Utopia Talk - Politics - Kansas votes for Bankruptcy

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Utopia Talk / Politics / Kansas votes for Bankruptcy

Aeros
Member Sun May 27 07:41:48
Amazing. Its just a war, the tea party says. A war on Public Education mostly, but other things as well. With a stroke of the pen Kansas now has a fiscal deficit approaching 1 billion dollars. Not bad for such a small state.

And before Rod and Mtardo go ape, the strongest resistance came from the Republican Party who were alarmed at how damaging the cuts would be to the budget. But that did not stop the drinkers of tea.

http://onl...4791704577418641784902500.html

Kansas Governor Signs Tax-Cut Bill
Drop in Income-Tax Rates, Backed by Tea Party as Economic Stimulus, Drew Flak From Some in GOP

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback signed into law Tuesday a tax-cut measure that had divided GOP lawmakers in one of the country's most fiscally conservative states, pitting tea-party advocates who argued it would spur economic growth against some fellow Republicans who worried the cuts go too far.

The tax plan, which was the subject of weeks of intense debate and political maneuvering in the legislature, will reduce the top individual state income-tax rate to 4.9% from 6.45% in 2013. It also will eliminate income taxes on non-wage income for about 191,000 small businesses.

The plan likely would require additional cuts in spending on education and social services to cover a reduction in annual tax revenue projected by the Kansas Legislative Research Department to exceed $800 million by 2014, or 12.8% of projected state revenues.

Rep. Owen Donohoe, a conservative Republican who backed the tax cuts, said the state would be able to cover shortfalls through increased revenue from better economic growth and from further cuts to state payrolls and spending on schools.

"This was just a war," Mr. Donohoe said. "There is just no doubt we can become more efficient."

Countered Sen. Steve Morris, a more centrist Republican who is president of the Kansas Senate: "It is not good public policy." He also called the tax plan backed by the tea party "very reckless."

Democrats, who hold a minority in both the Kansas House and Senate, labeled the plan an unfair tax shift to seniors and the state's working class from the wealthy and corporations.

Passage of the plan illustrates the growing clout in red states like Kansas of a tea-party movement that argues that aggressively downsizing government and lowering tax rates can lure companies, ignite new business and draw new residents.

Nebraska passed cuts in income-tax rates this year, and Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin is pushing a reduction in her state's top income-tax rate to 4.5% from the current 5.25%. On Tuesday, she issued a statement saying Kansas' move showed the urgent need for her plan. "Oklahoma needs to compete with our neighbors," she said. "To do that, we need to lower our income tax."

Kansas' new tax rates will put it roughly bracketed between nearby states like Texas and South Dakota that don't have an individual income tax and other Midwest states such as Iowa, where the top rate is nearly 9%, and Minnesota, where it is 7.85%.

The cuts in Kansas went further than those proposed by Mr. Brownback, who has made shrinking government and regulation a hallmark of his administration.

The governor, who has enlisted supply-side economist Arthur Laffer as an adviser, had proposed lowering and flattening the state's individual income tax and eliminating taxes on non-wage, business income. But he also proposed paying for those moves by making permanent a temporary sales tax increase that had boosted it to 6.3% from 5.7%, and eliminating a variety of exemptions and credits, including the exemption on mortgage interest and the earned-income credit for the working poor.

The governor had pushed for a compromise, but in the end, the legislature, driven by House tea-party conservatives, approved the tax cuts without the revenue components that Mr. Brownback had proposed.

"This is what they came up with," Mr. Brownback said Tuesday. "I'm happy to sign it, and we're going to make it work." Still, he added: "I would have put more 'pay-fors' in it." Potential areas for saving include Medicaid and negotiating lower rates for office space and electricity, Mr. Brownback said.

The tax cuts should have limited impact in the first year because of a projected surplus this year resulting from a combination of spending cuts and an improving economy. Since taking office 17 months ago, Mr. Brownback has eliminated more than 2,500 state jobs.

