2013 Kansas Legislative Agenda

A New Beginning
BUDGET
Kansas spending and debt have skyrocketed over the past 60 years.
Our state governments spending increased by 571% from 1960 to
2010 aer adjusting for ination. During the same time frame, state
government debt increased by 335%.
While increased population accounts for much of the need to increase
spending, it has by far outpaced the 31% increase in population during
the same time frame. From 1960 to 2010, per capita state government
spending grew from $1,134 to $5,813 aer adjusting for ination. ats $5,813 for each man,
woman and child in Kansas.
Fortunately, Kansas legislators are becoming aware of the damage overspending has caused our
state and have hit reverse. Under Gov. Sam Brownbacks leadership, state expenditures have decreased
by $2.2 billion over the last two years, with the latest $14.3 billion budget having been approved in
June. Although these improvements should certainly be celebrated, Kansans should not mistake our
states spending problems as being solved. We must continue to hold our elected ocials accountable
to a scally responsible rate of spending that is characteristic of any good government.

As if the cost of our state government isnt high enough, Kansans are also subject to the
burdensome taxes and spending of the federal government. Federal expenditures have increased by
409% from 1960 to 2010 aer adjusting for ination, and debt HAS INCREASED by an incredible
532%. Like Topekas past spending addictions, these skyrocketing expenditures have dramatically
2013 Kansas Legislative Agenda
A New Beginning
outpaced the countrys 10% growth in population during the same time frame. From
1960 to 2010, per capita federal spending grew from $2,413 to $11,194 aer adjusting for
ination. Topekas and Washingtons spending costs every man, woman, and child $17,007
a year.
Unfortunately, this skyrocketing spending is about to get much worse.
Federal taxes are expected to soar in 2013 thanks to the expiration of
many tax relief measures and the implementation of the Presidents
health care law. Clearly if Kansas wants a competitive edge in the
global economy, both Topeka and Washington should lower taxes
and spending to attract greater commerce and thus greater prosperity.
- Ior the Iiscal Year 2014 budget (begins July 1, 2013), AIP
supports an 8% reduction in spending. Spending reductions should be
implemented in order to reconcile the projected budget shortfall while
also keeping adequate reserves in the state budget.
- Lnact legislation limiting any future spending increases to the sum of ination and
population growth. e following excerpt from our FY 2011 Commonsense Budget
Proposal, explains the impact spending constraints would have had if enacted in 2004. With
the expectation of signicant increases of revenues to the state government, this passage
serves as a good reminder of what denes the path to prosperity:
a surplus of $340 million existed in FY 2004, but the growth in expenditures erased
that surplus and led to a shortfall of $890 million in FY 2010. If Kansas had instituted
a controlled spending approach as AFP advocated, the dierence would have been
pronounced for state government nances Instead of a decit of $890 million, Kansas
would have experienced a surplus of $554 million in state coers for FY 2010. It should
be noted this estimate is very likely well below what actually could be expected. With
just six years of spending controls the cumulative amount of funds that could have been
returned to taxpayers would have been in excess of $3.7 billion. is infusion of cash
into the economy would have generated additional tax revenues for the state coers while
strengthening Kansas private sector economy to weather the recession. It is obvious that
putting government growth and special interests ahead of scal prudence has created a
problem that was easily avoidable. e question now is: will Kansas legislators ignore this
lesson of the past or move forward with self imposed spending controls?
- Require local governments (cities, counties and school districts) to participate in the
states transparency Web site with uniform budget reporting.
- Require every state agency to implement zero-based budgeting practices. State agencies
should mirror a common practice amongst the private sector that is building their budgets
from scratch. At a minimum an agency should do it once every four years. It is dicult for
anyone to make claim that all wasteful and inecient spending has been eliminated without
building a budget from the ground up.
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TAX POLICY
On May 22, 2012, Gov. Brownback signed HB 2117 into law, simplifying and
reducing our state tax codes burden. e reform collapses its three income tax
brackets into two and lowers their respective rates to 3.0% and 4.9%. A study by the
Kansas Policy Institute projects that somewhere between 33,430
and 41,690 additional private sector jobs will be created because of
the tax reforms through 2018, and annual gross wages will increase
somewhere between $277 and $364.
is anticipated increase in economic activity is expected to broaden
Kansas tax base, as new residents and businesses set up shop in the
Sunower State. With such an increase in revenue, our state local
governments will become less reliant on our high property, sales,
and corporate taxes making room for future rate reductions. As of
2009, these three taxes combined cost every man, woman, and child
in Kansas $2,533. In building on our states recent tax reform, AFP
supports more rate reductions in the future, thus assuring that Kansas continues down the path to
lower taxes and greater prosperity.

