You know, I just don't think I pay enough taxes

Sun Publications Steve Rose is a patriot. A Joe Biden patriot.

In a Wednesday editorial, Rose blamed the state's current fiscal crisis on tax cuts over the years. And not just the cuts from last year or the year before, but all tax cuts from, well, seemingly forever.

A friend who serves in the Legislature asked the state’s research team to figure out how much all the costs of all the tax cuts have totaled since 1995. The cumulative impact on Kansas, the study finds, is a loss of $7.6 billion in revenue during that period. We are now losing about $600 million a year from tax cuts.

Of course, Steve fails to mention the 0.4% hike in the state's sales tax the last time we spent way more than we had. Since Steve fails to mention the legislator who requested the study, or really anything else about the study, I have no idea if the $600 million figure includes reductions due to the extra revenue generated by the 2002 sales tax increase. And increases in cigarette taxes. And a 83% increase in property appraisals since 1997.

Of course there are others who would say we spend too much rather than we're taxed too little. AFP-Kansas Director Derrick Sontag noted, "had we restrained spending growth to five percent since 2004, we wouldn’t be facing this budget shortfall."

However, I have a solution that everyone, liberal or conservative, can support.

I encourage the legislature to pass a law allowing anyone to voluntarily increase their tax liability. No more waiting for politicians to act. No more pleading, begging for votes to increase taxes. You can just increase your own taxes!

It's great for everyone. Steve Rose, the Kansas Jackass and others who want higher taxes and more spending can do their patriotic part.

Of course, there's been some trouble lately with Democrats paying their taxes. Maybe that's why they want tax increases, because they'll never have to pay?

Nah, I'm sure when given the opportunity to contribute even more to the government, they'll jump on board.

And because I firmly believe in leading by example, anyone who voluntarily adds to their tax liability should get their name published on a government website so everyone can see what a joy it is to give money to the government. This, in turn, will encourage others to give.

And those of us who feel that spending increases of more than 5% year in and year out are bad... well... we can just pay our required taxes and be very unpatriotic.

Governor sprints to catch fast moving bandwagon

A little laughable non-first district news for you.

The Kansas Democrat Buffalo Blog posted today that the Kansas Senate voted 40-0 to, (oh well, it's so good let me quote it), support "Gov. Sebelius's Position Against Housing Detainees from Gitmo."

Now how freakin' hilarious is that? HER position! You know, it was Sebelius (or Gov. Syphilis as my brother likes to call her...something about being contagious) who lead against putting the most dangerous men in the world in Kansas? Sebelius. Leading. Hilarious!

Because, she was the first one to talk about it, to dream it up, to say, "Hey, you know what, maybe that's not such a hot idea." Not Republican Senator Sam Brownback or Rep. Todd Tiahrt or Rep. Jerry Moran or Rep. Lynn Jenkins who have already taken the fight to Washington. Oh no. It was her idea.

Your first clue that's a flat lie is that the title implies she lead on something. Come on, when's the last time that happened? (Hello billion dollar deficit.)

I can't wait until Gov. Sebelius gets beat down by a good Republican! 2010 can't come fast enough!

Been there, done that

I was checking out Rob's website this evening to see if he had been able to produce anymore photo's of himself (none so far), when instead I was greeted with this headline: "Rob first to sign Taxpayer Protection Pledge"

Now, I'm not the hottest french fry in the happy meal, but this struck me as rather odd considering Sen. Huelskamp has been in office since January of 1997 and has voted on countless budgets, tax increases and cuts.

How disingenuous, no, I'm sorry, how deceitful of Mr. Wasinger to say that he is the first to sign the taxpayer pledge knowing that not only did Sen. Huelskamp sign a taxpayer pledge when taking office, but being fully aware of all he has done for the hardworking taxpayers of Kansas. And how did Rob vote? Oh, that's right, he has no record!

So not only was Sen. Huelskamp the absolute first to sign a pledge to protect the Kansas taxpayer (unlike the lie Mr. Wasinger is peddling on his website), he's met and exceeded the expectations of voters.

Sen. Huelskamp scored a 100% during the 2008 legislative session with the Kansas Taxpayers Network and has a lifetime rating of 98.1%, the highest of any state Senator! And Mr. Wasinger's rating? Oh, that's right, he has no record!

