Archive for Friday, November 4, 2011

Kansans for No Income Tax hit the road to spread message of abolishing state income tax

November 4, 2011, 11:06 a.m. Updated November 4, 2011, 11:57 a.m.


— A Kansas group, partially funded by a Missouri billionaire and using a bus with an Alabama license tag, started its tour on Friday to spread its message to abolish the Kansas income tax.

"The only way to spur economic growth is to eliminate the income tax," said Ashley McMillan, president of Kansans for No Income Tax.

The group started its tour in Topeka and planned stops in Leavenworth, Pittsburg and Wichita.

Outside the Statehouse, about 35 people gathered, mostly Republicans and Republican staff members.

State Reps. Richard Carlson, R-St. Marys, who is chairman of the House Tax Committee, and Joe Patton, R-Topeka, spoke, as did Dave Trabert, president of the Kansas Public Policy Institute, and representatives from FairTaxKC.

Gov. Sam Brownback, a Republican, did not appear at the event, but his chief of staff, David Kensinger did. Kensinger said he showed up because he was promised hot chocolate.

Brownback has said he wants to get rid of the state income tax and his administration is working behind closed doors to propose a major tax overhaul for the 2012 legislative session, which starts in January.

Brownback, and Kansans for No Income Tax, say getting rid of the levy will spur economic growth, similar to Texas, which doesn't have a state income tax. But Democrats and some Republicans say it will force increases in other taxes, cuts in services, or both. They also say Kansas shouldn't use Texas as an example since Texas lags Kansas in many quality of life areas, such as education, roads and social services.

The issue is likely to be one of the most contentious of the upcoming session.

In the last fiscal year, Kansas brought in about $5.8 billion in tax revenue. Of that amount, about $3 billion came from state income taxes -- approximately $2.8 billion from individual income taxes and $225 million from corporate income taxes.

It was reported in recent days that Missouri anti-tax billionaire Rex Sinquefield has contributed to Kansans for No Income Tax. Sinquefield and McMillan have refused to say how much he contributed.

"We enjoy support from folks in Kansas and like-minded folks throughout the United States and we are very pleased with that," McMillan said.

When asked why the Kansas for Income Tax bus has an Alabama tag, McMillan said, "That's the bus that was available to us."

During the 2010 gubernatorial campaign, Brownback was criticized by some for leasing a campaign bus from an Alabama company for use on his campaign.


jhawk926 3 years, 1 month ago

So let me get this straight...the rich will get richer due to no income tax...then we will raise something like sales tax again, so that the poor get poorer...then Brownback's buddies win! When are Kansans going to realize this guy is not good for us?

chootspa 3 years, 1 month ago

Don't forget that Texas has one of the highest property taxes in the nation.

overthemoon 3 years, 1 month ago

And one of the worst education systems, highest number of uninsured residents.

chootspa 3 years, 1 month ago

Yes, the governor thinks that lowering income taxes will make the business fairy come and bless us with magical non existant energy and tourism jobs in spite of all evidence that tax migration does not happen.

thebigspoon 3 years, 1 month ago

Rothchild is on a mission to let the people of Kansas hear the truth, and you laugh. In what world, other than Brownbackistan, do the voters have to make decisions based only on Fox and Republican misinformation? If you'd just look at facts--all of them--you might still vote the way you have been, but you'd be voting from a factual, rather than emotional, and informed basis. Hard to imagine how laughing at the messenger makes the message any less pertinent.

johnnyreb 3 years, 1 month ago

Factual informed citizen the thebigspoon = ROLF LMAO

seriouscat 3 years, 1 month ago

Taxes are just government forcibly stealing the wealth that hard working people create by the sweat of their own hard hard work. Obviously taxes should just be abolished altogether, because they ruin freedom. If we got rid of taxes, everything will be better and everyone will be free to get rich rich rich! BOOYAH!

MarcoPogo 3 years, 1 month ago

Ah, the biting wit of David Kensinger...

Alexander Smith 3 years, 1 month ago

Yep, rich get richer. The state has less money. MORE teachers lose their jobs. Education drops to even lower levels. Roads get worse. Emergency support funds dry up... humm REALLLlll Smart.

chootspa 3 years, 1 month ago

That's a lovely thought, and I'm sure our kids will learn about it, never, since all that alleged "increased spending" won't actually raise enough state money to educate them in absence of an alternate revenue stream.

