The Kansas Taxpayers Network’s Karl Peterjohn often gripes that local governments use tax dollars to lobby the state for more tax dollars. It can seem like a reasonable point — which is why it’s inspired Senate Bill 457, barring the use of public money for lobbying. But those who lobby for local governments do so by being available to answer lawmakers’ questions, serve up data and watchdog the process. In their absence, flush private interests would hold even more sway than they do now. And under the dome, out of sight can mean out of mind and out of the budget. Wichitans should be especially wary of this proposal, because of area lawmakers’ spotty record on ensuring that their priorities mirror those of area governments.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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11 Comments
This would disarm the City of Wichita for example in their efforts to obtain help from the state to reduce our costs of subsidizing Airtran – which is a program that has proven itself to have had multimillions of dollars in savings for citizens and businesses at a modest taxpayer cost in comparison. “Cutting off your nose to spite your face” is the phrase that comes to mind. But isn’t that the chorus line in Karl Peterjohn’s anthem?
They will always find a loophole.
This is a scary bill. “Lobbying” traditionally is a dirty word, but isn’t that what police chief Norm Williams and Lieutenant Jeff Easter (head of the gang unit) were doing when they were trying to get the legislature to pass a bill increasing penalities and making it easier to arrest gang bangers?
These men are not professional lobbyists, but traveled to Topeka to testify about this bill. While there, they took the time to meet with legislators about it. Is that “lobbying” that would be banned? If so, this is a very short sighted, limiting and bad bill.
So raptor,
Are you saying that the trade off for lower-taxes – in this case increased crime and lawlessness would not be worth it.
Man, if you had a membership to the anti-tax libertarian movement, you’d better check to see if your dues are paid up. Otherwise you risk being kicked out of that club.
In all seriousness, I agree with your position. This is a very bad bill.
Private interests will hold sway? Baloney! State government hacks will hold sway with no other opinions allowed.
If a local community wants to do something like KEEP THE WATER IN CEDAR BLUFF, someone from that town has to move to topeka, and rent both an apartment and a copy machine. Who pays for that?
Legislators listen only to state employees under the “ASSumtion” that they are impartial experts. And those “twice a year” local activists? So easy to brush off when they come on their own time and own expense. Hard to compete with state budgets and full lime lobby..er….employees.
The entrenched state buracracy, like the kansas water office, parks and wildlife, etc. smother the legislators like a cheap suit. All in the name of impartial information, dontcha know. How can local communities compete with that and get their message out?
How are local governments to be heard when hacks like Mike Hayden, Joe Harkins, David Pope, etc, have 24/7 access to the legislature? AND THEY DO IT WITH YOUR TAX MONEY!!!!!!
It isnt local lobbying that creates the problem. The locals dont always lobby against private interests. Many times, their biggest foe is the state government juggernaut itself. Locals wouldnt need to lobby were it not for the state employees you pay every month to keep the status quo in place.
Karl would also be the wingnut behind other outrageous positions. Google his group. Can we please send Karl Peterjohn hunting with his neocon buddy dead eye dick? Please?
The problem is that we have too much government, both locally and nationally. That’s why lobbying is so important. Reduce the power that government has over our individual lives, and lobbying becomes less important.
Here here KCL!!!
The problem is the taxpayer funded lobbyist come up and ask for tax increases saying that the people want one when in reality they have not asked the people what they want.
So there should probably be some restrictions on some of the taxpayer funded lobbyists.
Marvin, not trying to pick a fight, but which taxpayer funded lobbyists asked for tax increases that the locals didnt want? All the lobby reports are available on line so you know which ones are taxpayer funded. So… about whom are you speaking? And how do you know the majority of taxpayers who fund them dont want an increase? Is this another urban legend?
An associated issue would be to prohibit those who lobby for local governments to go to work for companies doing business with those same local governments.Twice in the past decade, city officials have gone to work for Demon Cox…giving them an unfair advantage over anyone opposing them.