Kansas state government Archives - Page 152 of 160 Voice For Liberty

Sep

Kansas continues to suffer from job growth deficit

This press release from the Kansas Chapter of Americans For Prosperity calls attention to the poor growth in jobs under the leadership of Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, contrary to what her television advertisements claim. We should not construe that Kansas State Senator and Republican challenger Jim Barnett would do much better. Although he earned a legislative vote rating of 100% from the Kansas Taxpayers Network this year, his voting in 2006 was very different from his past behavior. Before this year, Sen. Barnett had a lifetime ranking of only 28%. Kansas Continues to Suffer from Job Growth Deficit Kansas is…

Sep

By Bob Weeks

Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius and Kansas jobs

A recent television advertisement by Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius touts "… nearly 2.5 years of positive job growth." The viewer is, by my estimation, supposed to credit the governor for this growth. But a look behind the scenes reveals a situation that only a politician could take pride in. Our governor must be hoping that people won't take a moment to examine the reality. As reported in The Wichita Eagle on July 7, 2006: Kansas' job growth was fourth-worst in the nation during the first quarter, according to a quarterly report by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. The number of…

Sep

By Bob Weeks

Kansas Governor’s Race Heats Up

Kansas Governor’s Race Heats Up By Karl Peterjohn, Executive Director, Kansas Taxpayers Network The first of a series of debates highlighting significant differences between the two leading candidates for governor have begun in Kansas. The kick off was the state fair debate between Governor Sebelius and her GOP opponent state Senator Jim Barnett September 9. The conventional wisdom is that this gubernatorial race was going to be a snoozer with Sebelius’ huge fund raising advantage but a number of minor events, none hugely significant by themselves, indicates that the Sebelius reelection campaign has some problems. A decline in poll numbers…

Sep

By Bob Weeks

The Kansas school lawsuit that makes sense

Recently The Wichita Eagle editorialized on the recent school finance lawsuit in Kansas, quoting USD 259 (Wichita) school board president Sarah Skelton as pleased with the "great return" on the district's investment in funding the suit. As much more money as the public schools will be receiving, it is not as much as was asked for, and USD 259 is preparing to ask for even more spending from a bond issue. Public comments by lead attorney Alan Rupe hint at another lawsuit, perhaps in federal court. Lawsuits like the one in Kansas are commonplace in America. The standard remedy sought…

Sep

By Bob Weeks

Tax funded lobbyists spending revealed

Tax Funded Lobbyists Spending Revealed By Karl Peterjohn, Kansas Taxpayers Network There are lobbyists and there are taxpayer funded lobbyists roaming the halls of the statehouse during the legislative sessions. A small window on the taxpayer funded lobbying opened up following the two separate legal actions of Attorney General Phill Kline and the Topeka Capital-Journal in seeking spending data from the Schools for Fair Funding organization. The attorney general and the newspaper deserve a pat-on-the-back for fighting for the disclosure of this information. Schools for Fair Funding is the tax funded group of 19 medium and large public school districts…

Aug

By Bob Weeks

Whitewash

Writing from Dallas, Texas Thank you to Karl Peterjohn for this excellent piece. You can read more about the Kansas Supreme Court at this link: Summary of Blogging on Judicial Ethics in Kansas Whitewash By Karl Peterjohn, Executive Director, Kansas Taxpayers Network There are laws and rules while there are lawyers and judges but there is truly one unique and privileged class where the rules do not apply in Kansas: The Kansas Supreme Court. Friday, August 18 the "ethics" panel that handles ethics complaints issued their weakest penalty of an "admonishment" for the egregious misbehavior of Kansas Supreme Court Justice…

Aug

By Guest Author

High tax Kansas exposed again

High Tax Kansas Exposed Again By Karl Peterjohn, Executive Director, Kansas Taxpayers Network Businesses and homeowners know that Kansas has high taxes. The appointed and occasionally elected officials setting this state's fiscal policy are often contemptuous of the fiscal burden being imposed upon Kansans but this is a reality that should not continue to be ignored. USA Today reported July 28 that Kansans pay the 14th highest level of per capita property taxes among all 50 states. This was 2004 Census Department data. The high property tax in Kansas means that Kansans pay well above the U.S. average property tax…

Jul

By Bob Weeks

School lawsuit likely to resume after election

School Lawsuit Likely to Resume After Election By Karl Peterjohn, Kansas Taxpayers Network School finance lawsuits have been a driving force behind state spending policy for almost two decades in Kansas. The July 28 Kansas Supreme Court ruling only ends the latest and most expensive school finance lawsuit. This decision only creates a brief pause until the inconvenience of the 2006 election is behind us in just over 100 days. The Democratic and liberal dominated Kansas Supreme Court issued their latest spending edict that almost invited another school finance lawsuit. Ending the case was the court's latest effort to end…

Jul

By Bob Weeks

Kansas Taxpayers Network 2006 legislative vote ratings released

Thank you to Karl Peterjohn for compiling this valuable resource. You can examine the rankings at the Kansas Taxpayers Network website at www.kansastaxpayers.com. Following is a press release describing the ratings. 17 Legislators Earn 100% rating for 2006 Fiscal Votes "There are 17 Kansas legislators who scored 100% on the Kansas Taxpayers Network's 2006 fiscal scorecard," said KTN Executive Director Karl Peterjohn. Legislators were measured on their votes on tax and fiscal issues as well as their votes on reining in judicial activists and judicial appropriations. This scorecard also measured on their votes on correcting eminent domain abuse in the…

Jul

By Bob Weeks

Remarks to Wichita City Council Regarding the AirTran Subsidy on July 11, 2006

Mr. Mayor, Members of the City Council: You may recall that I have spoken to this body in years past expressing my opposition to the AirTran subsidy. At that time we were told that the subsidy was intended to be a short-tem measure. Today, four years after the start of the subsidy, with state funding planned for the next five years, it looks as though it is a permanent fixture. Supporters of the subsidy have made a variety of claims in its support: that the subsidy and the accompanying Fair Fares program are responsible for $4.8 billion in economic impact,…