Kansas lawmaker calls foul on Commerce Department’s Facebook post

A state representative from Wichita says the Department of Commerce committed Facebook misconduct Monday when it posted a 4-year-old news story touting the benefits of the state eliminating income taxes for certain business owners.

“I think they’re intentionally trying to mislead legislators and the people (to get them to think) that this is still a hugely supported policy,” said Rep. Mark Hutton, R-Wichita. “I think it’s pretty disingenuous.”

The Facebook post went up at about 2 p.m. on Monday.

It reads: “#Kansas doesn’t impose income tax on profits for LLCs, subchapter S corps, nor sole proprietorships! Read how it helps ‪#KsBiz http://www.kansas.com/news/business/article1092681.html.”

The link is to a Wichita Eagle story in which small-business owners enthused about how the zero tax rate would benefit them and their companies.

That story was published on May 24, 2012, almost four years ago and a month before the tax cut took effect.

Since then, the state has been beset by hundreds of millions of dollars in budget shortfalls and missed revenue targets. A promised boost in job growth has not materialized.

“When you look at the four years that policy has been in place, it’s cost the state over $900 million” in lost income, Hutton said.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Commerce did not return phone calls Monday.

Bills before both the House and Senate would reduce or rescind the tax break. They face an uncertain future, because the zero income tax on businesses was the centerpiece of Gov. Sam Brownback’s economic plan for the state.

Brownback has said he would veto any measure tampering with the tax cut.

Senate Tax Committee Chairman Les Donovan, R-Wichita, said he thinks one or more bills on the subject will be heard in committee this year, but not until after the Legislature returns from its spring break on April 27.

This story was originally published March 21, 2016 at 5:41 PM with the headline "Kansas lawmaker calls foul on Commerce Department’s Facebook post."