Kansas views on slow growth, school funding, Orman, Roberts and Huelskamp, Schodorf, negative ads
Slow growth – Gov. Sam Brownback insists his radical income tax cut program is going to revive the Kansas economy. But since the tax cuts took effect in January 2013, a review by the Star shows that 31 other states have added jobs at a faster clip than Kansas has over the last 21 months. Meanwhile, the governor’s self-proclaimed “experiment” with the Kansas economy caused the state to collect hundreds of millions less in revenue than expected in the last fiscal year, with sustained losses continuing so far this year. These declines have imperiled Kansas’ ability to maintain public services, especially for K-12 education.
School funding – Gov. Sam Brownback and the conservative lawmakers who approved austere budgets in an attempt to balance the effects caused by massive cuts in personal and business income tax don’t like to talk about base state aid per pupil, which has dropped 12.5 percent since 2009. Instead, they point to overall spending that includes retirement benefits, capital outlays, special education and food services. That total is $100 million higher since Brownback took office. It is an important figure, as it certainly is being collected from every taxpayer in the state. The funds, however, do not make it to the classroom.
Orman – Our choice for the U.S. Senate is the independent candidate Greg Orman. He stands free of all that is wrong with the Republican Party in Kansas today. Orman’s opponent, three-term incumbent Republican Pat Roberts, has let the tea party push him too far to the irrational right. In this campaign, his often flat-footed rhetoric has left him nearly inarticulate on many issues. His indebtedness to outside money groups has tarnished his long-admired independence of mind.
Huelskamp, Roberts – We’ve come to expect disrespect for the legislative process from Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler, whose tea-party antics saw him booted from the House Agriculture Committee in 2012 — and cost Kansas a voice in shaping federal farm policy. Sen. Pat Roberts’ subpar representation of Kansas and its producers has gone on much longer. Since 2000, Roberts skipped an astounding two-thirds of Senate Agriculture Committee meetings – some 130 – to include hearings on drought, disaster assistance and other important issues. Roberts and Huelskamp also put politics ahead of their constituents’ interests in voting against the recent farm bill. Kansas producers – and all others in the state – deserve better.
Schodorf – Jean Schodorf has built her campaign around the idea that Kansas should have a secretary of state who performs the duties of the office, helps expand voter participation and manages the state’s paperwork in a responsible manner. Kris Kobach, on the other hand, has shown time and time again that he views the office as his personal megaphone to help other states write anti-immigration laws, restrict access to voting, push firearms legislation that benefits his financial interests and involve himself to influence various state elections.
Negative ads – If voters really want to learn something about candidates in the Nov. 4 election, campaign advertising probably isn’t the best source of information. Most of the advertising that is flooding the airwaves is aimed at telling Kansas voters why they shouldn’t vote for a candidate, not why a candidate is worthy of their votes.
This story was originally published October 26, 2014 at 7:07 PM with the headline "Kansas views on slow growth, school funding, Orman, Roberts and Huelskamp, Schodorf, negative ads."