Kansas views on budget woes, freedom index, higher ed, fracking
Budget woes – The governor and the enabling legislators can continue hoping for better budget news all they want. The reason it won’t happen is the same as it’s been for four years. State government already was run rather efficiently. All the problems were created when the previously balanced three-legged stool of income, sales and property taxes had one leg sawed off and another leg doubled in size.
Freedom index – The Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, released its “Freedom in the 50 States” index, and Kansas ranked 16th overall (an improvement of nine spots since 2012). But Kansans aren’t celebrating. The tax policy that caused our state’s budget disaster may have given us a bump on Cato’s “freedom” index, but for Kansans who are losing access to critical social services, falling deeper into debt to pay for college, etc., this couldn’t be any less important.
Higher ed – It’s frustrating that the University of Kansas and the Legislature have of late become adversaries instead of partners in advancing higher education in Kansas for the benefit of everyone. But hope is on the horizon in 2017. A working coalition of moderate Republicans and Democrats, likely more favorable to KU and higher education in general, now has a chance to seize control of the Legislature in November.
Fracking – The Kansas Corporation Commission’s restrictions on the disposal of wastewater created from “fracking” for oil and gas in south-central Kansas has irrefutably been proven to reduce the number and intensity of earthquakes in the region. That’s why further restrictions on wastewater disposal are welcome, and it’s why the KCC should continue its work to protect Kansas residents from the ill effects of modern oil production.
This story was originally published August 22, 2016 at 5:05 AM with the headline "Kansas views on budget woes, freedom index, higher ed, fracking."