The Budget Mess Continues in Kansas

Route Fifty: Kansas lawmakers hope to begin filling the state’s newly established rainy-day fund in 2017, despite a $350 million budget deficit, $580 million projected revenue shortfall and Gov. Sam Brownback’s posturing.

Previous budgets included income tax reductions while failing to hit revenue goals, driving voters in November to elect only 44 of 84 candidates endorsed by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce’s political action committee. Chamber PAC had great success getting conservative Republicans elected in 2010 and 2012, but less so beginning in 2014 as voters soured toward tax inequity and irresponsible funding of education, transportation and social services.

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