KUnlv13 3 years, 1 month ago

No state income tax here in Nevada- look how splendid we're doing! Although it isn't the sole cause, we're certainly on a national level at the bottom of the good lists and top of the bad lists!

guesswho 3 years, 1 month ago

nine states have no state income tax: Alaska Florida Nevada South Dakota Texas Washington Wyoming

Nevada and Florida until recently received lots of revenue from hotel taxes through tourism. Kansas isn't likely to have a lot of tourism revenue Texas has ports and oil. Kansas, very little oil.

Kansas doesn't have a lot of resources and i don't see how eliminating a state tax will spur growth. Very fuzzy math.

I imagine a lot of schools in Western Kansas will not be able to raise enough local property taxes to keep schools open.

thebigspoon 3 years, 1 month ago

But, in Brownbackistan, that's perfectly OK, as we do not need educated voters looking beyond the Repoublican talking points and making up their own minds.

jfhoosier 3 years, 1 month ago

Tennessee also has no tax, and their state is falling apart

monheim 3 years, 1 month ago


Duuuuurrr? Isn't this like saying "If it rains, stuff will get wet"?

Getaroom 3 years, 1 month ago

What, yet another ruse! How about removing the sales tax on food and clothing and begin there? This is nothing short of handing out more to the already very wealthy! It is plain and simple. This plan will simply load more onto the shoulders of those of us who can least afford it - which by the way happens to be most of us. Sounds really exciting doesn't it?! Oh, marvelous I don't have to pay State tax anymore! Hurrah! Don't buy into it sheeples, it is a trick with no treat. It has the face of "getting government out of our lives" doesn't it, but really it is a backdoor and set up for Neocon politicians and Corporations to gain greater power over the decision making process. Has anyone in Lawrence, any voting adult, felt regret about putting Brownbackward in office, anyone who voted for him that is, or who did not vote at all? OK, spell this word with me really carefully and then look up it's meaning and see if you can find any similarities to what is happening right now and all over this country.
O L I G A R C Y. Now that was easy right? OK, now try to get rid of it once it's intrenched. And you thought that this supposed scary, black, secret muslim, foreign born, Fascist, Socialist, Guns/Ammo busting President was bad? Just you keep supporting these wanna be religious dictator like folks and you will know real fear. Flat taxers, Flat earthers, No State taxers - all they want is to get their scrubby hands on power - bottom line. Until more 99%ers wake up from the numb sleep they are obviously in and add opposing voices to the status quo, the future is bleak and getting more bleak with each passing day of a head-in-the-sand existence.
Why have the Oh, so patriotic Republicans( a few Democrats) not supported any job creating bills or brought one of their own? Because they want to support their own agenda of making the rich richer, holding onto their own current or potential wealth. 30 years and counting of concentrating wealth into the smallest number of hands, making more and more money by having money, cutting jobs to create greater profits for shareholders, weakening opportunities for income equity. Does this sound like the American Dream? The Repubs keep repeating the mantric lie: it is the wealthy who are creating the jobs so we can't possibly tax them further, it simply is not true. The top 1% go from roughly $400, 000 year to billions. Do you think that one less luxury boat, or home, or car will cause a collapse of the counties economy, or their own. NO it won't, not even close. True, we cannot tax our way out this mess, but you know what? Not taxing the very wealthy is no way to go either. To steal a line, "Driver, move that bus"! Move that bus out of Kansas and back to whatever backcountry liers-hole it came out of.

chootspa 3 years, 1 month ago

Nice try. Just because you name it "jobs bill" doesn't mean it does anything to actually create jobs.

chootspa 3 years, 1 month ago

How about we clarify a little. There are 15 bills designed to help corporate lobbyists pollute or screw over customers, and not a single one of them will systematically create bunches of jobs. As best I can tell, the GOP just slapped a "jobs" label on a bunch of the same old crap bills they're trying to pass all the time, anyway. The alleged "jobs" bills, let me present you them:

