For the first time, Americans for Prosperity Kansas has gotten involved in a local tax issue. The Topeka-based group, which as ties to Wichita’s Koch Industries, paid for a radio advertisement and sent a color mailer to Sedgwick County residents urging them to “contact your county commissioner and ask them to vote against the proposed budget and tax increase.” So why is AFP getting involved? Alan Cobb, AFP state director, told The Eagle editorial board that it was driven by local members — the advertising was by entirely by local businesses and individuals, he said — and because of the importance of Sedgwick County to the state. Raising property taxes on businesses and individuals is not going to create jobs, Cobb said.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
Registered?
Commenting on WE Blog now requires you to be a Kansas.com member. Use the links above to register, if you haven't already, or to log in.Contact us
Follow us
Daily Archives
-
Recent Comments
- Jed on Let immigrants run
- Regular on Open thread 11/23
- Regular on Open thread 11/23
- BlueJay on Open thread 11/23
- BlueJay on Open thread 11/23
- Freebird1971 on Open thread 11/23
- Freebird1971 on Open thread 11/23
- BlueJay on Open thread 11/23
- BlueJay on Open thread 11/23
- Freebird1971 on Open thread 11/23
26 Comments
While I have yet to be convinced that this tax increase is needed, the intervention of Americans for (My) Prosperity (Not Yours), is enough to make me rethink my position.
I don’t know how true their statements are, but they seem to be at the extreme end of figures.
I think people are concerned and people are saying “enough” when it comes to massive government growth.
Anything that involves Koch is suspect in my book. Koch industries apparently has some very deep pockets and some very short arms when it comes to their fiscal duties politics wise. I wonder how much Koch monies are being held in off shore accounts?
“I think people are concerned and people are saying “enough” when it comes to massive government growth.”…Joe
HAD ENOUGH YET?
At least Koch Industries is based here. Unlike Garmin, which is headquatered in the Cayman Islands.
I wonder who is “really” sheltering their money.
Joe, I believe this is just another part of the strategy by the large corporations that now OWN OUR Govt.How will the people ever return gov’t to it’s rightful owners?
Corporatism, the best government money can buy. Add passionate yet uninformed gullible populace, and the takeover is complete.
I believe it would be okay to speak about this in the past tense, as the take-over has been complete for some time now.
Tracy! That’s a good question. I believe we can do it by a simple strategy, but mind you, it will not be easy nor will it be popular, especially among control freak Democrats and Republicans.
What is the largest force in D.C.? They are called lobbyist. 80% of them are for corporate interest, and what they work on is trying to get favorable treatment through the tax code.
Also, politicans use the tax code to socially control society. Either it be good or bad, that is what it’s used for. Punishment or reward. Politicans love this power.
How do we get rid of 80% of the lobbyist and take power away from the politicans to the people? Abolish the tax code and replace it with a national sales tax. Businesses wouldn’t be taxed on income, either will individuals. Politicians cannot change and conform the tax code to benefit their districts off the backs of others. It would be a fair playing field.
There would be no need for companies to offshore their money or to form their corporate offices in the Cayman Islands like Garmin. There will be no need for wealthy people to shelter their money. Everything would come back to the USA and it would cause an economic expansion like you never seen.
But lobbyist would loose their jobs, IRS would elimate 90% of it’s staff, and politicans would lose a lot of it’s power. Could it pass? That’s a huge force to go against.
http://www.fairtax.org
Joe, keep pushing this please.Of course you’re going to have plenty of detractors here, but I will check this out a little more, I promise.On first glance it seems that the motives good.(when it comes to money, especially taxes, trust nobody)
If you don’t like KOCH and you want them to leave the state you may get your wish someday. Charles KOCH is what keeps the company in Kansas and he is not getting any older. Once he passes on there will not be a commitment to this state. Charles KOCH can move his company anywhere but he stays here because this is home.
If KOCH leaves Kansas then what happens to all of the thousands of people they employ right here in Wichita and the state of Kansas? Their jobs leave with KOCH. If they leave they also take a large tax base with them. The state would have to figure out how to either cut spending (not a bad idea) or they would have to raise taxes to make up for it. Because the taxes KOCH pay leaves and the taxes the people they employ also leave.
I am glad to see AFP run commercials for this tax increase. You have not seen a lot said about it and the county commissioners are not going to point it out. So how else would you know about it? How would you know what the increases have been for the county? How would you know that county government has been growing steadily? You would not.
Thank you for AFP for letting the people of Sedgwick County know the facts. I hope that everyone individual in this county that can be at the meeting on Aug. 9th will show up and let our county commissioners know that we have had enough of their over spending!
