Sam Brownback Proposes Tax Increases In Wake Of Budget Problems

[applegrove]

Sam Brownback Proposes Tax Increases In Wake Of Budget Problems

by John Hanna at the Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/16/sam-brownback-taxes_n_6489918.html?utm_hp_ref=politics

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas would nearly triple its cigarette tax, raise taxes on alcohol and slow down promised income tax cuts to balance its budget under proposals Republican Gov. Sam Brownback outlined Friday.

Brownback presented detailed recommendations to the GOP-dominated Legislature for eliminating projected shortfalls totaling more than $710 million in the current budget and for the fiscal year beginning July 1. He also presented a spending blueprint for the fiscal year beginning in July 2016 designed to leave the state with some cash reserves.

The state's budget problems arose after lawmakers aggressively cut personal income taxes in 2012 and 2013 at Brownback's urging to stimulate the economy. Brownback's budget-balancing plans would make those reductions more gradual, without abandoning his long-term goal of eliminating income taxes.

He proposed increasing the cigarette tax to $2.29 a pack from 79 cents and raising the tax on other tobacco products to 25 percent from 10 percent. The tax paid by consumers on beer, wine and liquor at liquor stores would jump to 12 percent from 8 percent. The increases would raise $394 million over two years, starting in July.



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[TheBlackAdder]

1. Notice that the 'tax increases' would hit the middle classes and lower more, esp. with tobacco.

He cuts taxes for the wealthy and then implements a 'sin' tax that will impact all citizens.

Middle and lower-class citizens are more prone to smoking, as the wealthier are more into nutrition and health (because they can afford it). I don't have the link on that, but I have read it numerous times.

[applegrove]

2. Yup. He can't admit that reduced taxes on the wealthy don't pay for themselves. The

Last edited Sun Jan 18, 2015, 12:05 AM - Edit history (1)

poor will pay for his 'mistakes'. What is it with the GOP and scapegoating the poor?

[Takket]

3. why would he do that?

He ran Kansas into the ground, and the citizens there reelected him. clearly they are happy with their state being bankrupted by this idiot, so why should he make any sort of move to increase taxes? seems to be going against the wishes of his electorate, who clearly want their state crippled and to be eventually laid off from their jobs.

[TheBlackAdder]

4. Create a marginally functioning government. The wealthy still amve to live there. nt

Since it's his second term, he's jamming the lower classes, implementing a tax that few wealthy will feel or even care to notice.

It's the folks barely getting by that will be hurt the greatest my this move.