Crisis of Brownback’s own making

For those who warned three years ago that Kansas couldn’t afford to eliminate state income taxes for 191,000 business owners and slash them for others, there is no joy in being proved more right by the day.

Not when the proof comes in the form of $44.5 million in cuts to K-12 schools and state universities with only three months left in the academic year – cuts Gov. Sam Brownback announced Thursday after having talked in December about protecting education spending.

Or the bill the Legislature passed last week making nearly $250 million in fund transfers and spending reductions, which raids money meant for roads, early childhood and other priorities in a hurried effort to cover a $300 million-plus budget gap.

Or, looking ahead, the governor’s two-year budget proposal and its massive tax hikes on tobacco and liquor, permanent 4 percent cut of state agencies, further diversion of funds dedicated to highways and children’s programs, and risky retreat from the plan to restore full health to the state’s pension system.

The frustration is compounded by Brownback’s shameless refusal to accept responsibility for the state’s deepening fiscal abyss, or even for the 2012-13 tax reforms that Kansans increasingly realize were neither fair, prudent nor effective as economic stimulus.

Instead he’s become a serial blamer for the state’s revenue problems, with K-12 schools his latest target. Pointing in a statement Thursday to “lower-than-expected sales tax revenue,” with no mention of his disastrous income tax cuts, he called education funding “unsustainable” and for districts to spend down reserves.

Would it kill Brownback to level with Kansans about what is a crisis of his own making? To say, “We thought we could handle these tax cuts and still cover the state’s obligations, but we were wrong and now need all Kansans’ help and sacrifice to make it right”?

He could be guided by some of the extraordinary explanations of “yes” votes offered by Republican House members last week, as they approved the fiscal 2015 fix. Among them:

•  “Our current fiscal condition is indicative of a need for greater financial responsibility, honesty about the limits of current policies, and reasonable solutions for the good of all Kansans.” – Rep. Blaine Finch, R-Ottawa

•  “Responsible governance begins with the courage to admit we have a problem.... I will not support any other temporary fixes that enable magical thinking to triumph over responsible public policy.” – Reps. Melissa Rooker, R-Fairway, and Diana Dierks, R-Salina

•  “Kansans expect us to be frugal, and responsible. We are enabling irresponsible borrow and spend policies. We should budget wisely, levy appropriate revenues, and insist upon a fair and stable tax system. Additionally we should be looking after the engines of progress to include roads, education, and investments in our future like the biosciences.” – Rep. Tom Moxley, R-Council Grove

Such truth-telling surely would win Brownback some goodwill, and greater cooperation on the hard choices ahead.

For the editorial board, Rhonda Holman

This story was originally published February 7, 2015 at 6:06 PM with the headline "Crisis of Brownback’s own making."