The divide among Republicans in the state could grow this summer as tea-party backed candidates take on incumbent Republicans in the state Senate in the Republican primary election in August.

roland
Member Sun May 27 07:52:43
Rod got his wish to pay more tax

WilliamTheBastard
Member Sun May 27 08:32:48
he doesnt pay taxes, others pay taxes to him while he spits at them

Hot Rod
Revved Up Sun May 27 09:00:02

roland, first of all I do not live in Kansas nor do I shop there so it does not effect me at all.

Next, from what I read the only part of the proposal that effects seniors is the sales tax, which is going to be less.

It sounds like a solid proposal to me and I suggest you watch it for the next few years, I think it will be productive.

Hot Rod
Revved Up Sun May 27 09:04:35

CORRECTION:

That was income tax that will fall, sales tax will remain the same.

Aeros
Member Sun May 27 10:28:58
The entire cut is based on the premise that it will encourage people to move to Kansas.

FFS, its Kansas.

Renzo Marquez
Member Sun May 27 10:35:09
I'm sure they have plenty of dead weight in their budget that they can cut.

Aeros
Member Sun May 27 10:38:04
After years of cutting the fat, whats a few limbs, right Renzo?

Renzo Marquez
Member Sun May 27 10:43:43
Are the limbs necrotic?

Isaksson
Member Sun May 27 11:06:47
a tenth for everyone! all other taxes are evil. The only good military is good for, is to remove some of the potential criminals from the streets and let them die for a higher cause then drugs.

chen
Member Sun May 27 11:31:41
brownback lol

they still voted for that fucking retard? they deserve every dumbshit policy that comes along wiht him.

chen
Member Sun May 27 11:39:21
Just read the full article.

I'm dumbfounded with the stupidity here. It's only a reduction to the top rate which means the Kansas tea party morons that support it won't see any reduction to their own income.

Not to mention that these flyover states are already in debt. How long until there's a tornado/fire that they need fed assistance because local services are too underfunded?

No one wants to pay taxes. No one. These idiots don't realize that taxes actually go to some necessary services. As soon as anything happens in Kansas they will need fed assistance on everyone else's dime. These plans are so beyond short-sighted.

Aeros
Member Sun May 27 11:50:34
Tea Party Motto: Government does not work, so elect us and we will make sure it won't.

Clitoral Hood
The Bloody Scourge Sun May 27 12:15:12
lets institute a new federal policy. if your state is a net receiver of federal money, you are not eligible to receive federal assistance should an emergency transpire.

Sam Adams
Member Sun May 27 13:06:03
With DC so incompetent, why should states be competent aeros?

WilliamTheBastard
Member Sun May 27 13:44:31
"if your state is a net receiver of federal money, you are not eligible to receive federal assistance should an emergency transpire. "

this doesnt work. In a major disaster, the legislating ruling class are the only ones that can afford protection anyway, so they dont give a fuck

WilliamTheBastard
Member Sun May 27 13:46:29
you can be sure this Brownback tard is the first one escorted out of a town if a NO event happens

Sam Adams
Member Sun May 27 16:56:50
NO was a hilarious example of the utter failure of nanny staters. The nanny state officials were hopelessly stupid and ran away, while the nanny state subjects were left so unable to think for themselves that 2000 of them died even though warnings had been issued days in advance.

Aeros
Member Sun May 27 17:11:44
Actually, Bush did not believe in the nanny state and so Louisiana was left to its own devices.

Sam Adams
Member Sun May 27 17:16:29
The failure of the nanny state occurred at all levels.

Sam Adams
Member Sun May 27 17:17:11
'but but but my precious nanny state didnt fail!'

-aeros

Renzo Marquez
Member Sun May 27 17:48:09
Aeros
Member Sun May 27 17:11:44
"Actually, Bush did not believe in the nanny state and so Louisiana was left to its own devices."

No. Bush was a nanny stater.

Dakyron
Member Sun May 27 22:15:59
Bush was definitely a nanny stater. No child left behind being a prime example.

Anyway, its tough to argue against education cuts when I have seen firsthand where most of the money goes. Per student spending for education increased quite a bit between 1990 and 2010, but almost all of the increase has gone toward administration costs rather than operating costs(meaning superintendants, principals, etc... and collecting fat checks while teachers have gotten next to nothing).

show deleted posts

Aeros Member	Sun May 27 07:41:48 Amazing. Its just a war, the tea party says. A war on Public Education mostly, but other things as well. With a stroke of the pen Kansas now has a fiscal deficit approaching 1 billion dollars. Not bad for such a small state. And before Rod and Mtardo go ape, the strongest resistance came from the Republican Party who were alarmed at how damaging the cuts would be to the budget. But that did not stop the drinkers of tea. http://onl...4791704577418641784902500.html Kansas Governor Signs Tax-Cut Bill Drop in Income-Tax Rates, Backed by Tea Party as Economic Stimulus, Drew Flak From Some in GOP Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback signed into law Tuesday a tax-cut measure that had divided GOP lawmakers in one of the country's most fiscally conservative states, pitting tea-party advocates who argued it would spur economic growth against some fellow Republicans who worried the cuts go too far. The tax plan, which was the subject of weeks of intense debate and political maneuvering in the legislature, will reduce the top individual state income-tax rate to 4.9% from 6.45% in 2013. It also will eliminate income taxes on non-wage income for about 191,000 small businesses. The plan likely would require additional cuts in spending on education and social services to cover a reduction in annual tax revenue projected by the Kansas Legislative Research Department to exceed $800 million by 2014, or 12.8% of projected state revenues. Rep. Owen Donohoe, a conservative Republican who backed the tax cuts, said the state would be able to cover shortfalls through increased revenue from better economic growth and from further cuts to state payrolls and spending on schools. "This was just a war," Mr. Donohoe said. "There is just no doubt we can become more efficient." Countered Sen. Steve Morris, a more centrist Republican who is president of the Kansas Senate: "It is not good public policy." He also called the tax plan backed by the tea party "very reckless." Democrats, who hold a minority in both the Kansas House and Senate, labeled the plan an unfair tax shift to seniors and the state's working class from the wealthy and corporations. Passage of the plan illustrates the growing clout in red states like Kansas of a tea-party movement that argues that aggressively downsizing government and lowering tax rates can lure companies, ignite new business and draw new residents. Nebraska passed cuts in income-tax rates this year, and Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin is pushing a reduction in her state's top income-tax rate to 4.5% from the current 5.25%. On Tuesday, she issued a statement saying Kansas' move showed the urgent need for her plan. "Oklahoma needs to compete with our neighbors," she said. "To do that, we need to lower our income tax." Kansas' new tax rates will put it roughly bracketed between nearby states like Texas and South Dakota that don't have an individual income tax and other Midwest states such as Iowa, where the top rate is nearly 9%, and Minnesota, where it is 7.85%. The cuts in Kansas went further than those proposed by Mr. Brownback, who has made shrinking government and regulation a hallmark of his administration. The governor, who has enlisted supply-side economist Arthur Laffer as an adviser, had proposed lowering and flattening the state's individual income tax and eliminating taxes on non-wage, business income. But he also proposed paying for those moves by making permanent a temporary sales tax increase that had boosted it to 6.3% from 5.7%, and eliminating a variety of exemptions and credits, including the exemption on mortgage interest and the earned-income credit for the working poor. The governor had pushed for a compromise, but in the end, the legislature, driven by House tea-party conservatives, approved the tax cuts without the revenue components that Mr. Brownback had proposed. "This is what they came up with," Mr. Brownback said Tuesday. "I'm happy to sign it, and we're going to make it work." Still, he added: "I would have put more 'pay-fors' in it." Potential areas for saving include Medicaid and negotiating lower rates for office space and electricity, Mr. Brownback said. The tax cuts should have limited impact in the first year because of a projected surplus this year resulting from a combination of spending cuts and an improving economy. Since taking office 17 months ago, Mr. Brownback has eliminated more than 2,500 state jobs. The divide among Republicans in the state could grow this summer as tea-party backed candidates take on incumbent Republicans in the state Senate in the Republican primary election in August.
roland Member	Sun May 27 07:52:43 Rod got his wish to pay more tax
WilliamTheBastard Member	Sun May 27 08:32:48 he doesnt pay taxes, others pay taxes to him while he spits at them
Hot Rod Revved Up	Sun May 27 09:00:02 roland, first of all I do not live in Kansas nor do I shop there so it does not effect me at all. Next, from what I read the only part of the proposal that effects seniors is the sales tax, which is going to be less. It sounds like a solid proposal to me and I suggest you watch it for the next few years, I think it will be productive.
Hot Rod Revved Up	Sun May 27 09:04:35 CORRECTION: That was income tax that will fall, sales tax will remain the same.
Aeros Member	Sun May 27 10:28:58 The entire cut is based on the premise that it will encourage people to move to Kansas. FFS, its Kansas.
Renzo Marquez Member	Sun May 27 10:35:09 I'm sure they have plenty of dead weight in their budget that they can cut.
Aeros Member	Sun May 27 10:38:04 After years of cutting the fat, whats a few limbs, right Renzo?
Renzo Marquez Member	Sun May 27 10:43:43 Are the limbs necrotic?
Isaksson Member	Sun May 27 11:06:47 a tenth for everyone! all other taxes are evil. The only good military is good for, is to remove some of the potential criminals from the streets and let them die for a higher cause then drugs.
chen Member	Sun May 27 11:31:41 brownback lol they still voted for that fucking retard? they deserve every dumbshit policy that comes along wiht him.
chen Member	Sun May 27 11:39:21 Just read the full article. I'm dumbfounded with the stupidity here. It's only a reduction to the top rate which means the Kansas tea party morons that support it won't see any reduction to their own income. Not to mention that these flyover states are already in debt. How long until there's a tornado/fire that they need fed assistance because local services are too underfunded? No one wants to pay taxes. No one. These idiots don't realize that taxes actually go to some necessary services. As soon as anything happens in Kansas they will need fed assistance on everyone else's dime. These plans are so beyond short-sighted.
Aeros Member	Sun May 27 11:50:34 Tea Party Motto: Government does not work, so elect us and we will make sure it won't.
Clitoral Hood The Bloody Scourge	Sun May 27 12:15:12 lets institute a new federal policy. if your state is a net receiver of federal money, you are not eligible to receive federal assistance should an emergency transpire.
Sam Adams Member	Sun May 27 13:06:03 With DC so incompetent, why should states be competent aeros?
WilliamTheBastard Member	Sun May 27 13:44:31 "if your state is a net receiver of federal money, you are not eligible to receive federal assistance should an emergency transpire. " this doesnt work. In a major disaster, the legislating ruling class are the only ones that can afford protection anyway, so they dont give a fuck
WilliamTheBastard Member	Sun May 27 13:46:29 you can be sure this Brownback tard is the first one escorted out of a town if a NO event happens
Sam Adams Member	Sun May 27 16:56:50 NO was a hilarious example of the utter failure of nanny staters. The nanny state officials were hopelessly stupid and ran away, while the nanny state subjects were left so unable to think for themselves that 2000 of them died even though warnings had been issued days in advance.
Aeros Member	Sun May 27 17:11:44 Actually, Bush did not believe in the nanny state and so Louisiana was left to its own devices.
Sam Adams Member	Sun May 27 17:16:29 The failure of the nanny state occurred at all levels.
Sam Adams Member	Sun May 27 17:17:11 'but but but my precious nanny state didnt fail!' -aeros
Renzo Marquez Member	Sun May 27 17:48:09 Aeros Member Sun May 27 17:11:44 "Actually, Bush did not believe in the nanny state and so Louisiana was left to its own devices." No. Bush was a nanny stater.
Dakyron Member	Sun May 27 22:15:59 Bush was definitely a nanny stater. No child left behind being a prime example. Anyway, its tough to argue against education cuts when I have seen firsthand where most of the money goes. Per student spending for education increased quite a bit between 1990 and 2010, but almost all of the increase has gone toward administration costs rather than operating costs(meaning superintendants, principals, etc... and collecting fat checks while teachers have gotten next to nothing).
	show deleted posts

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