HR872- reduces EPA regulations on pesticides, fungicides and rodenticides. HR910- prohibits EPA regulation of greenhouse gasses. HR37- prohibits FCC from implementing net neutrality. HR 1230- requires Dept. of Interior to open more oil and gas leases offshore.. HR1229- directs Dept. of Interior to issue more offshore drilling permits. HR1231- reverses President's offshore drilling moratorium. (already done) HR2021- eliminates EPA delays in Alaskan offshore drilling. HR2018- allows states to overrule EPA standards on water pollution. HR1315- allows House Financial Council to set aside any federal regulation. HR1938- demands immediate approval of Keystone XL pipeline w/o Executive study. HR2587- restricts actions of National Labor Board. HR 2401- restricts any EPA delays on air, water and waste compliance.. HR2681- removes 3 EPA standards on concrete manufacturing plant emissions. ( HR2250- removes EPA regulations on mercury and other hazardous pollutants. HR2273- removes restrictions on coal ash disposal.

jafs 3 years, 1 month ago

Nice research.

That's pretty awful looking.

But, the offshore drilling stuff would probably create some jobs, don't you think?

viva_la_revolucion 3 years, 1 month ago

Yup because the Republican led House is really working hard on jobs!

missmagoo 3 years, 1 month ago

Whether your income is 30,000 or 300,000 or 3,000,000... I'm all in favor of getting my 6% back!

average 3 years, 1 month ago

You pay 6%? Really?

Let's take a married couple, no kids, making $80k gross. This is about the 80th percentile of Kansas incomes (4 out of 5 of us aren't so lucky). They don't itemize. $80k - $6000 standard deduction - $4500 personal exemptions, plugged into the current Kansas brackets is: $3538. 4.4%.

In order to pay 6% of your income in Kansas income tax (under the above assumptions), you have to have household gross of $360,500 or above. Of course, most people in that income range itemize, so you probably have to get over $400k before you find anyone paying 6% in Kansas income tax.

Which is under 10,000 households in Kansas. Glad to hear you're among them.

missmagoo 3 years, 1 month ago

I'm glad you took the time to figure that out. Bravo!

average 3 years, 1 month ago

Recreational algebra. I kinda actually enjoy tax season (the math, not the paying).

RobertMarble 3 years, 1 month ago

people, for once try to consider an issue without your partisan views- I haven't studied this issue enough to advocate either way but all the partisan bickering and comments aren't exactly productive. There are plenty of examples to review for facts and comparisons...oregon has no sales tax but does have income tax; just across the border in washington they have sales tax but no income tax...there are positives and negatives to both...but in kansas you have both a sales AND income tax...seems like with a little better planning you could do better. do your homework before slamming an idea just because of petty loyalty to one party of the other

jafs 3 years, 1 month ago

Your general statement is true for any and all political issues, in my view.

When you compare states, of course, you have to compare more than just tax rates. You'd have to compare quality of services, education levels, etc.

tbaker 3 years, 1 month ago

Compare the economies of states without income taxes to those with. For that matter, look at those with flat income taxes too. Nuff said, unless you don't like keeping what your work for and earn. Government should be funded on sales tax. Taking money someone had to earn is wrong.

jafs 3 years, 1 month ago


Texas has a huge budget deficit, and no income tax.

Also, high levels of unemployment and minimum wage jobs, low levels of education, high levels of poverty, etc.

Clickker 3 years, 1 month ago

Bull. By any measure it is much, much cheaper to live in Texas. Sales tax on food, and tax on income is not only morally wrong, its bad economics. It cost me about $5000/year, and that is money that I could use. Maybe you are made of money, but most of us arent.

jafs 3 years, 1 month ago

Look it up - the information is readily available on the internet.

I'm not made of money, but I can pay my taxes, and still live just fine, thanks.

Sales tax on food may be a bad idea - many liberal/progressive folks have advocated for it to be eliminated.

jafs 3 years, 1 month ago

If you google Texas poverty rates, you will find a link to a University of Texas site.

There is a chart there showing that from 1980-2007, poverty rates in Texas were higher than the US average each year.

