About 200 people attended "Now What? -- America moving foward after the election" in Kansas City Nov. 6, featuring conservative commentator and author Jonah Goldberg. The event was presented by the Kansas and Missouri chapters of Americans for Prosperity Foundation.

Below is a shot of the opening reception at Mission Hills Country Club. 

(Left to right) Matt Hickam, Alan Cobb, Jonah Goldberg and Carl Bearden.

Guests enjoy dinner prior to the main program.

Jonah Goldberg, author of "Liberal Fascism."

In light of Election Day, coverage of the latest budget numbers for the state of Kansas fell by the wayside.

But truth be told, the numbers are staggering. According to the latest financial forecast from Kansas Legislative Research, Kansas will face a $137 million deficit for the current fiscal year, and that shortfall balloons to $958 million by the next fiscal year (FY 2010).

Just two years ago, the Kansas Legislature had more than $900 million in the bank and by next year we’ll be overspending by nearly $1 BILLION. 

This is what happens when lawmakers continue to overspend. They cannot predict when the economy will take a downturn, and now they’ve been caught by a sharp decline in tax revenues. The 2009 Legislature will immediately have to raise taxes or cut budgets.

Read coverage in the Topeka Capital-Journal of the Kansas budget plight. To view yesterday’s memo from Kansas Legislative Research, click here.

The Cato Institute has released its annual Governors Score Card, giving Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius an overall grade of “D” in terms of tax and spending policies. To her credit, the Cato Institute says Gov. Sebelius has supported a number of business tax cuts, but large spending increases are what brought the grade down. Below is the a summary of Kansas’ report from the Cato Institute.

Kansas

Kathleen Sebelius, Democrat

Legislature: Republican

Took Office: January 2003

Grade: D  

Kathleen Sebelius has supported tax increases during her tenure, but she has also supported a number of pro-growth tax cuts. 

In 2004, she proposed a temporary increase in the sales tax rate that has turned out to be permanent, and more recently she has supported cigarette tax increases. However, Sebelius has also supported an impressive list of business tax cuts, including reductions in corporate income taxes, unemployment compensation taxes, and business property taxes. 

She has also supported repeal of the estate tax and repeal of the corporate franchise tax, which is being phased out by 2011. With these cuts, the governor has made Kansas more attractive for business investment. It is on spending where Sebelius dragged down her grade by presiding over per capita budget increases averaging about 7 percent annually since 2003.

By Alan Cobb

On Oct. 1, the U.S. Congress did nothing.  And we at Americans for Prosperity-Kansas applaud them for it.  By not acting to renew it, lawmakers allowed the Congressional ban on offshore drilling and oil shale recovery to expire Oct. 1.

This first step, albeit a baby step, toward reducing our nation’s reliance on foreign oil by permitting U.S. companies to explore and drill for oil along our coastlines and in our western states will help reduce energy costs and increase energy security.

It’s a first step toward energy independence, breaking the cycle of reliance on unfriendly, volatile foreign regimes that could literally hold our nation hostage by refusing our requests for oil.  It’s a first step toward making energy affordable for U.S. citizens, whose wallets in fact have been held hostage by high-priced imported oil and natural gas. 

Yes, Congress doing nothing about offshore oil drilling Oct. 1 may just be the biggest something lawmakers have done to date in crafting the comprehensive energy policy so badly needed by our nation.  When Congress continues its work on energy – after campaign season, or maybe not till next year – it is critical they again do nothing.  Congress must do nothing to raise energy taxes or create new ones. 

Higher energy taxes have been tried before and failed miserably.  They would cause exploration and drilling to grind to a halt; fresh ideas and new jobs to evaporate.  U.S. reliance on foreign oil would continue and deepen.  National security would be further jeopardized.  Clearly, doing nothing to raise energy taxes, revoke energy tax credits or impose new energy taxes is the absolute right thing to do.

