Opinion articles provide independent perspectives on key community issues, separate from our newsroom reporting.

Editorials

Kansas views on state tax policy, budget cuts, judges, ugly campaign

Revisit tax policy – Given the fact that the Brownback administration’s tax scheme has failed to provide anything like the promised “shot of adrenaline into the heart of the Kansas economy,” isn’t it time to find out if its assertions about taxes are true? Why should LLCs be exempted from paying taxes when the state desperately needs an injection of revenue? As other states have demonstrated again and again, there’s no evidence that reasonable taxation hampers economic growth.

Topeka Capital-Journal

Budget cuts – Making budget cuts to in-home services for seniors and mental health centers, and the elimination of the health homes program, is not only inhumane, it’s a bad financial strategy for the state. But it’s the choice that’s been made by state officials who would rather cut services to Kansans in need than consider restoring income taxes for thousands of Kansas businesses.

Lawrence Journal-World

Retain judges – Gov. Sam Brownback and some of his supporters want to oust some state Supreme Court justices and Court of Appeals judges to grab power over all three branches of our government. Hasn’t the Brownback crew already done enough damage? Vote to retain all our high court justices and judges, and save the Kansas you love from further extremism.

Cowley Courier Traveler

Ugly campaign – If politics is an ugly game, then there will be few games uglier than the race for U.S. House of Representatives for Kansas’ “Big First” district between incumbent Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler/Hutchinson, and Roger Marshall. Voters could do with fewer personal attacks, and less of the cherry-picked and manipulated information that’s presented in a way that will demonize the opponent, and more about the ideas the candidates have on how to make government work for Kansans.

Hutchinson News

This story was originally published July 18, 2016 at 12:06 AM with the headline "Kansas views on state tax policy, budget cuts, judges, ugly campaign."

Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER