While they differed on some points — how to fund schools, for example — both Rep. Kent Thompson and Sen. Caryn Tyson agreed budget discussions would dominate the State Legislature this spring.
The Republican lawmakers were invited Monday evening to visit with Allen County Farm Bureau members to discuss goings-on at the Statehouse now that the Legislature is back in session.
Both noted they had yet to pore over the specifics of Gov. Brownback’s budget proposals released Friday afternoon, because Monday was a state and federal holiday.
They planned to dive head-first into the budget discussions today.
Both spoke about the dangers of removing sales tax exemptions for farmers who purchase agriculture equipment.
“If you remove that sales tax exemption, you’ll have to remove it for everyone,” she said.
Tyson also said she opposed one idea already being voiced: changing how farmland is taxed.
A senator from Johnson County said the state could recoup more funds if ag land was taxed at its fair market value, and not the income it generates, the current formula.
Such a sea change would be unfair to farmers, Tyson opined.
“We’ve got to be aggressive in shutting that thing down,” she said.
Thompson and Tyson both noted Brownback’s proposal to greatly increase “sin” taxes, for tobacco and alcohol, would unfairly punish merchants along the Missouri border.
The issue is a personal one for Thompson, whose wife, Susan, owns State Street Liquors in Iola.
“I can tell you right now the state of Kansas makes more money on my wife’s business than she does,” Thompson said.
Thompson said the governor’s proposal to revamp how schools are funded, by scrapping the current formula and giving money to districts through individual grants until a new system is in place “is a concern.”
“There’s nothing wrong with the existing formula, especially for us folks in rural areas,” Thompson said. “We benefit. There’s nothing wrong with it. What’s wrong with it is the funding of it.”
Tyson disagreed, calling the formula overly complicated, and one that improperly gives benefits to wealthier districts.
However, she also pointed out she had reservations about using a block grant system for schools.
“It’s going to be an interesting year,” Tyson said. “I don’t want to be gloom and doom, but … there’s a divide up there, and it’s not always party division; it’s rural-urban.”
Thompson and Tyson both noted they’ll follow with interest any legislation dealing with drones, which they both said could be a boon to farmers for several reasons.
A farmer could use a drone, for example, to check on his cattle herd or to more efficiently spray his fields.
The key, Tyson said, is to curb potential drone usage for nefarious means.
Thompson predicted Brownback would leave spending cut options up to the legislators.
Cutting income taxes to spur economic activity “sure hasn’t been the boon he was looking for,” Thompson said.
Both lawmakers promised to visit again with Farm Bureau representatives as the legislative session took shape.
Thompson promised his eyes would be “wide open” as various bills are presented.
“We know the budget and education are going to dominate things,” Thompson said. “We just want to make sure they don’t sneak anything through the side door.”
Lawmakers: Budget expected to dominate agenda
