Kansas has finally tossed out the Brownback plan for doom, over his torrid objections. Turns out the GOP – at least in Kansas – has its limits when disaster looms. The Wichita Eagle reports:
Lawmakers rolled back Gov. Sam Brownback’s signature tax policy over his objections Tuesday night, forcing into law tax increases to fix a budget shortfall and provide more money for schools.
The legislation ends the “march to zero” income tax cuts that Brownback heralded for much of his time as governor. …
The override represents a blow to the legacy of one of the most unpopular governors in America, amid speculation that he may not serve out his remaining time in office but instead take a federal position.
Brownback did not respond immediately to the override votes. The night before, he had said he would veto and issued a statement: “Senate Bill 30 is a $1.2 billion tax hike, making it the largest in state history. This is bad for Kansas and bad for the many Kansans who would have more of their hard-earned money taken from them.”
Lawmakers who supported the bill and the override said the 2012 policy was a mistake that had drained the state of revenue, leading to rounds of budget cuts and harming investments in roads and other priorities.
“It’s hard to celebrate because Kansas is in such shambles. The magnitude of the problems that we have to correct is so great,” Rep. Melissa Rooker, R-Fairway, said.
Given the recent fall in general conserviative leaning folks in the country, I’m guessing the Kansas GOP, liking neither the rock nor the hard place, chose higher taxes and moved to accord with reality, rather than hanging on to an ideology that had proven false.
It’ll be important to keep an eye on Kansas to assess whether they begin to prosper again – and why – or if this is insufficient.
Or if the state is permanently wrecked.