So while Rob may think voters will find it impressive he can sign his name on a piece of paper, I have complete faith knowing that Republican voters know the difference between wannabe's and the real deal.

PS - In fairness to those rabid Barker people who seem to think a former Democrat is the same thing as a lifelong conservative Republican like Pat Roberts, he also has no record, other than being a Democrat for years.

PSS - Many thanks to Dirt Diver Kansas for the photo. I'm just a little upset I didn't think of it first.

Huelskamp targets Planned Parenthood funding, cites $1 billion shortfall

When it comes to cutting state pork, there's nobody better than Sen. Tim Huelskamp.

Huelskamp announced yesterday that he intends to scrutinize every penny of state spending in the face of a $1 billion state deficit. In light of some Senate Republicans refusing to discuss possible budget solutions and still blaming the budget shortfall on "tax cuts" rather than their own over spending, Sen. Huelskamp's comments are a breathe of fresh air.

“In the last two fiscal years alone, Kansans have forked over more than $550,000 to this organization,” said Senator Huelskamp. “There is simply no reason in the world why the taxpayer dollars of hundreds of thousands of pro-life Kansans should be used to underwrite abortion providers in this state, particularly those under criminal indictment and investigation.” Huelskamp promised to seek budget language that would prohibit such funding.

One does have to wonder why, if the face of a $1 billion deficit, the state would continue to fund someone under criminal investigation. Just as it pains the citizens of Illinois to pay Gov. Blagojevich's salary, it too should pain Kansans to know their hard earned tax dollars are going to an organization charged with 107 different felony misdemeanors.

And before liberals start howling about the "anti-abortion" activists, Huelskamp's press release notes actions already taken by the state of Virginia, a state that voted for the most liberal Presidential candidate in history.

If Kansas were to defund Planned Parenthood funding, they would not be the first state to attempt to do so. Citing concerns about the racist foundations of Planned Parenthood, their documented willingness to cover up for rapists and other child predators, and their illegal promotion of pornography to teenagers, other states such as Virginia have made moves similar to that proposed by Huelskamp.

Senate President Steve Morris and Vice President John Vratil have blamed the budget crisis on tax cuts passed under their leadership the past few years. But as AFP's Alan Cobb pointed out, it isn't the tax cuts that are to blame but the over indulgence of a majority of Kansas Senators, Representatives and Gov. Sebelius herself.

“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.”

2004 is the year Sen. Morris and Vratil took over leadership of the Kansas Senate.

Personally, I think the CPI is the most a budget should increase without the approval of the voters. But isn't it interesting to know that if legislators had just had a little self control...not even a lot, but just a little bit...that we'd now be in the black instead of the red

Kansans can rest assured that Sen. Huelskamp will examine every penny in Washington just like he has the past 12 years in Topeka.

"We are running for Congress"

Well, we're a little late with the news, but good news can never be too late, right?

Sen. Huelskamp has formally announced his bid for Congress with a late night email to supporters. (You can click the email on the left to enlarge it.)

Sen. Huelskamp had many great things to say in his announcement. The most refreshing, however, was Sen Huelskamp's understanding that conservative principles are NOT the reason Republican's were rejected at the polls nationally in November. Rather, it is a rejection in practice of conservative principles by Republicans that handed us a rather humbling defeat.

"Leaders in Washington in both political parties have lost touch with the fundamental principles that most Americans live our lives by every day - common sense, fiscal responsibility, and the traditional moral values and respect for individual freedoms that built this country."

Sen. Huelskamp is the frontrunner in the 1st congressional district race not because he has the most cash in the bank, but because he has a 12 year record in the Kansas Senate to back up what he is telling voters today.

Why would a voter even consider a candidate that has a questionable voting record or no record what-so-ever?

Anybody can talk the talk, but Sen. Huelskamp has walked the walk for twelve years.

"I am absolutely convinced that now is the time for a new class of principled leaders in Washington who will stand up for these and other core American values. We need folks who are willing to stand boldly for truth and the principles upon which our nation was built. So we are running for Congress. And with God's blessings and your support, I hope to become the next Congressman from the Big 1st District."

Read more about Sen. Huelskamp's announcement at Kansas Liberty.