I don't want to do all of the work, but I imagine if I googled each of the items mentioned, you would find similar statistics.

jafs 3 years, 1 month ago

Unemployment in September of this year:

KS - 6.7% TX - 8.5%

Clickker 3 years, 1 month ago

its a border state with alot of migrant workers who are unemployed for a good portion of the year. If we didnt have an income tax, our rate would probably be below 6.7%

jafs 3 years, 1 month ago

According to money magazine, Texas has the highest level of minimum wage jobs in the nation.

jafs 3 years, 1 month ago

And, Texas is the state with the lowest percentage of adults who have a high school diploma.

Brookings Institute.

jafs 3 years, 1 month ago

There could be any number of reasons for any of the statistics.

I furnished them, doing the work for Clickker, in order to refute his "Bull" comment. All of the things I mentioned are supported by the various sources I found for him.

You'd think he might thank me, but I guess not.

jafs 3 years, 1 month ago

That would ironically be another way in which we wouldn't want to emulate Texas, then, if it's true they have a high number of illegal immigrants there.

What stats are you referring to as "impressive"?

jafs 3 years, 1 month ago


And, if the result of low taxes and less regulation on business is a large increase in crummy low-wage jobs taken by illegal immigrants, is that something we want?

I'd say the large picture doesn't support the idea that Texas is a state we want to emulate.

tbaker 3 years, 1 month ago

The verb was "compare" not pick a state with no income tax and list their problems. It's not like you to employ the strawman Jafs.

jafs 3 years, 1 month ago

Uh oh, I didn't get a good grade on your assignment.

If you think that such comparisons will make your point, then you can always furnish some data yourself, can't you?

Thank goodness I've graduated from college, and don't have to do this sort of homework anymore.

jafs 3 years, 1 month ago

Ok - I did a little more work.

Using the information above, and a couple more pertinent facts, we can compare KS and TX.

KS - no projected budget deficit TX - huge (about $27 billion) projected budget deficit

KS - poverty rate 13.2% (US Census 2009) TX - poverty rate 17.1% (same source)

KS - more adults graduating from high school than TX

KS and TX unemployment rates are listed above

TX has more minimum wage jobs than KS

So, I'd say the evidence is pretty clear that KS should not be emulating TX - we're already doing better than they are in a variety of ways.

jayhawklawrence 3 years, 1 month ago

Thanks jafs for taking the time to point out some truthful facts about Texas deficiencies.

I have spent a lot of time over the years doing business in Texas and I have met some of the best people in Texas.

However, I also believe that they produce more "windbags" and "hot air" than any state in the union.

I don't feel good about our Governor wanting to immitate a state that we have almost nothing in common with for the sole purpose of putting more money into the hands of a small elite of wealthy Kansans.

overthemoon 3 years, 1 month ago

If you see taxes as somebody taking your money, you really don't understand the entire foundation of a civilized and cultured society. There are things we do together for everyone's benefit...national parks, highways and other transportation infrastructure, education (which effects everyone whether they have kids or not, btw) military, police, etc etc etc. You pay into the system for these benefits. Its called civic duty and the social contract. If you chose not to partake of what you pay for, then that's your choice and your loss.

ToriFreak13 3 years, 1 month ago

I understand most people die to complain about something...are just natural complainers. There are already states that thrive without collecting income tax. I don't get how many of you think this means the state will have less money. First of all there will be no need to for half of the Department of Revenue if they eliminate that tax. That actually saves the state a ton of money. It takes a huge monkey off the back of many small businesses that struggle with the paperwork as well as paying the taxes when they are due. That alone will give most small businesses the room they need to hire one or two more employees. So imagine every business in town hiring 1 more person. The Poor: The poorest in the state that should be using state assistance are already exempt from sales tax on foods, and on nonexempt items will only be paying more sales tax with state provided funds anyway, aka the taxes the rich pay into the system. Oh and hey, those poor that are holding a job, have no more state taxes being withheld so have more cash to buy the things food stamps don't cover. The Rich: How would it make the rich richer when they will now be paying higher taxes through their businesses and properties they own to make up for that lost revenue? They are the ones buying the big ticket items in this economy anyway. So we should be all for raising the tax on the items the rich feel are so necessary or obligated to buy to keep up with the Jones's. I think because this is being pitched by a Republican many of you just throw a tomato without actually thinking about this. All income taxing does is collect money from the working public, to redistribute it. We are paying the State of Kansas to do that. I'm pretty sure most of you know how inefficient the government is at doing anything. So why keep paying them to do this? How many checks were sent to dead people the last 5 years? Are you comfortable with privatizing your tax collecting and enforcement? If the Republicans were out to be evil, they could easily create a wave of enforcement of the Consumption Tax where you are all supposed to itemize anything you buy from yard sales, or online that you do not pay tax on. Lets see the numbers.

