2018 KS Governor's race: on Tax Reform


Laura Kelly: No more tax cuts; restore balance to the tax system

The Brownback years, and the disastrous set of tax cuts that he and conservative lawmakers championed, resulted in underfunded schools, a crippled highway program and a child welfare system so underfunded that it threatens the very children it's supposed to protect. Kelly has plans to tackle all 3 of those issues. She has pledged to restore balance to the state's tax system by returning to its traditional "3-legged stool" that relies roughly equally on income, sales and property taxes.
Source: Kansas City Star endorsement: 2018 Kansas governor race Jul 12, 2018

Kris Kobach: Keep tax cuts despite state's budget hole

Kobach promised to center his campaign on fighting "corruption, taxation and illegal immigration." He lambasted Kansas lawmakers for raising taxes "on hard-working Kansans" by repealing Gov. Sam Brownback's tax cuts to fill the state's budget hole and contended that the state could have saved dollars by restricting immigration.
Source: Kansas City Star on 2018 Kansas gubernatorial race Jun 8, 2017

Sam Brownback: 2012 "march to zero" income tax cuts overturned

Lawmakers rolled back Gov. Sam Brownback's signature tax policy over his objections, 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.

Income taxes will rise across the board but most tax rates will remain lower than they were before the 2012 tax cuts. The increases are expected to generate more than $1.2 billion for the state over the next two years.

The Senate and House voted 27-13 and 88-31, respectively, to override Brownback's veto. 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."

Source: Wichita Eagle on 2018 Kansas gubernatorial race Jun 6, 2017

Jeff Colyer: Low taxes & smallest possible government

When it comes to overall conservatism, one score tells you a whole lot. Americans for Prosperity, the ultra-conservative political organization founded by the billionaire Koch brothers of Wichita, gives Colyer a lifetime score of 97 percent. Colyer, Brownback and the Kochs are soul mates. The Kochs, above all, stand for the lowest taxes possible and the smallest government, bordering on no government except for defense.
Source: Kansas City Star OpEd on 2018 Kansas governor race May 26, 2017

Wink Hartman: Simplify the tax-code and promote pro-growth policies

In recent years, dysfunction in Topeka has dampened that innovative spirit. Political gridlock has provided instability and an uncertain future to the small-businesses and farms that fuel the Kansas Economy. As a businessman--not a politician-- I know what it takes to create jobs and grow companies. If elected, I will work every day to eliminate burdensome regulations, simplify the tax-code and promote pro-growth policies that make Kansas the best place in the country to do business.
Source: 2018 Kansas governor campaign website HartmanForKansas.com May 2, 2017

  • The above quotations are from 2018 Kansas Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Tax Reform.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Sam Brownback on Tax Reform.
Candidates and political leaders on Tax Reform:

Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN) 		Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Apr 19, 2020