Let me borrow from the medical community for a cautionary message to Congress:  First, do no harm.  Although Congress must take action if we are to get the energy reforms our nation so badly needs, it must act with care to first do no harm, either by reinstating drilling bans or by repeating the energy tax faux pas of the 1980s.

Join the Flint Hills Center for Public Policy, Americans for Prosperity, and Citizens for Better Education for the Wichita premiere of Flunked, the movie at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8^th at the Orpheum Theatre.  Free concessions and a cash bar will be provided. There will also be a Q&A session with producer Steve Maggi following the movie.

What: Wichita premiere of Flunked, the movie

The Kansas Health Policy Authority is holding a series of public hearings throughout the month of October in various areas of Kansas. We urge you to consider attending one of these meetings in Hutchinson, Salina, Goodland, Garden City, Topeka and Wichita. Topics to be covered include and overview of the 2008 Legislative Session, a preview of the 2009 Session, and strategies to meet the needs of Kansas health consumers.

The schedule for the meetings is as follows:

Thanks to those of you who attended our two-city Put a Lid On It Tour September 19 and 20. We held two successful events in Dodge City and Pittsburg, featuring AFP-New Jersey director Steve Lonegan and Kansas State Senator Chris Steineger (D-Kansas City.)

Attendees enjoy hors d'oeuvres at the Depot Theatre Company in Dodge City.

AFP-New Jersey Director Steve Lonegan delivers his remarks on "Economics Around the World, from Adam Smith to Karl Marx," motivating people to fight for economic freedom in America. He also spoke on the economy and government policies of New Jersey compared to those of Kansas, warning us not to go down the same path toward New Jersey-style big government policies.

Kansas City Senator Chris Steineger presented an update on the Statehouse renovation project, which has ballooned in cost and in scope since it began eight years ago. Original cost estimates for the renovation were $90 million to $120 million, but current projections are around $300 million. His message was simple: Kansas policymakers must consider the fiscal sustainability of certain projects and government programs, and must work harder to force the state government to live within its means.

AFP-Kansas State Director Alan Cobb addresses the crowd, summarizing AFP's legislative successes in recent years. With the help of our members, AFP was able to promote a modest budget increase of under 5%, help permanently establish the state's online budget database, and stop several proposed tax increases. Cobb said we will continue to work with Kansas legislators to find ways to control our state budget.

by Alan Cobb

What if Kansas threw a billion dollar party and nobody showed?

That’s what happened for “economic development.” 

Kansas’ one-company-at-a-time economic development policy failed to grow our economy.  The Legislature’s special deals to companies, including outright cash payments, took away focus from our state's high tax rates - which affect everyone. Meanwhile, our economy has lagged compared to the nation and region.

When one company or industry gets special deals, the effective tax burden is increased on those remaining, which makes Kansas less attractive to everyone else (think Detroit and auto manufacturing). So while the “seen” growth of a company receiving special treatment may seem real, the “unseen” effect can be found in sluggish economic growth and high tax rates.

A recent report from the Legislative Post Audit says we’ve spent more than $1 billion on “economic development” from 2003 to 2007.  No one seems sure what impact, if any, these dollars have made.

The report suggested, and legislators agreed, that Kansas must continue to offer incentives because other states do. This report concludes the efforts to lure companies have little, if any, discernible impact on economic growth. This makes sense how?

Wall Street is filled with people who attempt to pick winners in the marketplace. But they frequently fail and miss new industries and trends (like the Internet!).

If one simply invested in the S&P 500, you would do better than more than 90% of mutual funds, who are run by handsomely paid money managers. If professionals fail at this, why would our citizen-legislators and bureaucrats succeed?

Well, they don’t succeed. 

So what can Kansas do?  Stop trying to pick winners and let the market do what it does best. 

Our policy makers can’t change our state’s location, weather or geography. They can change the cost of government and our tax burden.

Rather than helping just a handful of firms, why not assist everyone?

Consistent data indicates states with the lowest overall tax burdens have the greatest economic growth, not those with the biggest incentive packages.

