Letters on GOP class warfare, state tax increases, Ex-Im Bank

GOP conducting ‘class warfare’

In defending business tax exemptions, Sen. Ty Masterson, R-Andover, said that Democrats were engaging in “class warfare” (June 13 Eagle). He also said that anyone who wanted to could start a business to take advantage of the tax exemption.

Masterson is wrong. The class warfare is being fought against middle- and low-income earners in Kansas who are facing the largest tax increase in Kansas history. Further, it takes more than a snap of the fingers to start a business. It takes investors, as well as the time and energy to get a business running and keep it running.

The term “class warfare” is used by Republicans to tie liberals to socialism. The true socialist movement in Kansas can be seen among those who think it’s a good idea to favor certain citizens over other citizens.

Most of us know who is pulling the strings in Topeka. The names of the Kochs, the Kansas Chamber of Commerce members, or Arthur Laffer did not appear on the ballot when we voted in November. Yet these are the people who are making the laws that constitute the true class warfare in our state.

Democrats’ fault?

President Reagan often admonished the Democrats for the growing deficits caused by his tax cuts for the wealthy. So it was not surprising to see Sen. Ty Masterson, R-Andover, blame the Democrats for the 113-day budget debacle in which Republicans passed one of the largest tax bills in state history (June 13 Eagle). Masterson accused them of class warfare for wanting to restore income taxes on Kansas businesses.

“It’s easy to sit there and be an obstructionist,” he said.

It should be noted that these “obstructionists” have been all but shut out of the legislative process ever since Gov. Sam Brownback managed to pack the Statehouse with his kind of people, something that has been met with considerable delight from many right-wing voting Kansans.

It now remains to be seen how these same folks will adjust their thinking that this unfair tax bill was somehow all the fault of the Democrats – a party that last controlled the full Legislature for two short years a century ago.

Hurt Kansans

It is very difficult to believe the course of events that have transpired to cause further damage, cost and pain to most of the taxpayers of Kansas.

How much gall it must have taken for Gov. Sam Brownback to plead and beg the Legislature to pass a massive tax increase, simply because of his steadfast refusal to restore income taxes on the business segment of the population that now enjoys a free ride at the further expense to the remainder of the taxpaying public. He knew his tax exemption for business was a proven failure, and deliberately forced the Legislature to be between a rock and a hard place.

Brownback’s stubborn refusal to accept blame and rectify his mistakes has shown, once again, his ineptitude as a leader. Brownback should be removed as governor and his taxation mistakes rectified, and we can hope he never again will be elected to a position of public leadership.

Out of touch

Legislators are taking more of my hard-earned pay. I have dealt with furloughs and concessions for the past 10 years. Have they?

Shop out of state

My wife and I are on Social Security and have a little retirement benefit coming in each month. But with the tax increases, we will be going to Missouri to buy gas, food and cigarettes.

The sales tax on food in Missouri is 1.225 percent, and the overall sales tax rate is 4.225 percent. The gasoline tax in Missouri is 17 cents per gallon, and the cigarette tax is 17 cents per pack. Colorado and Nebraska have no sales tax on food. Colorado’s statewide sales tax is 2.9 percent, while Nebraska’s is 5.5 percent. Taxes in Oklahoma are also lower.

I hope other seniors and others against the unfair taxes also will take their shopping elsewhere.

Ex-Im issues

America needs to be competitive in global commerce. When it cannot be accomplished in free markets where the rules develop spontaneously without intervention, then some government direction and planning essential to meet the direction and planning of other governments must be taken into account.

However, one issue is whether and to what extent the Export-Import Bank actually offers direct support to businesses not “cronyed up” with government and its bureaucrats. A second derives from the disconnect taxpayers are given to blissfully abide by enabling prosperity for Gulf States, while also expending their blood and treasure combating the terrorism those same Gulf States underwrite.

General Electric, Dow Chemical and Boeing clearly have done well with American taxpayers backing their ventures in the Middle East and elsewhere. It is good that smaller businesses have been able to salvage for themselves any of the feed the prime beef has let fall from the trough. And it would be better still if more jobs have been created here rather than over there. But nothing is likely to much impress anyone who has lost a soldier to an explosive device paid for by any of the Gulf State elites who are benefited first and foremost by the Ex-Im Bank.

This story was originally published June 17, 2015 at 7:03 PM with the headline "Letters on GOP class warfare, state tax increases, Ex-Im Bank."