OMG.
“This is an economic problem, not a tax policy problem,” Gov. Sam Brownback said Tuesday afternoon in response to the news that February’s tax receipts fell short $54 million.
Does he think we’re stupid?
Ever since the governor cut income taxes, Kansas has been running a river of red ink. To date, we’ve lost $1 billion in expected revenues. For this fiscal year alone, we’re $80 million short.
The governor’s not buying it.
“These numbers reflect a declining national and regional economy,” he said.
No, they don’t.
Kansas sits at the bottom of the nation in terms of stagnated growth.
Brownback shakes his head and sighs heavily.
No, no, no. Let me explain it to you, he says, and takes a deliberate tone, as if talking to kindergartners.
That tax loophole for 330,000 business owners has nothing to do with an underfunded state budget.
And those income tax cuts are stimulating the economy.
“We’ve created 80,000 new jobs,” Brownback attests, cleverly omitting the fact that the state’s 0.5 percent job growth rate is ninth worst in the nation.
The half-truths are beyond insulting.
So what does he do?
He slashes $17 million from higher education, effective immediately. Looks like spring break may be extended — say until August.
YOU’D think something could be done.
Say, the Legislature would pass a budget that funds its obligations.
You’d think.
But that means standing up to Brownback.
And so far, our Republican-dominated Legislature has not shown the backbone.
