Kansans are paying a high price here at home for the Governor's political favors. He has dedicated his only term to policies that are unpopular with Kansans. The education bill, his income tax scheme, and denying Medicaid expansion have all been against the wishes of the majority- yet the Governor stays the course. Meanwhile his staff strolls through the revolving door of Government and Industry to great personal gain. It's not just embarrassing, it costs Kansas real money.
"Tax revenue in April dropped 45 percent from a year ago, the Kansas Department of Revenue announced Wednesday.The state’s revenue for the year is $92.9 million less than projected earlier this month. The state has taken in $480 million less overall than it had by this point in the last fiscal year." - Wichita Eagle
The Governor was tooting his own horn just a few weeks ago, hoping to help everyone keep their heads in the sand.
"Until now, Gov. Sam Brownback expressed optimism state tax and budget reforms would produce a bounty for Kansans moving ahead. State revenue projections were revised upward in mid-April by a consensus estimating group, which included Brownback administration officials. Those adjustments were touted by Brownback and others as evidence the governor was delivering economic renewal promised when elected in 2010." - CJOnline
In light of these new numbers the Governor and his staff will of course want to deal with the cause of the shortfall, his income tax scheme....
"The failed economic policies of the Obama administration are affecting states throughout the nation." Brownback said.
Uh-huh. Pass the buck much Governor? Perhaps very serious person Kansas Revenue Secretary Nick Jordan will take an honest look at it...
"This is an undeniable result of President Obama’s failed economic policies of increasing taxes and over-regulation," Jordan said.
BlahBlahBlah. That must be why Kansas is so far behind our neighboring states economically? According to Brownback's own team of advisors...
"A report by Gov. Sam Brownback’s Council of Economic Advisors shows that Kansas is lagging the region and nation in numerous economic categories. Over the past year, Kansas trails the region in categories that cover growth in population, gross domestic product, personal income, private-industry wage level and private business establishment, the report says." - LJWorld
Excuses, like budgeting, are not the Brownback administrations strong suit. Abusing power for personal gain, that's more their speed. To be fair, making national news for an FBI investigation into his staff wasn't what Governor Brownback had in mind this election season. Getting caught before voters head to the polls wasn't the plan. From Dailykos radio comes this inspiring conversation....
Joan McCarter -
"this gives Brownback two Medicaid problems going into reelection....the existing program (KanCare) did not go so well in it's implementation and was problematic for a lot of people in trying to get coverage and get their care paid for; but also we've got 182,000 in the Medicaid gap because Brownback refuses to take Medicaid expansion."
David Waldman -
"So if you aren't on it yet- screw you... and if you are on it now- screw you as well.... Maybe we should call him Governor Kickback"
We couldn't agree more!
http://www.stopbrownback.com/
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