ToriFreak13 3 years, 1 month ago

What is your obsession with correcting things that need not be corrected? I know it's a law. It is not enforced. That's what I stated. People do not make purchases on craigslist and self-report it. They just don't...and there are no tax cops knocking down doors to get you to start. Many have no clue it is the law. The head of taxation admitted he didn't know it was a law until he took on the position (in person at a small business tax class held at the KUSBDC). The topic at hand is whether the elimination income tax is a good idea...not whether or not what I write makes sense.

FieldTested 3 years, 1 month ago

As far as I have been able to find examples, cutting income taxes on the wealthy has never improved an economy. All it seem to do is take money from an organization which very efficiently turns money into jobs - the government - and shifts it to the super wealthy who turn money into a slight increase in the treasure hoard they sit on (many argue the jobs gov't spending creates are not as "valuable" as private sector jobs, but those gov't workers sure seem to buy the same things the rest of us do).

I'm not arguing the morality of one or the other position, just stating what seems obvious to most objective observers. Cutting income taxes reduces the total number of jobs in an economy.

I welcome counter-examples - I just haven't seen any.

Richard Heckler 3 years, 1 month ago


Says who?

This has been said for about 30 some years. Where is the economic growth? And the millions of jobs?

Where is the hard evidence? About time somebody demanded a ton of hard evidence instead of accepting political rhetoric.

Flap Doodle 3 years, 1 month ago

Remember that the current regime has saved or created 8 gazillion jobs.

scary_manilow 3 years, 1 month ago

I stumbled upon this today by accident. "35 people" is a generous estimate-- my head count was 19, including the folks who came on the bus. Obviously an issue with a huge groundswell of public support! Of course, Brownbutt will instate it, regardless, as a gladhand to the Billionaire Boys Club.

overthemoon 3 years, 1 month ago

I like the fact that we have the evidence of what we can do together. Going to a national park is a great experience...can you imagine if that system had never been established? We share those treasures and pay for them. On a recent visit to DC, I was overcome with pride in the fabulous wealth of museums that we all own a piece of. I want every person in this country to have access to health care, a decent education, and a safe place to live. I want us to have the best infrastructure with great options for travel and transportation.

Its not a 'love of taxes', its real and true patriotism to want our country to reclaim its 'best in the world' status and that this will not happen if we starve the system that will make that possible.

yourworstnightmare 3 years, 1 month ago

Wake up, middle and lower class Kansans.

These snake oil salesmen are stealing your futures.

Then again, you will probably get what you deserve for your blind loyalty to the GOP and their social issues (god, guns, gays, and blastocysts).

Me? I'm rich. I will be just fine. Better off, even.

Ken Hunt 3 years, 1 month ago

Clever....very clever. Made me laugh.

Gareth Skarka 3 years, 1 month ago

Ignorant Hayseeds will always get taken in by hucksters shilling for the Bosses. Wrap Jesus in the American flag, and the stupid rubes will do anything they're told.

It's sad.

CherylHudspeth 3 years, 1 month ago

The issue for Kansas is funding for public education. Gov. Brownback wants control of the funding level which is actual in the hands of the courts. Education funding is ultimately approved by the courts, because the legislature has previously tried to undermine the mandate for public education in the Kansas Constitution. Let's hope we are not in a race to the bottom with Missouri's public education system.

Texas has more tax authorities than any state I know of. A home owner in Texas might receive a separate tax bill from the city, county and service districts (K-12 schools, community college, hospital, fire, police and ambulance) as well as utilities (water, sewer, flood, road). I have seen more than a dozen tax bills on a single residential property.

There are no apples to apples comparisons on the list of states that don't have income taxes. Most have either higher sales or property tax then Kansas.

