It is understandable that Kansas House members are balking at raising taxes. But the state’s budget problems will only get worse without more revenue – particularly when the state likely will lose a school-funding lawsuit.
Though it falls short of what was asserted as recently as February, the impressive recent 6.3-to-1 ratio of private to public investment in downtown Wichita requires no apologies.
KanCare isn’t the only state health reform that needs scrutiny. So does Gov. Sam Brownback’s mental-health initiative, which has some promise but lacks funding and focus.
On Memorial Day, many of us pay homage to loved ones we’ve lost to injury, illness and time, decorating their graves with spring flowers and visiting them in our memories. But the holiday’s reason for being is our nation’s war dead, making the somber occasion a precious annual opportunity to reflect on their service and honor their sacrifice.
Gun lobbying – Various loopholes may limit the impact of a bill that bans the use of state funds to promote or oppose gun-control measures, but the measure reflects a disregard for free speech that should concern Kansas residents.
If Wichita officials were trying to get citizens’ attention last week by proposing a $1,000-a-month fine for using too much water, mission accomplished. But that and other ideas raise tough questions for the City Council members and Mayor Carl Brewer, and for a community already tired of high water bills.
Kansas State Board of Education member Steve Roberts of Overland Park was apparently trying to make a bizarre point about political correctness when he used the N-word during a state board meeting last month. But using the vile word as a prop was inappropriate and offensive, and the fact he can’t grasp that is equally disturbing.
Wichita got a great, well-timed boost with Wednesday’s news that McConnell Air Force Base will be the main active-duty operating base for the KC-46A tankers, emerging the winner in the 54-base field. The Air Force’s faith in McConnell is well-placed, and the community must do all it can to support the effort.
South-central Kansans are focusing their prayers, thoughts and charity on the devastation that visited Moore, Okla. When “the monster returned” Monday, as the Oklahoman newspaper said in comparing the storm to one that struck 14 years ago, it looked familiar in these parts, too, both from experience and our nightmares.
As revenues ebb under the income-tax cuts, state leaders are looking at everything as a potential place to cut spending. But why look at the National Center for Aviation Training, which is the sort of business-driven educational facility the state’s economy will need to grow and Wichita will need to remain a planemaking powerhouse?
Core services – The current cost-cutting efforts of state government should spur serious conversation about what Gov. Sam Brownback often calls "core government services." Are some of the services being cut really not worthy of tax support, or is that rationale just a way of pushing more government responsibilities onto a different set of taxpayers at the local level?
After the 2012 election put the entire Legislature under conservative Republican control, Gov. Sam Brownback touted Kansas as a “red-state model” for the nation. By Friday that model was looking a bit black and blue, though, as House and Senate leaders traded blame over their inability to agree on taxes and the budget.
The questions about reviving passenger rail through Wichita still start with “if” rather than “when,” but hopes surged last week when Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett and Kansas City, Mo., Mayor Sly James formally joined Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer in advocating for connecting the cities via passenger trains.
The National Baseball Congress hasn’t struck out, but its financial struggles and those of its current manager have put it behind the count.
This week Kansans variously have heard that the private talks on taxes involving Gov. Sam Brownback and top GOP lawmakers are going well and at an impasse. Such important fiscal negotiations should be held with a broad, bipartisan range of legislators participating and the public watching. While we wait in the dark, though, here are some hopes for what will and won’t happen in the session’s remaining days:
Politics have no place at the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS’ abuse of power in targeting conservative organizations demands more than the outrage the president exhibited Monday or the apology the agency issued Friday.
Sales tax – The idea of voting to extend the sales tax likely has caused considerable angst on the part of many state representatives in recent weeks, but it is something they should do. The simple truth is all levels of government are responsible for funding some services that cannot be ignored.
Lobbyists serve a valuable role in the legislative process, often providing needed expertise on complicated issues. But they shouldn’t have undue influence, particularly if it comes from wining and dining lawmakers.
As lawmakers wrap up this year’s legislative session, they should wrap their heads around the challenges facing school districts and many Kansas families. And how little lawmakers have done to help.
The days of needing to protect the fledgling Internet are long gone, and online retail sales should be taxed the same as sales at local brick-and-mortar businesses.
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