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To Fill Budget Hole, Kansas G.O.P. Considers the Unthinkable: Raising Taxes
nytimes.com ^ | may 29, 2015 | john eligon

Posted on 05/30/2015 8:28:38 PM PDT by lowbridge

With the state facing a $400 million budget hole for the coming fiscal year, the conservatives who dominate the Legislature here say they are agonizing over the likelihood of doing something that did not seem to be in their DNA: raising taxes.

Just three years ago, many of these lawmakers passed the largest tax cuts in state history, saying they would lead to economic growth. But that growth did not appear, and after repeatedly trimming spending to close shortfalls, legislators again find themselves in a prolonged budget battle with no easy answers, where both houses of the Republican-controlled Legislature are proposing tax increases.

The reason: even anti-tax Republicans are acknowledging that there is not much more to cut without significantly hurting popular programs, including education.

The fault lines now seem to run along the question of which taxes to raise. Some believe that income taxes are off limits and that they should raise sales taxes to shoulder the entire burden. Others advocate a mixed approach and said income taxes should be on the table. Democrats argue that increasing sales taxes would be another blow to low-income Kansans to the benefit of the business class.

And many worry that the only solution will be to repeal the signature piece of the law they passed in 2012: the elimination of taxes on certain types of small businesses.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events; US: Kansas
KEYWORDS: kansas; taxes
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1 posted on 05/30/2015 8:28:38 PM PDT by lowbridge
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To: lowbridge

Hey, Kansas Republicans!, why don’t you fill your holes with spending cuts.


2 posted on 05/30/2015 8:31:00 PM PDT by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
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To: lowbridge

Cut spending on BS items for liberal indoctrination training campa (public schools). Cut the million dollar football field displays and laptops or iPads in the classrrooms or future liberals who don’t appreciate it anyway.


3 posted on 05/30/2015 8:31:40 PM PDT by jsanders2001
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To: lowbridge

Cut spending on BS items for liberal indoctrination training campa (public schools). Cut the million dollar football field displays and laptops or iPads in the classrrooms for future liberals who don’t appreciate it anyway.


4 posted on 05/30/2015 8:31:50 PM PDT by jsanders2001
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To: lowbridge

Easy solution: raise the taxes of liberals and Dummycrats in the state. Just them. They love taxes so much they get sexually aroused by it aside from having pictures of obamatard on their altars.


5 posted on 05/30/2015 8:31:54 PM PDT by max americana (fired liberals in our company last election, and I laughed while they cried (true story))
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To: lowbridge

Republicans don’t do it!!! Close the gap with smaller Government and cutting taxes!!!


6 posted on 05/30/2015 8:34:31 PM PDT by tallyhoe
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To: lowbridge

The growth has begun. I know its anecdotal, but I’m seeing out of state plates EVERYWHERE.

Cut the damn government.


7 posted on 05/30/2015 8:37:04 PM PDT by Crazieman (Article V or National Divorce. The only solutions now.)
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To: lowbridge

The transformation is complete... Rs have completely transformed themselves into Ds. Voter nullification in action.


8 posted on 05/30/2015 8:38:15 PM PDT by Shugee
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To: lowbridge

I laughed.


9 posted on 05/30/2015 8:40:05 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
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To: lowbridge

New York Slimes can find time to spew speculation about middle America GOP legislators, but ignore the disastrous effects of Obamanomics on the GDP, on work force participation, and on the unemployment rate??

Senator Brownback and Senator Pat Brown were SUPPOSED to get their asses kicked, according to the NY TIMES....how’d that work out, girls?


10 posted on 05/30/2015 8:42:23 PM PDT by SoFloFreeper
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To: Shugee

Don’t believe the SLIMES. They were saying this last year before the election, too....


11 posted on 05/30/2015 8:43:29 PM PDT by SoFloFreeper
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To: lowbridge; All

DEFUND socialist collectives. CUT GOVERNMENT! C’mon Kansas. 10th amendment BUMP!

http://www.usdebtclock.org/state-debt-clocks/state-of-kansas-debt-clock.html

Debt to GDP is somewhat high compared to other states.


12 posted on 05/30/2015 8:43:52 PM PDT by PGalt
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To: lowbridge
Democrats argue that increasing sales taxes would be another blow to low-income Kansans to the benefit of the business class.

What is the sales tax in NYC again?

13 posted on 05/30/2015 8:46:48 PM PDT by VeniVidiVici (If Al Sharpton would pay his taxes, two million kids could eat school lunch for one year)
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To: lowbridge

AH.. so reducing the size and scope (and cost) of Kansas State givernment is NOT in their minds..

Pity..


14 posted on 05/30/2015 8:50:35 PM PDT by hosepipe (This propaganda has been edited (specifically) to include some fully orbed hyperbole..)
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To: lowbridge

Say, NYSlimes, what is New York’s budgetary outlook for this year?


15 posted on 05/30/2015 8:51:41 PM PDT by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
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To: lowbridge
The reason: even anti-tax Republicans are acknowledging that there is not much more to cut without significantly hurting popular programs, including education.

What part of "unthinkable" don't they understand?

16 posted on 05/30/2015 8:54:36 PM PDT by dr_lew
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To: VeniVidiVici
What is the sales tax in NYC again?

8.875%

17 posted on 05/30/2015 8:54:45 PM PDT by NJRighty ("It's sick out there and getting sicker" - Bob Grant)
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To: lowbridge

They never CONSIDER spending cuts


18 posted on 05/30/2015 9:03:18 PM PDT by Dick Vomer (2 Timothy 4:7 deo duce ferro comitante)
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To: lowbridge

This should be easy to fix, with minimal impact on the citizens. If there are 2 million people in Kansas between the ages of 16 and 100, and if they have a $400 million deficit, you could balance the budget by increasing taxes an average of $200 per person per year, or about 55 cents a day. That should be painless. Just do it.


19 posted on 05/30/2015 9:22:49 PM PDT by Steve_Seattle
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To: Dick Vomer
"They never CONSIDER spending cuts."

Not according to the article. It says they made a lot of spending cuts.
20 posted on 05/30/2015 9:24:36 PM PDT by Steve_Seattle
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