Richard Heckler 3 years, 1 month ago

The RINO's have been yakking up less and less taxes yet no matter what the jobs keep disappearing. Obviously this is a failed concept just like their home loan criminal sprees.

Fewer taxes and less government actually leads to fewer jobs and kills small business. Why? Because fewer and fewer of OUR tax dollars make it into the economy that definitely stimulate business and spending thus more and more employment.

RINO's aka Tea Party aka whatever is dreamed up next = a monster failed experiment!

Socialism cannot be too bad as local developers thrive on it and local economies need it from a variety of sources.

Private industry is the most dependable source of fraud and home loan scams and for taking out retirement plans and medical insurance.

How is the Brownback team of NOT economic giants going to make up the loss? That's what is missing from the discussion. Grab your wallets as the cost of living will increase.

overthemoon 3 years, 1 month ago

You should check again. The president is a right leaning centrist by any measure.

JayhawkFan1985 3 years, 1 month ago

Liberty one is a fool whose voice in the chorus should be defended but also ignored.

JayhawkFan1985 3 years, 1 month ago

1985 is when I started at KU as a student. I graduated in 1989.

You don't speak inconvenient truths. You merely vomit up Fox News reports...

chootspa 3 years, 1 month ago

Actually L_O strictly vomits up Ron Paulisms.

Liberty275 3 years, 1 month ago

Because it makes it harder to control them. If you keep people in the dole queue and at the federal teet, it's makes them cower before bureaucrats and praise them for whatever handout they get.

If a person works and makes anything middle class, they can mostly give bureaucrats and politicians explicit directions to the place to kiss.

jafs 3 years, 1 month ago


When's the last time you acted in that way to politicians and bureaucrats?

Liberty275 3 years, 1 month ago

Throwing three census workers off my property because they thought they deserved to know more than "two" was probably the last time. I don't have reason to be around them much.

jafs 3 years, 1 month ago

Census workers have a legal right to be on your property.

I don't quite understand the situation from the way you described it.

JayhawkFan1985 3 years, 1 month ago

Why is it always billionaires like this clown and the Koch Brothers that complain about taxes? How much is enough? The great thing about America is that we aspire for everyone who works hard to have a chance to succeed. Many public investments make this chance realistic. Among these are public education, public roads, and law enforcement. The 20 second commerical on TV that just says "I'll cut your taxes" sounds generally good. What they don't tell us on that commercial is what services will be cut. I don't like writing a check to Wal-Mart anymore than I do to Uncle Sam. I do it because Wal-Mart has things I want to buy just like city, county, state and federal governments provide services I expect. Paying taxes is a patriotic obligation for people who love our country. Could government be more effecient...certainly. Don't throw the baby out with the bath water. Don't be fooled by Brownback, the Koch Brothers, the Policy Institute or others who relentlessly push for lower taxes and less government regulation. Afganistan tried that and it didn't really work out for them...we don't need that type of cultural revolution or great leap backward here.

Liberty275 3 years, 1 month ago

It isn't by accident we will move to Florida when we can sell our house. No state income tax made the deal. I would have rather mover a little further up the Atlantic coast so my wife could visit her family easier, but somewhere around St. Augustine is going to have to do.

It doesn't hurt that St. Augustine is such a cool place.

Katara 3 years, 1 month ago

"Kensinger said he showed up because he was promised hot chocolate." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This sounds like a man who would enjoy a hot cocoa sampler box for Xmas.

Liberty275 3 years, 1 month ago

Or a trip to Z's. College girls and lattes. Two of my favorite things. Luckily, I can afford one of the two every now and then without my wife giving me a hard time.

Katara 3 years, 1 month ago

I hear ya. Those latte prices are outrageous!

George_Braziller 3 years, 1 month ago

Eliminating income tax means that all the the tax burden will be shifted over to higher property taxes, sales taxes, and fuel taxes.

A family of four in a household making $50,000 doesn't eat any more than one in a household making $400,000. But the percentage of total income spent by increased sales tax is considerably higher for the $50,000 family than the $400,000 family.

