Letters on business tax cuts, health care access, protecting ratepayers

Tax cuts based on flawed ideology

A business does not add resources, whether employees or supplies, unless the demand for its product increases. I doubt very much that not paying Kansas income taxes is a primary decision motive to add employees. This has been demonstrated quite dramatically by the results of Gov. Sam Brownback’s “experiment” not providing a “shot of adrenaline” as predicted.

If the goal is to reward businesses for creating jobs, then measure the number of jobs created by the business. Instead of giving the tax break carte blanche to more than 300,000 individuals in all sizes of businesses, have businesses submit the number of new jobs created and provide a sliding scale income tax break.

Count the number of employees on Jan. 1 and again on Dec. 31. Rehires do not count – only the actual number of new jobs.

Unfortunately, this simple solution will never get the approval of Americans for Prosperity, the Kansas Policy Institute, the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, anti-tax activist Grover Norquist, etc. Oops, that was a typo. I meant the Legislature.

So Kansas will continue down the road toward financial decline in the quality of life following a flawed ideology.

Increase access

I was so delighted that GraceMed Health Clinic in Wichita, Community Health Center in Cowley County, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Health Partnership Clinic of Johnson County, and Sheridan County received grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to increase access to health care for low-income Kansans.

Many of us in Kansas feel extreme frustration that our governor and legislators do not reach out to help lower-income Kansans receive health care services. Thanks to these grants, at least some Kansans will receive some health care services through Affordable Care Act funding. I hope other Kansas counties will follow suit.

Protect ratepayers

Last month, the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee approved a sensible piece of legislation called the Ratepayer Protection Act. If it becomes law, this bill would empower state leaders to opt out of a new federal regulation misleadingly called the Clean Power Plan. Despite its name, the CPP would be nothing more than a radical reshaping of the way Kansas generates electricity, and would result in higher electricity prices.

The Ratepayer Protection Act would help Kansas avoid these economic disruptions, so Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Wichita, was working in the state’s best interests when he supported it last month. He deserves thanks in standing against the federal Clean Power Plan – and for affordable electricity and jobs in Kansas.

This story was originally published May 11, 2015 at 7:04 PM with the headline "Letters on business tax cuts, health care access, protecting ratepayers."