Gov. Sam Brownback promised Kansans that his deep income tax cuts favoring the wealthy would bring lots of great new things to the state.
Instead, Brownback — and residents — have been enduring a steady drumbeat of bad news after the cuts took effect.
This week, a 31-hour stretch brought three different body blows to Brownback’s administration.
▪ At 9 a.m. Tuesday, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics released a report showing how jobs had grown in metropolitan areas across America.
Unfortunately for Brownback, the report showed that the Missouri side of the state line had gained jobs at four times the rate of the Kansas side. And yes, that’s after including new employment in Johnson and Wyandotte counties.
So much for Brownback’s promise that jobs would be fleeing Missouri-side cities for Kansas after the tax cuts.
▪ Shortly after noon Tuesday, a judicial panel in Shawnee County released a ruling that Kansas was inadequately funding K-12 education.
That could mean the state would need to pump in $500 million extra a year or more to bring schools up to par.
That’s extremely concerning news for Brownback. He already will have to suggest how to slash the state budget in the coming months because the income tax cuts are on pace to help cause a $1.1 billion hole in revenues in this and the next fiscal year.
The ruling was a victory for schoolchildren and educators, one that Brownback and his allies quickly tried to deflect by saying they would further study the matter.
▪ Finally, on Wednesday afternoon, Kansas officials released figures showing the state had collected $15 million less than expected in December.
And that was after the state in November had dramatically lowered revenue expectations for the rest of this fiscal year.
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/o...-abouhalkah/article5332056.html#storylink=cpy
Instead, Brownback — and residents — have been enduring a steady drumbeat of bad news after the cuts took effect.
This week, a 31-hour stretch brought three different body blows to Brownback’s administration.
▪ At 9 a.m. Tuesday, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics released a report showing how jobs had grown in metropolitan areas across America.
Unfortunately for Brownback, the report showed that the Missouri side of the state line had gained jobs at four times the rate of the Kansas side. And yes, that’s after including new employment in Johnson and Wyandotte counties.
So much for Brownback’s promise that jobs would be fleeing Missouri-side cities for Kansas after the tax cuts.
▪ Shortly after noon Tuesday, a judicial panel in Shawnee County released a ruling that Kansas was inadequately funding K-12 education.
That could mean the state would need to pump in $500 million extra a year or more to bring schools up to par.
That’s extremely concerning news for Brownback. He already will have to suggest how to slash the state budget in the coming months because the income tax cuts are on pace to help cause a $1.1 billion hole in revenues in this and the next fiscal year.
The ruling was a victory for schoolchildren and educators, one that Brownback and his allies quickly tried to deflect by saying they would further study the matter.
▪ Finally, on Wednesday afternoon, Kansas officials released figures showing the state had collected $15 million less than expected in December.
And that was after the state in November had dramatically lowered revenue expectations for the rest of this fiscal year.
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/o...-abouhalkah/article5332056.html#storylink=cpy