First we should allow every business, of any size, to deduct capital expenses from the time of purchase instead of depreciating them. No legislators or bureaucrats picking which businesses get to do this – they all will.

Our corporate and individual income tax rates and our sales tax rates are 2^nd highest in the region. Two of our regional neighbors, Texas and South Dakota, don’t even have an income tax.   

While more people are moving out of Kansas than moving in, South Dakota (South Dakota!!) is booming.

Restrained spending is economic development. Since 2002, state revenues have averaged 5.4% increases. If our budget simply increases at 5% over the next five years, we’d have more than $1 billion for much-needed tax relief. That amount, coupled with rerouting a good portion of the current eco-devo money, would do wondrous things for Kansas’ tax burden. We could eliminate the corporate income tax, reduce our income tax rates and sales tax rates below those of Missouri and Oklahoma (see chart below).

Let’s unleash Kansas’ entrepreneurial strength and quit asking so much of our policy makers.  We didn’t elect them to pick the best businesses and well, they haven’t been doing so well at that anyway.

Please welcome the newest member of the AFP-Kansas team. Susan Estes, Wichita, has been hired as the new field director for the western part of the state.

Susan joins AFP after years of political activity and grassroots development in Kansas. Prior to joining AFP, Estes worked for Mid American Credit Union. She and her husband Ron have three children who attend Andover Public Schools.

“Susan brings a great amount of experience in grassroots activism, and we look forward to having her as an addition to the Kansas team,” said AFP-Kansas state director Alan Cobb. “We now have more than 25,000 members statewide and Susan’s skills will be a tremendous asset in activating our expanding membership.”

Susan replaces Rodger Woods, who has been the western Kansas field director since last fall. Woods is a member of the Army National Guard and departs the Kansas team due to a pending mobilization.

“Rodger has been instrumental in developing a strong AFP presence in the western half of the state and we truly appreciate his work to develop local chapters in that part of the state,” said Cobb. “Rodger has been a big part of our achievements this year.

“We wish him the best in his upcoming mobilization, and thank him for his service to our country.”

Susan will be based in the Wichita AFP office. If you’d like more information about forming a local chapter, you can reach her at susan.estes@afphq.org or (316) 269-4174.

Al Gore’s challenge to have America produce 100% of its electricity without a single molecule of carbon is a ploy for bigger government. Gore is calling for higher taxes and government subsidies for alternative energy "solutions" that will come at a huge cost to consumers.

That’s the ultimate goal for global warming alarmists -- make energy much more expensive so Americans use less. Gore’s own Alliance for Climate Protection estimated a zero-carbon energy plan would cost as much as $3 trillion. While Gore might believe energy producers should be forced pick up the tab, we know that businesses don't pay taxes -- people do, in the form of lost jobs or higher prices. 

A vibrant economy that isn't hamstrung by high taxes and regulations is the best way to develop viable alternative energies. Big government bureaucrats shouldn't pick winners and losers in the energy game.

Gore wants the government to dictate our energy policy. According to recent polls, nearly 2 out of 3 Americans favor expanding nuclear power, and nearly 3 out of 4 favor off-shore drilling. Gore firmly opposes both solutions. He thinks the government should decide what is good for Americans, rather than Americans deciding themselves.

The consequences of government-directed energy policies are well known -- remember gas lines in the 1970s and higher food prices courtesy of subsidized ethanol? We cannot allow these policies to destroy our economy because doing so will destroy the best tool available to us – the free market.

Alan Cobb

State Director

Americans for Prosperity-Kansas

According to a new Gallup poll, most Americans (84%) prefer the government take steps to improve the nation’s overall economic conditions rather than distributing wealth more evenly among Americans. The opposition to redistributing wealth crosses party lines, with a majority of Republicans (90%), Democrats (77%) and Independents (85%) overwhelmingly supporting more government focus the overall economy and jobs situation in the U.S. View the complete results at:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/108445/Americans-Oppose-Income-Redistribution-Fix-Economy.aspx.

