I think that’s called effective governance. Refocus on the core services and cut the fat. It’s how the real world works outside of government fantasy land.
In a sense, this is the same thing that tripped up Tom Corbett in PA.
He pulled in the reins on spending, trying to ride things out without a tax hike for a year or two until the economy recovered.
Only under Obama, it never really recovered. The schools went 3, 4 years without an increase in state funding. Local school boards started hiking their property taxes (which, astoundingly enough, they got away with blaming on Corbett).
Then when transportation issues reached a crisis phase he hiked the gas tax, and that sealed his fate.
I would advise Gov. Brownback to hold firm and to not repeat those mistakes.
Wait, where’s the bad news?