Good news, guys. Steve Rose, with the help of Sen. Jim
Denning, has found the way to solve Kansas’ budget problems.
Sigh.
I am baffled by almost every single suggestion in this
column.
First, this columnist and conservative legislator
theorize that we just need to raise revenue, and bam! Problem solved. When someone
from the government wants to “raise revenue” it always, ALWAYS, means by taking
money out of your wallet. It’s legal pick pocketing and nothing more.
Denning says a proposal to add cigarette and alcohol sales taxes will be dead on arrival, and then he advocates for increasing sales taxes on e-cigarettes. Seriously, what's the difference? (I hate both proposals, btw.)
Second, it should be noted that Kansas revenues are up, despite
what Rose calls “damaging tax cuts.” Kansas is consistently bringing in more
money month over month than it did the year before. Kansas is not however
bringing in the amounts of revenue that the “experts” predicted. I am not sure
who makes these revenue projections, but since that person or group has been wrong
repeatedly, maybe it’s time to find a new brain trust.
So please understand that when you see those news stories
saying that revenues are too low, know that means revenues aren’t meeting
projections. They are NOT lower than they were the year before. Also, note that
spending isn’t in the tank.
Next, let’s talk about the other side of the economic
equation. Yes, we can make further spending cuts. Cutting taxes is
relatively politically easy. Who is going to object to government allowing
citizens to keep more of their own money (I mean, who other than socialists?).
Approximately 60 percent of Kansas’ budget goes to the sacred cow of education,
and I am continually amazed that despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary –
evidence that clearly shows spending more doesn’t equate to better educational
outcomes – politicians and the media and their dupes in the general public
believe that if we just pour even more money into public schools, we’ll
suddenly begin graduating a bevy of Kansas Einsteins from our public
indoctrination camps. Historically, this idea is a big fat failure, but we keep
going to that well and drinking until we can’t button our pants.
To hear Steve Rose tell it, you’d
think this was Kansas during the days of the Dust Bowl. But guess what? General
fund spending is about even or trending slightly upwards. These painful budget
hacks apparently shaved off about zero cents from the state budget.
I could deal with the whining and caterwauling from liberals a lot easier
if it wasn’t so darn sanctimonious. Just be honest, liberals. Be honest and say
yeah, we’re spending the same as we’ve been spending, but it’s not enough,
because we don’t want anyone to have more money than we deem they should have.
(This is essentially the cry of the liberals. It’s politics based on envy, and
I’ll tell you what, it’s immoral.)
So let’s jump into Denning’s proposed “budget adjustments”
ahem – mostly tax increases.
First, he’d like to “fix” the LLC loophole. I won’t go too
much into it. I have really mixed feelings about it. He says the “fix” would
add about $110 million to Kansas’ bottom line. (Steve Rose calls it “saving”
money in the Kansas budget, which completely enrages me. When I “save” money in
my own budget, I do not take dollars out of the pockets of other people.)
Second, Denning proposes raising the sales tax rate. So help
me if that plan passes either legislative body, I will cut someone. Sales taxes
are the most regressive tax policy, because the poor bear the greatest burden
when sales taxes are raised.
Third.. and again, I’m sharpening my knife – Denning proposes
raising the gasoline tax. Again,
gasoline taxes are a dagger in the backs of hard working, middle class Kansans.
It’s as bad or worse than adding a tax to an effective cancer treatment.I’m talking pitch forks and stake burnings. I’m not kidding.
I don’t understand Denning’s fourth suggestion, modifying a
passive income tax law, well enough to offer comment.
Denning then, according to Rose who can’t always be trusted
so grain of salt and all that, suggests making changes to Medicaid. I can get
on board with tightening the Medicaid eligibility error rate. The other
Medicaid policy changes mentioned in the column don’t give enough details for
me to comment. However, I will warn that changes to Medicaid that “add” money
to Kansas revenues are likely to be fraught with federal strings. Blech.
He suggests taxing the healthcare companies that administer
KanCare. Meh. In general, I hate taxes, so I probably hate this suggestion, too,
but again, not enough detail.
Denning also suggests cutting some itemized deductions. I’m
fine with this, even though I believe it will likely cost me more. I hate
government choosing winners and losers – even in the very few instances in
which I am a winner. His final suggestion involves realizing more in returns on
KPERS. I mean, it has a nice sound to it, but can we really guarantee any
amount of earnings from investments? Good luck with that.
I’m sickened that it’s come to this – that conservatives are
spiking their obligation to make spending cuts – real, actual cuts. I could even live
with proposed solutions that make cuts and add revenues. I can’t live with
proposals that do nothing but pad the pockets of Kansas government.
So, how does one find $600 million in the Kansas budget? I'm just spit-balling here -- but do the work necessary to cut spending. (This likely means somehow crushing the Kansas public school monopoly, which I realize is easier said than done, but can we try? Please.)
I got my first electronic cigarette kit on VistaVapors, and I enjoy it a lot.
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