This in response to a recent letter to the Topeka Capital-Journal: 

Mr. Gene Wolfe took a very narrow view of his own when he recently accused Americans for Prosperity of being "short-sighted" when it comes to wasteful GOP spending. In fact, so narrow was his view that he neglected to mention some very important facts, including AFP's two-year-long track record of opposing the oftentimes sneaky and unaccountable practice of earmarking federal tax dollars.  

While Mr. Wolfe claimed in his letter that AFP has been "strangely silent" on rampant Republican spending, like the infamous Alaska "bridge to nowhere," nothing could be further from the truth. Had Mr. Wolfe conducted a simple Google search, he would have, helping make the term "earmark" a household word and created fertile ground for meaningful earmark reforms.  

Earmarking is clearly a bi-partisan problem and taxpayers should urge all lawmakers, regardless of party affiliation, to curb wasteful earmarking and support reforms.  

Mr. Wolfe's other accusations are also off-base. AFP does oppose unnecessary tax hikes and out-of-control government spending, but we are strong supporters of good-government initiatives. AFP was instrumental in passing the bi-partisan Federal Funding Transparency and Accountability Act sponsored by Republican Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn and Democratic Illinois Senator Barack Obama.  

If Mr. Wolfe thinks those who support placing commonsense limits on government growth are "greedy," he might consider voting with his feet. I suspect most Kansas families would support the notion that government should run its finances more like they manage their household budgets. 

Alan Cobb

State Director, Americans for Prosperity-Kansas

We hosted two workshops for legislative candidates this month. In Topeka, more than 30 people turned out June 24 to learn about the state budget, the legislative process, and what issues are most pressing in the Statehouse.

A second workshop was June 25 in the Wichita office. State director Alan Cobb reviewed the state of the budget and current tax policies with candidates vying to be in the Legislature.

Turnout was good in both cities, and numerous candidates who were unable to attend requested informational packets to learn the facts about the state's financial situation.

Remembering Kelo v. New London

By Alan Cobb

AFP-Kansas State Director

Monday, June 23 marks the third anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision in the case of Kelo v. New London, in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that governments are allowed to seize private property and give it to another private person in the name of “greater public use” – or economic development. It was in that case that the Supreme Court ruled that New London, Conn., could take Susette Kelo’s little pink cottage so the city could generate more tax revenue.

Three years after that decision, and $78 million taxpayer dollars later, there’s not much to show for the development.

In Kelo, the term “public use” was redefined to mean whatever a court wanted it to mean. On this third anniversary of the prominent case, we remind citizens that the threat of eminent domain abuse is still very real in Kansas.

Kansas property owners did score a small victory two years ago after the Legislature approved, and the Governor signed, a bill requiring a majority vote by the Legislature to approve any property seizure by state or local government when the title holder would be a private entity.

Even so, just last year local government associations were lobbying the Legislature to claim “blight” as good reason to take someone’s property, with their definition of blight being “inadequate ventilation, light, air or sanitation.”  

These factors could be enough for the government to justify seizing a house – however “inadequate” is defined. Thankfully, that bill never made it out of committee.  

One of the bedrocks of our free society is security in our possessions and property. Of course the government needs to occasionally use eminent domain for truly public purposes – the construction of roads, bridges, schools and hospitals – but local governments must now jump higher hurdles in order to take private property for economic development purposes.

However, this limited use of eminent domain for public purposes was turned on its ear two years ago by the U.S. Supreme Court, with its ruling in Kelo v. New London. With that ruling, governments are allowed to seize private property and give it to another private person in the name of “greater public use” otherwise known as “economic development.”

Kelo v. New London is a textbook example of why the definition of “public use” should be very, very narrow.

After all, the next business or home your local government may be coming after might be yours.

Wondering how climate change legislation will impact your family? According to research by The Heritage Foundation, America’s Climate Security Act of 2007, sponsored by Senators Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and John Warner (R-VA), will take a bite out of your personal finances and cause energy prices to skyrocket even higher.

To view The Heritage Foundation’s study on the Kansas impacts, click here.