It may be “too early to panic” about the state’s budget problems, as Gov. Mark Parkinson said Wednesday. But it’s not too early to prepare for cutting budget allotments. According to preliminary figures, the state collected $67 million less in revenue in September than forecast. If revenue is down significantly again next month, Parkinson should move to cut funding, rather than wait until the Legislature convenes in January. Delaying the cuts only makes them more difficult to absorb.
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25 Comments
Question for Kansas state legislators: Is there provision for calling emergency meetings of legislative leaders and even the entire legislature in emergencies?
Things would be bad regardless. Cuts will be necessary regardless.
But, insisting that scheduled business tax cuts go though even though a state budgetary crisis is not necessary.
Hopefully, our state is not so full of clueless Matthew Ashers to recognize this.
But it probably is.
The department expected to collect $535 million and took in about $468 million.
Well, let’s see – the ‘White Elephant’ sales tax took in 200 million in a couple of years from just one county.
…and spent it on exactly what with somewhat limited future and usefulness.
Of course, if Congress has their way and passes mandated health care Public Option in which the state will administer the programs, then be prepared to be in a perpetual state of having a budget constantly in the deficit.
I say declare 2009-2010 the year of the sweater and turn down thermostats in all government buildings to 63 degrees F during colder months and up to 80 degrees F in warmer weather.
Also, make it the year of the brown bag. That is, in all respects, not just eating. No state sponsored frivoloties or celebration of this in lieu of just acknowledging that an event just occurs and no need to speed money on it.
Focus on the matter, not on the demand…
Pragmatic action over willful inconsistency…
The State should be a miser, a frugal deliver of goods whose purse strings are always drawn tight but to all that is necessary.
The problem is, is to decide what is necessary and not frivolous.
There’s the rub.
A couple of decades of CONs running on the only issue: “No New Taxes” has the chickens coming home to roost.
As much as I hate paying taxes, I have a realization taxes are the admission price for democracy. And sometimes the price of admission needs to go up.
Perhaps the Governor should just shut down everything. Fire everyone! Close down every state-supported program and institution.
Let’s build it back up from ground zero.
You don’t want public health programs or highways or law enforcement or prisons? Belly up to the bar and tell us what you’re willing to pay for.
With ALL new taxes.
Kansas is such a perfect laboratory for CON political philosophy. Let the CONs put their money (or not) into a brand new form of government.
Close the schools. Shut down the hospitals. Open the prisons. Stop all ADC and services to the disabled.
And, if you come to think maybe things such as fire departments or cops are important, vote for New Taxes to pay for them.
The Governor will not get the nod from the dims to cut the budget. If the revenues continue to drop he will may be forced to make cuts.
Of course he could ask the legislative leaders to bring in the senate and house committees that handle the budget to see what they would cut.
If Governor and the dims do not want to make cuts and continue requesting more spending they should tell the people what tax they are going to increase on the people they represent.
Monkeyhawk
Posted October 2, 2009 at 8:10 am | Permalink
A couple of decades of CONs running on the only issue: “No New Taxes” has the chickens coming home to roost.
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I’m sure it has nothing to do with unemployment being at its highest level in 26 years in our state.
Nice attempt at deflection, “Mr_Kia” –
Now:
How about the issue at hand and what I proposed?
You RepubiCONs have all the power in the state of Kansas. So show us your stuff.
Scrap every state government program, employee, institution, and process and start from ground zero.
Really.
Start with no taxes whatsoever and build whatever kind of governance (or not) is your Kansas CON ideal.
Vacate the capitol building and hope it becomes a Hyatt hotel. Build a bonfire of K.S.A. books and start again from scratch. Let Matthew Asher pay for his own damned dialysis. Sell the local schools to someone who’ll turn ‘em into condos, repeal the truancy laws, and let kids go out and get their own damned educations. There’s always the library. (Well, I guess there wouldn’t be, without a new tax.)
I’m pretty much apprised at what you CONs are against. (Anything that makes you cranky.)
But I have no idea what CONs are for.
