The bamboozled public

The intellectual arguments used by the State throughout history to “engineer consent” by the public can be classified into two parts: (1) that rule by the existing government is inevitable, absolutely necessary, and far better than the indescribable evils that would ensue upon its downfall; and (2) that the State rulers are especially great, wise, and altruistic men -- far greater, wiser, and better than their simple subjects. In former times, the latter argument took the form of rule by “divine right’ or by the “divine ruler” himself, or by an “aristocracy” of men. In modern times, as we indicated…

15

Mar

By Bob Weeks

Kansas tax increases promoted, even by Republicans

Last week Kansas Senator John Vratil, a Leawood Republican who is Vice-President of the Senate, sent a letter to constituents asking for feedback on how to generate more revenue for Kansas state government. The letter states "The Senate Ways and Means Committee has worked hard to cut 'the fat' out of state government while striving to hold education harmless." The letter notes that the Kansas general fund budget is now $5.4 billion, and that education and required social services amount to $4.6 billion of that. Vratil promotes the tax on drinks sweetened with sugar, which would add about ten cents…