Smoking bans Archives - Voice For Liberty

Apr

Kansas fiscal policy is stifling the state’s economy

Dave Trabert of Kansas Policy Institute explains that Kansas economic policies are leading to the growth of government at the expense of private sector economic activity. Separately, KPI released figures showing that it will be very difficult for the state to meet the revenue projections made for the current fiscal year, which ends on June 30, 2011. Kansas tax collections in March were below projections, meaning even more trouble balancing the current year budget. State Fiscal Policy is Stifling the Kansas Economy By Dave Trabert, Kansas Policy Institute. Kansas' fiscal policy has stifled the state's economy for more than a…

Nov

By Bob Weeks

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Thursday November 4, 2010

The future of politics is here, now. After noting how California reached way back to the past to elect a governor, Denis Boyles writes in National Review Online about the future, and how it's being made right here: "If you want to see the bright and shining politics of the future, you have to go to the country’s heartland, and specifically to Kansas, a place most Democrats only know from Thomas Frank’s liberal folklore. There, the election has yielded two new congressmen -- Mike Pompeo and the remarkable Tim Huelskamp -- who were not created by the Tea Party movement…

Oct

By Bob Weeks

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Thursday October 28, 2010

Final fourth district forum. Last night's debate or forum between all four candidates running for the Kansas fourth Congressional district was the last such event before Election Day. Hosted by KSN Television and moderated by John Snyder, all four candidates appeared: Reform Party candidate Susan Ducey, Democrat Raj Goyle, Republican Mike Pompeo, and Libertarian Shawn Smith. Goyle used almost every question as an opportunity to launch an attack on Pompeo, particularly on the issue of outsourcing of jobs. No dummy -- he did go to Harvard law school, after all (so did Pompeo) -- Goyle used some clever and creative…

Jun

By Bob Weeks

Kansas news digest

News from alternative media around Kansas for June 25, 2010. Public sector grows along with KPERS dependency (Kansas Liberty) "Between April 2008 and April 2010, the private sector in Kansas has experienced an overall loss in jobs of approximately 5.89 percent, while the public sector has experienced an overall gain in employment of approximately .83 percent. ... As the public sector and its salaries continue to grow, so does the dependence on the state’s pension plan, KPERS." Kansas working toward implementing aspect of Obamacare (Kansas Liberty) "The Kansas Department of Insurance is working with the federal government to create a…

Apr

By Bob Weeks

Kansas smoking ban discussed on Kansas Week

On the

Apr

By Bob Weeks

Kansas smoking ban opponents meet in Wichita

A group primarily composed of business owners met in Wichita on Thursday to discuss the recently passed Kansas smoking ban and what might be done to overturn it or mitigate its damage to business. Phillip Bradley of Kansas Licensed Beverage Association briefed the group on the current status of the smoking ban and what types of action might be possible in the future. Bradley told the group that it's nearly impossible to get a new bill through the Kansas Legislature at this time. The greatest chance for action is to have an amendment added to a bill that's already in…

Mar

By Bob Weeks

Kansas governor to face smoking ban protesters in Salina

A group of citizens who don't agree with Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson's decision to sign the statewide smoking ban bill is planning a protest in Salina. The governor will sign the smoking ban bill on Monday at 3:30 pm at the Salina Public Library. It's a ceremonial signing, as the actual bill was signed earlier today.

Mar

By Bob Weeks

Wichita legislative forum highlights differences in approach to government spending

Yesterday over 200 people packed a room at Wichita State University to attend a forum of Wichita-area Kansas state legislators. The meeting was chaired by Representative Steve Brunk, a Republican who represents Bel Aire and parts of far northeast Wichita. One of the topics underlying much of the meeting was the subject of tax cuts to business. Proponents of government spending say the state has given up too much revenue by granting tax cuts. Sometimes, in case of the business franchise tax, the state levies a tax simply for existing. This tax is being phased out over a five-year period…

Mar

By Bob Weeks

Kansas news digest

News from alternative media around Kansas for March 5, 2010. Teacher Tenure Under Review In Effort to Reduce School Costs (State of the State KS) "A House committee heard testimony on a bill Wednesday that would lengthen the period of time public school teachers must work to five years before eligible for tenure." KPERS Committee Considers Early Retirement for Employees To Save Money (State of the State KS) "The House KPERS committee considered a bill Tuesday that would encourage early retirement for some government workers to save costs." Kansas Democrats Focus on 2010 Elections at Washington Days (State of the…

Feb

By Bob Weeks

AFP-Kansas launches website about tobacco taxes

Following is a press release from Americans for Prosperity, Kansas chapter. TOPEKA, KAN. – The Kansas chapter of the grassroots group Americans for Prosperity is working to educate Kansans on the effects of tobacco tax increases on Kansas businesses by creating a new Web site, StopTheWarOnSmokers.Com. Gov. Mark Parkinson last month proposed a cigarette tax increase of 55 cents per pack, raising the rate from its current 79 cents per pack to $1.34 per pack. “History has shown us that raising the cigarette tax has not increased the revenues coming into the state over the long run,” said AFP-Kansas state…