John E. Moore: Lead state in new direction or lose next election

State government has an obligation to provide the necessary assets or infrastructure that result in new businesses being attracted to the state, existing businesses doing well and growing, and new businesses being started. Key elements of this infrastructure include strong public education, training, transportation, public safety, health services, a safety net for state residents needing assistance, recreational opportunities, and a stable and predictable tax system.

The state’s infrastructure was generally very sound when Gov. Sam Brownback first took office.

In an effort to establish presidential credentials, Brownback, with the support of Republican majorities in Legislature, implemented extreme state tax reductions in 2012 and 2013. The governor said the lost revenues would quickly be replaced, because business owners would apply their tax savings to create new jobs.

But the businesses and individuals that received hundreds of millions of dollars in tax cuts had no obligation to create jobs. And we have known since 2014 that the vast majority of those receiving tax cuts did not create jobs to replace lost revenues.

The Republican lieutenant governor and commerce secretary who preceded me, Gary Sherrer, and I successfully recruited important businesses to Kansas. State income taxes were never an important factor in recruiting new employers or in making site selection decisions.

Instead, the single most important factor for any business considering relocating, expanding its employment or starting up is a qualified workforce – or one that can become qualified with training. It cannot be argued or even suggested that lower or no state income taxes create a qualified workforce.

The approach taken by the governor and Republicans has failed miserably. The rate at which jobs are being created is among the lowest in the country. And because of the loss of more than $1 billion of revenue due to the tax cuts, the governor and his supporters have been eroding the state’s infrastructure to pay the state’s daily bills.

More than $1 billion has been taken from the state’s highway fund. Education is underfunded, rural hospitals are at risk of closing, the highway patrol does not have a single officer in some counties, and pension payment obligations are being gambled away and delayed.

Reserve accounts have been drawn down, and long-term bonds with substantial interest payments are being relied upon. Consequently, the state’s bond rating has been lowered and the state’s debt is at its highest level ever.

Yet Brownback will not consider changing direction.

The governor does not stand for re-election this fall, but those who have supported and continue to support his failures do. Senate President Susan Wagle, R-Wichita; Sens. Jeff King, R-Independence, and Ty Masterson, R-Andover; and House Speaker Ray Merrick, R-Stilwell; need to lead the state in a new direction or lose in their next elections.

This story was originally published March 30, 2016 at 7:05 PM with the headline "John E. Moore: Lead state in new direction or lose next election."