Posted on 10/08/2014 9:17:27 AM PDT by redreno
Here's how embattled Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback diagnosed his political problems in an interview with Christian Broadcasting Network's David Brody: “I think they (the mainstream media) want what’s happening in this state to fail that they’re shopping for a factual setting to back that up because it’s working.”
Um, no. While blaming the media is both one of the most common strategic moves and one that regularly reeks of desperation, in this case -- like in most of them -- what Brownback is saying is simply not true.
So why then is Brownback in so much trouble in a state where President Obama won just 38 percent of the vote in 2012 and is, inarguably, one of the five most conservative states in the country?
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Not the most recent. A SurveyUSA poll that came out after that had Davis up by 5. Link
I figure you have to go with the trend. And the trend has been a pretty consistent 4 or 5 points down for Brownback. That may change over the coming weeks as we get closer to election day; we'll have to see.
Absolutely. The same applies in all the farm states. I still remember Thune, supposedly a true conservative, fighting tooth and nail to maintain farm subsidy programs. This is exactly why government spending will never decrease until there’s nothing left to dole out.
There are at least 2 definitions of middle class. One defines the middle class as the professional classes and the petit bourgeois - e.g. doctors, lawyers, engineer, small business owners, et al. Another defines the middle class as those making the median national income. Current usage seems to lean towards the second definition. By that definition, the middle class (using the bottom 75% as a rough proxy) pays, at best, 13% of federal income taxes. They are not taxed to subsidize themselves - the role of Santa Claus is filled by the top 25% of income earners, who pay 87% of Federal income taxes. That is why the welfare state commands enormous majorities - 75% of the population pays next to nothing for it. From the NTU:
Percentiles Ranked by AGI
AGI Threshold on Percentiles
Percentage of Federal Personal Income Tax Paid
Top 1%
$343,927
36.73
Top 5%
$154,643
58.66
Top 10%
$112,124
70.47
Top 25%
$66,193
87.30
Top 50%
$32,396
97.75
Bottom 50%
<$32,396
2.25
Note: AGI is Adjusted Gross Income
Source: Internal Revenue Service
Kansas, like Wisconsin is just symptomatic of a dying nation. The gimmee guys and gals have won. Just like the “out of Iraq” morons won. Not a damn thing to be done about it. They are a majority.
The NBC Marist Poll did have it at one point difference. Davis 44 and Brownback 43
http://newscms.nbcnews.com/sites/newscms/files/kansas_october_2014_annotated_questionnaire_nbc_news_marist_poll.pdf
The same Marist Poll that found Roberts down ten points.
Cato Institute’s Fiscal Policy Report Card grade on Gov. Sam Brownback is cited on WABC’s The Larry Kudlow Show
Grading America’s Governors
http://www.cato.org/blog/grading-americas-governors
Brownback Gets An ‘A’ For Politically Dangerous Tax Cuts
http://dailycaller.com/2014/10/02/brownback-gets-an-a-for-politically-dangerous-tax-cuts/
From The Daily Caller:
A Brownback loss would deal a blow to conservative fiscal policy around the country, as other Republican governors would likely think twice before enacting similar reforms.
Cato’s report acknowledged the criticism, but maintained the cuts are good for the economy in the long run. “Some Kansas legislators may view slower revenue growth as a terrible problem,” reads the report, “but it creates an opportunity for them to improve government efficiency and cut unneeded programs.”
Some more:
The report praises Brownback for not only slashing tax rates, but also balancing the budget by cutting spending. He cut the income tax rate from 6.45 percent to 4.9 percent in 2012, and that rate is scheduled to drop to 3.9 percent by 2018.
According to the report, his plan will save Kansas taxpayers $800 million a year.
Brownback offset the cuts with an increase in the sales tax from 5.7 to 6.15 percent, and has balanced the budget in the past few years. But slow economic growth and projected gaps in future budgets caused Moody’s Investors Service to downgrade the state’s credit rating this year, and critics are blaming Brownback’s tax cuts.
I heard it on radio on my way to work and I didn't catch the polling agency. I'm pretty sure based on what Doodledawg posted, it must have been the Marist poll as the margin is right and I think those were the support numbers reported for each candidate.
Watch their debate:
Brownback vs. Davis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRTLWcK6ouA
while at it...
Roberts vs. Orman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As68xg4f6Yg
Enjoy the LIES from Orman and Davis....
Vee alvees give them the fair treatment, ja?
Vhen ever have vee said an untrue or nasty comment or steered anyvone away from that vitch is true.
Unfair media. Zhis is nonsense!”
~Goebbels
(Possibly spoken by Chris Mathews and attributed to Goebbels)
There is no doubt that the Cato Institute agrees with Brownback’s plan to eliminate the state income tax. But his alternate revenue sources haven’t panned out. And in a state where over 60% of the spending goes to education then that means cutting per pupil funding. That is not going over very well with the electorate. Or the credit rating agencies, as you pointed out.
I can add that Orman and Davis make my blood boil. I know the facts, I study, I read and I can’t come to agree with them on much. Orman is a trickster. he had me fooled for about 4 weeks till I learned the truth. Now they are the exact type of people and politicians I dislike with a passion.
Yeah they are for cuts and getting rid of departments I know it.
Everyone is in favor of cuts until it's their ox that's getting gored. And cutting education funding gored a lot of people.
Sorry, but this is a fools argument, and trying to make it is EXACTLY why Corbett is in trouble.
Whether you agree with the argument or not, its a very simple one to be presented and understand.
PA charges no severence tax on natural gas drilling, PA is claiming shortages in its educational budgets, and making cuts, if a severence tax is implemented, as it has been in every gas producing state of any size, there is no budget shortfall.
Now, you may believe that there is enough money in education without a severence tax, but that’s not an argument that is likely to win many votes... and is dubious. There is little doubt PA has issues, but its largely due to benefits primarily retirement benefits given to teachers, which are made by individual school districts, not by state officials.
PA’s a slush fund for public employees, and has been for years, and everyone knows it, but no one will do anything about it.
However, the argument that PA should not tax natural gax extraction is hardly one that is going to win you any battles, and frankly its a millstone.
Yes yes, argue the ideological purity of your conservative point that all taxes are evil and kill jobs all you like, its a nonsensical argument. Would you call Alaska a bastion of liberalism? No? Why not? They get a tax and cut of ever gallon of oil pumped out of their state... DOn’t they know they are killing jobs by doing that?
The argument that PA must have no severence tax to remain competative in the energy market is a no win, and its frankly a stupid ideological argument that is going to help Corbett likely be the first Governor is PA history to lose re-election.
Don't forget -
Before Brownback was elected governor, Kansans elected Kathleen Sebelius as governor TWICE.
it sounds like they made the tax cuts hurt ON PURPOSE by cutting things that are pure investment (schools)
rather than unnecessary busy work (government bureaucrat paper-pushers)
That is what I was trying to say only you said it better
Like I said I don't think Brownback had a choice. Education comprises 63% of the Kansas expenditures. There was no way he could avoid cutting education if he was to balance the budget.
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