Gee, what a surprise to read that post from sts. You are such a wild an unpredictable poster sts….
Heheh. Joe, the devil is in the details on the national sales tax. There is the whole value add and “for resale” question, so it cant just be a retail tax, there have to be taxes paid along the way, and corporate money will fight that till the bitter end.
And food, ALL FOOD, must be exempted, as well as over the counter and prescription drugs, otherwise, the burden is too great on lower income people.
So… overall, I am for the national sales tax, but it isnt going to be easy. As pointed out above, those who make their wealth by gaming the system or supporting the current system will fight like hell.
And we americans dont have the stomach to fight for OUR freedom. Nope. Only the illusion of freedom for OTHERS, or the joy of watching things explode and blood gush are what AMERICANS have the stomach for.
Bullies with big guns, you bet. A harder, moral core fight over fairness and liberty?
No way. Not here. Not unless it involves god guns or gays. THEN it is a crusade. Otherwise, we serve our masters cheerfully.
Here Here KFG
Food and drugs should definitely not be taxed. Alcohol, cigarettes and other “excesses” should be.
Also, Legalize Pot, tax it. Bet you will make ALOT more in tax revenue off that than off of Bread…
STS……………….I’d say good riddance to the Kochs if they ever decide to leave the state. Kansas should never be their private kingdom and we are not their serfs.
If APF is really for prosperity, maybe they should get their supporters to quit ripping off poor people. Oh right- it’s their own prosperity they’re supporting!
I assume those of you who think it’s more important to rip the messenger than to hear the message won’t mind another 10 percent in property taxes rammed up your keester.
Now the only question is, how soon do we hear from AFP’s evil twin, Club For (Special Interest) Growth?
“Bet you will make ALOT more in tax revenue off that than off of Bread”
heheh. Agreed. However, I think that if you legalize pot, you might see a resurgence in the sales of Bread albums. heheh. I think that is what we were listening to that night I didnt inhale. hee hee
Damn. I just realized Tony is probably too young to remember Bread OR albums.
(farmgrrl creeps off to the nursing home…)
Todd,Maybe it’s because we don’t trust the messenger. Koch’s business practices are pretty well known around here.As for the 10% property tax increase, at least we’ll know that the rich bastards will end up paying along with the rest of us!
OK, kfg, let’s get rid of farm subsidies and increase the tax on your organic product so that it is more expensive than alternatives. As I walk through the Farmers Market in Wichita at Ridge and 21st and see prices increase due to taxes, I’m thinking my budget can’t afford the increase so I switch to a cheaper alternative. It’s called free market and it works! You have the freedom to price your product at whatever levels you want, the government taxes at whatever levels we let them, and I as a consumer have the freedom to buy your product or a cheaper alternative. If you keep your prices the same (maybe because of competition or supply or other market driven forces) and the government increases taxes, you have a good chance of losing revenue unless you cut your asking price.
Then again, why am I explaining this to someone who gets farm subsidies?
Sure, Jed. Because as we all know, taxes on corporations aren’t passed along to the customer or anything. The only people who are going to get screwed are homeowners. You can bank on that.
Americans For Prosperity is promoting a state Constitutional Amendment that would limit state spending to inflation plus population growth with state spending in excess of that limit subject to approval by a vote of the people. Perhaps a Taxpayer Bill of Rights for Sedgwick County and the city of Wichita might limit the spending by local officials to inflation and population growth. A local TABOR might at least slow down the massive spending that local city and county officials seem to lack the budgetary discipline to do, and at the same time allow voters the right to approve increases beyond the budgetary caps.
“Then again, why am I explaining this to someone who gets farm subsidies?”
Not to mention professional experience as an economist.
Indeed, why do you try to sell your snake oil to me? Haven’t you figured out I am not buying.
heheh. and I LOVE how farm subsidies get under your skin. I have posted here how much I get a year in my subsidy check and what I think of subsidies.
Are you part of the hooked on phonics reading and comprehension impaired cult here?
Apparantly.
“A local TABOR might at least slow down the massive spending that local city and county officials seem to lack the budgetary discipline to do”
Ya know, you can also do it with a little thing called the ballot box and a free and fair election.
TABOR is not the only tool in the toolbox. Just vote responsibly and you wont NEED tabor.
And if you dont vote responsibly, you still dont need TABOR because you have even BIGGER problems….
Enlighten me on your version of how taxes and subsidies impact the supply and demand curve, kfg. Would love to hear your professional opinion on the economic impact of taxes and subsidies.
Toddy,Charles Koch owns a house too, and you can bet that his property taxes are going to be considerably higher than mine. In fact, his 10% increase will be higher than my entire tax load!