The economics are that the less you make, the more of your total income you end up paying in sales tax. That translates into less expendable income which means you tighten the belt again and the economy slows even more.

tomatogrower 3 years, 1 month ago

Liberty, please stop driving on our roads and hire private fire and police protection, now. I'm sick of hearing about how our taxes are wasted, but who do the whiney conservatives call when their house is on fire? And who complains the most when the streets are bumpy? Go live in the wilderness. Antarctica is pretty open, and it's getting warmer every year.

tomatogrower 3 years, 1 month ago

Only to opt out of the country. If you pay no taxes you should live elsewhere, because you have chosen not to be a part of the community. You are a self made man. I'm sure you don't need any of the rest of us, so please feel free to find a place, so you don't have to be bothered with the rest of humanity.

progressive_thinker 3 years, 1 month ago

I would agree to that, as long as they do not make use of any services, products, or benefits that are the fruit of taxpayer money. That would include the Internet, the battery systems in most cellular phones, any cordless tools, all road systems in the US, protection of law enforcement, an educated work force, and many health care advances like laser surgery,

The core flaw with the argument that the conservatives try to make is that none of them "made it all on their own." They only got wealthy because they had available the public infrastructure and many advances that come from government.

What is extra sad is that many of the largest companies in the US are paying near zero in US corporate income taxes [example, Bank of America.]

progressive_thinker 3 years, 1 month ago

Problem with your argument is that there is no one out there. individual or corporation, that could meet the requirement of "not [making] use of any services, products, or benefits that are the fruit of taxpayer money." It is too intertwined in our lives.

The point of the post is that wealthy persons and corporations need to contribute, and not all do.

Liberty275 3 years, 1 month ago


You're joking right? 4 people at 50k is virtual poverty. You don't think the family making 8 times as much isn't eating 8 times more expensive food?

jafs 3 years, 1 month ago

Then the poverty levels should be increased - currently $22K for a family of four is considered poor.

You're right, of course, that more well off people probably spend more money on food, and thus pay more sales tax on it.

mr_right_wing 3 years, 1 month ago

Maybe Kansas State Income Tax should be voluntary.....sounds like most of you would still be willing to pay even if it weren't the law.....


tomatogrower 3 years, 1 month ago

Actually, yes, I would still pay my taxes. They bring me good roads, police, fire protection, and are a safety net if I should fall ill and can't take care of myself. The conservatives will complain about people begging, but then they don't want to pay taxes to care for the poor. Guess what, if you don't do that you will see a whole lot more people begging, and they won't be drunks. They will be little children. Have you ever visited a country that doesn't have the safety nets we have?

tomatogrower 3 years, 1 month ago

"Kansans for No Income Tax hit the road to spread message of abolishing state income tax"

Well, they better not hit the road too hard. If it were up to them there wouldn't be enough money to repair it. In fact, if they don't want to pay taxes, then they need to get off our roads. My taxes go to pay for it; I don't want these bums on my roads. i wonder if they think the roads just magically appear, and the companies who repair them do it out of the goodness of their own hearts. They live in some weird fantasy world. Do you think it's a mass psychotic break?

Don't want to pay taxes? Then stay off of tax funded roads.

George Lippencott 3 years, 1 month ago

The issue is not and never has been the use of public facilities - that is njust a stupid argument. The issue is how muh we can afford to spend on them. See:

Joe Hyde 3 years, 1 month ago

KNIT and Gov. Brownback are talking like people wearing paper hats and blowing party whistles.

Kill the state income tax and a huge rectangular shaped piece of the Midwest crumbles into something resembling Dogpatch, USA.

Centerville 3 years, 1 month ago

All that tax preparation time and all that earned money thrown to the politicians, rather than used wisely - by the person who earned it.

parco814 3 years, 1 month ago

Kensinger shows up just for hot chocolate. Aw, what a cute little rascal he is.

Texas has worse roads, public education, and social services than Kansas does? That's mind-boggling. Well, give Browbeat and the Cocoa Kid time, we'll snatch those sorry laurels from the great state of Rick Perry soon enough.

zzgoeb 3 years, 1 month ago

The most important bit here is the corps paid $225 million versus everyone else's billions!!! Really? The Koch bros make $225 mill. in an hour. There is the the corps at the same rate as the workers!!!

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