Kansas Governor insists other solutions are possible to resolve spending shortfall
WASHINGTON – Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) applauds Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius for her pro-taxpayer actions. Kansas taxpayers received welcomed news today when Gov. Kathleen Sebelius announced that she opposes a gas tax hike.
Gov. Sebelius proposed fund transfers, rather than tax increases, to offset Kansas\’s $660 million budget shortfall. State spending has increased 35% over the last decade in Kansas, according to the Cato Institute.
"Gov. Sebelius has shown bold leadership by working to oppose a gas tax increase," said Grover Norquist, President of ATR. "Increasing taxes is not a solution to remedy budget woes, because these woes are caused by overspending. Our Taxpayer Protection Pledge signers recognize that Kansan taxpayers cannot bear any additional burden of taxation, particularly for the purpose of affording excessive spate spending," continued Norquist.
Budget negotiations between the House and Senate versions will begin next week. The following legislators have signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge sponsored by ATR, thereby promising "to oppose and vote against any efforts to increase taxes."
1. Ed Pugh (S-1)
2. Kay O\’Connor (S-9)
3. Robert Tyson (S-12)
4. Jim Barone (S-13)
5. David Jackson (S-18)
6. Karin Brownlee (S-23)
7. Nancey Harrington (S-26)
8. Paul Feleciano, Jr.(S-28)
9. Susan Wagle (S-30)
10. Tim Huelskamp (S-38)
11. Stan Clark (S-40)
12. Andrew Howell (H-4)
13. Jene Vickrey (H-6)
14. Mary Compton (H-13)
15. Dan Williams (H-14)
16. Robert Tomlinson (H-24)
17. Ray Cox (H-39)
18. John Ballou (H-43)
19. Vern Osborne (H-61)
20. Don Dahl (H-70)
21. William G. Mason (H-75)
22. Peggy Long (H-76)
23. Ted Powers (H-81)
24. Don Myers (H-82)
25. Jo Ann Pottorf (H-83)
26. Bonnie Huy (H-87)
27. Steve Huebert (H-90)
28. Brenda Landwehr (H-91)
29. Daniel Thimesch (H-93)
30. Willa DeCastro (H-96)
31. Dale Swenson (H-97)
32. Todd Novascone (H-99)
33. Mary Kauffman (H-101)
34. Melvin Neufeld (H-115)
35. Ralph Ostmeyer (H-118)