Additional tax agenda items:
rAIP supports a legislative super-majority in order to raise taxes. Currently 16 states,
including three of our four neighboring states, require a super-majority to approve tax
increases.
rAIP supports the Property Tax Transparency Act. is legislation will require property
tax mill levies to be automatically reduced in correspondence to increase in property
valuations. Local units of government that want to utilize their local taxing authority by
increasing property tax revenues can do so with a majority of the body approving it. For too
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long, local units of government have beneted from stealth-like tax increases due to
property valuation increases. is legislation would provide government transparency
and accountability by requiring a vote for approving tax increases.
TAXPAYER- FUNDED LOBBYI NG
REFORM
Currently, more than 100 lobbyists with more than 60 government
entities/associations have been hired by your tax dollars, lobbying for
more and more of your money. Taxpayer funded lobbying propagates
the cycle of more spending and more programs that call for more
spending. Serious reform will help curb the culture of more is never
enough in Topeka.
- Require governments that hire lobbyists simply to report how much they are spending on
these services.
- Require those individuals who represent state level government entities to register as a
lobbyist, just like those who represent city and county government.
JUDICIAL REFORM
Supreme Court justices are selected primarily by an insider group of Kansas lawyers, and Kansas
is the only state with lawyers completely dominating the selection process. AFP supports reforms
that will open up the system, allow public input, and allow the appropriate questions to be asked
before a judge is appointed, rather than later.
ENERGY MANDATES AND GOVERNMENT
ASSISTANCE
ere is nothing wrong with investing in newer energy technologies like windmills. In fact, such
investment when done by private individuals and companies spur the free enterprise system that
drives prosperity. However when such investment is made by governments in the form of massive
subsidies, it unfairly takes money out of the wallets of private citizens and companies to wage as a bet
that some company will be protable. uite oen, as with Solyndra, it is not.
Kansas energy companies should stand on their own two feet without help from government.
Over the last few years, Kansas has developed the Kansas Renewable Portfolio Standards
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mandates in an eort to prop up alternative renewable energy sources. is is nothing
but government picking winners and losers and according to a July 2012 report
released by the Kansas Policy Institute and e Beacon Hill Institute, the losers are
Kansas taxpayers.
e July report e Economic Impact of the Kansas Renewable Portfolio
Standard concludes that Kansas electricity ratepayers will pay higher
rates and face fewer employment opportunities. e report states:
In 2020 renewable energy mandates will cost families an average of
$660 per year; commercial businesses will spend an extra $3,915 per
year; and industrial businesses will spend an extra $25,516 per year.
Between 2012 and 2020, the average residential consumer can expect
to pay $2,471 more for electricity. A commercial ratepayer would pay
$14,663 more during the period, and the typical industrial user would
pay $95,560 more.
Its easy to conclude these mandates will have an adverse eect on the Kansas economy. AIP
supports the Electricity Freedom Act which would repeal the state standards.
OBAMACARE EXCHANGES
On principle, conservatives could support health insurance exchanges. ey harness the power
of free market competition, transparency and value comparison to drive innovation, increase choice,
and reduce costs. However, when a health plans participation in the exchange is conditioned on
page aer page of federal mandates and restrictions, exchanges can also be used as a tool to expand
bureaucratic control and micromanage the market. ats exactly what President Obama and HHS
Secretary Kathleen Sebelius are trying to do by inviting states to partner with the federal government
in creating Obamacare exchanges.
Fortunately Gov. Brownback has rejected the invitation from the federal government. However
attempts may be made during the 2013 legislative session to seek legislative approval to partner with
the federal government on this matter. AIP will oppose any state eort to create the Obamacare
exchange in Kansas.
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Yes! I would be willing to help Americans for
Prosperity in the following ways:
Contact my legislator when important legislation is being considered.
Help form a local AFP chapter in my area.
Participate in a local AFP chapter in my area.
Attend a statewide AFP conference/event.
E-MAIL ADDRESS:
REFER A FRIEND
Do you have a friend that you would like to know about the work of AFP-Kansas? Send us their name and address
and we will send them a packet of information on AFP and how they can get involved. We will only do this once.
If they chose not to get involved with AFP will discontinue communication with them.
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Americans for Prosperity Kansas is a statewide organization of citizen leaders committed to advancing every
individuals right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP-KS educates and engages citizens in support of
restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits.
2348 SW Topeka Blvd, Suite 201 Topeka, KS 66604 www.afpks.org
Visit our website today at www.afpks.org to learn more about our eorts today.
@AFPKansas on Twitter www.facebook.com/AFPKansas