Budget has spending problem

Our editorial Friday rounded up the week’s ugly news about the state budget and concluded that “Kansans can hope state leaders will find the courage to pass a budget that meets the state’s responsibilities without pushing the pain off on locals or punishing the most vulnerable among us.” We’ve since learned that November revenues were 3.3 percent – or nearly $14 million – less than anticipated. Our editorial brought this reaction, though, from Alan Cobb, state director of Americans for Prosperity-Kansas: “Isn’t it worth mentioning the impact of four years of large budget increases on the current budget situation? If the budget had simply increased at 5 percent, hardly a small number, each year since 2004, we would have more than $2 billion in the bank now.”

6 Comments

  1. Mary_Caruso
    Posted December 8, 2008 at 8:05 am | Permalink

    So what’s new? We’ve been here many times before and they’ll do what they always do…cut back on services for the elderly, the children, and disabled. It will only affect those who have no voice. Everyone else will be fine.

  2. fleettwood
    Posted December 8, 2008 at 8:41 am | Permalink

    “We’ve since learned that November revenues were 3.3 percent – or nearly $14 million – less than anticipated”

    Less than anticipated? That’s weird. Usually they are spot on.

  3. TomPaine
    Posted December 8, 2008 at 10:47 am | Permalink

    Cigarette and alcohol taxes will no doubt go up, at least cigarette taxes for sure. And the super cons have done everything to block expanding gambling so their goes that money from being in the coffers.

  4. situveux1
    Posted December 8, 2008 at 1:47 pm | Permalink

    “And the super cons have done everything to block expanding gambling…”

    Oh my God, you’ve got to be joking. Was it the ’supercons’ who forced three different casinos to pull out of Kansas? Ummm….NO!

    How ignorant are you?

    Was it the ’supercons’ or Sebelius and liberal Democrats and Republicans that pushed through 9% plus increases in the state budget over the past 4 and 5 years? Ummmm….YEA!, I’m pretty sure ti was your precious Sebelius who signed all of those spending bills.

    Funny, where are all the hatemonger liberal/socialists on this discussion?

  5. frankiefurter
    Posted December 8, 2008 at 5:30 pm | Permalink

    Speaking of AFP . . .

    http://www.americansforprosperity.org/120808-voting-change-kansas-senate

  6. bjb
    Posted December 8, 2008 at 7:58 pm | Permalink

    Kansans love their lying, liberal media and love government run amuck.

    Now the chickens are coming home to roost.

    I tried to warn of the dangers of runaway government, got crucified for it.

    Right here: http://bjbrownsblog.blogspot.com/2007/09/end-of-road-for-stovalls-stormtroopers.html