I want you to have the spine to stand up and create (or not) a process as if Kansas were just beginning. You’ll get your death penalty, you’ll get your illegal abortions, you’ll prevent Matthew Asher from feeling guilty about taking $28,000 a month out of your pockets…
Go for it, Kansas CONs!
We “libs” and Democrats have no power against your superior weapons.
Kansas is ripe for showing the nation the benefits and advantages of “No New Taxes.”
Deflection? hahahahahahahha.
State revenues are down.
Where do you think revenue comes from?
The Government answer to everything is raise the price. In the real world, businesses go under when that happens.
More people working (payroll tax) more people spending (sales tax) equals more businesses making money (tax), more businesses making money equals more people working.
Think of it like the water cycle. Same pricipals apply.
Delaying the scheduled tax cuts would be prudent, in my opinion. There is a time for everything. This is not the time.
littlejohn
Posted October 2, 2009 at 10:08 am | Permalink
Delaying the scheduled tax cuts would be prudent, in my opinion. There is a time for everything. This is not the time.
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This story isn’t about tax cuts.
It’s about the state cutting its budget (funding).
Oh. And that makes a difference how? Okay, just for you, I will address the subject directly. Budget cuts should only be made to those programs that do not directly provide material aid and defense for the citizens of the state of Kansas. In addition, due to the budget cuts being necessary, any scheduled tax decreases should be delayed until programs can be funded to the 2009 budget.
Is that better?
It makes a big difference. Damn you people are stupid.
“Damn you people are stupid”
Those that can only resort to name calling, have already lost. Thank you for showin your (empty) hand.
“Damn you people are stupid”
Please define “you people”
You people: (Noun) Those that do not know the difference between revenue and expense.
Then sorry, you have missed the mark with characterizing my knowledge. Not really even a good try.
Then sorry, you have missed the mark with characterizing my knowledge. Not really even a good try.
I just pointed out at 10:10am nicely that the topic was cutting of funding (expenses) not cutting of taxes (revenue).
At 10:17 you got personal, speaking like you were superior in your knowledge (when you were wrong) with your “just for you” statement.
You read the article wrong and aren’t man enough to even admit that. So fuq off.
Calm down, “Mr_Kia” –
Keep the tencil on the toad.
“You read the article wrong and aren’t man enough to even admit that. So fuq off.”
Sorry, I didn;t read the article wrong at all. My
10:08 post was in reply to Agnatha’s post at 7;37 am. your post “This story isn’t about tax cuts.
It’s about the state cutting its budget (funding)”
was supposdly “pointing out nicely” that I didn;t know the topic at hand. No true. ANd my respons “so what” was in reply to your post. In addition, in case you did not notice, the weblog is notorious for not staying on topic. However, budgetary items were in fact being discusses. Reducing the budget even more, due to tax decreases coming into play, is quite relevant.
The “just for you” was intended as play, since I were making a big deal of me being “off topic” which I wasn;t off course. BUt, thanks for playing, and your rudeness. It speaks volumes.
Since apparently I cannot type worth a crap, here is the corrected version of the above”
Sorry, I didn’t read the article wrong at all. My
10:08 post was in reply to Agnatha’s post at 7;37 am. Your post “This story isn’t about tax cuts.
It’s about the state cutting its budget (funding)”
was supposdly “pointing out nicely” that I didn’t know the topic at hand. Not true. Furthermore, my response “so what” was in reply to your post in the light of the weblog being notorious for not staying on topic. However, budgetary items were in fact being discussed . Reducing the budget even more, due to tax decreases coming on line, is quite relevant.
The “just for you” was intended as word play, since you were making a big deal of me being “off topic” which I wasn’t. But, thanks for playing, and your rudeness. It speaks volumes.
Nicely done, littlejohn.
BTW, Kia, you do know that littlejohn tends right on this blog, don’t you?
BTW, this should have been:
“But, insisting that scheduled business tax cuts go though during a state budgetary crisis is not necessary.”
The “though” was a mistake, and the “even” was unnecessary.
I understood you. And, I have to agree.
I can’t agree.
I’m too busy keeping the tensil on the toad.