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Kathleen Sebelius on Tax Reform
Democratic KS Governor
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Balanced four state budgets without tax increases
Sebelius kept her pledge to perform a top-to-bottom audit of state government--an effort that uncovered $159 million in wasteful government spending. Governor Sebelius has balanced four state budgets in a row--all without tax increases, and all
while protecting education funding and other vital initiatives. Forbes magazine recently rated Kansas first among the fifty states for creating a climate of “economic freedom”, where businesses face the fewest obstacles for establishing new enterprise.
Source: Campaign website, www.ksgovernor.com, “Issues”
, Nov 7, 2006
Allow overdue taxes to be paid without penalty
The FAIR SHARE program we initiated last year also has paid big dividends. Too many Kansans owed back taxes and hadn’t paid them for years.
Offering those citizens a one-time chance to pay what they owed without penalty generated almost $54 million in back taxes. That’s money we never would have seen if we had simply continued our “business-as-usual” approach to tax collections.
Source: 2004 State of the State address to the Kansas Legislature
, Jan 12, 2004
Modernize tax incentive programs for start-up businesses
Our Economic Revitalization plan includes a proposal to modernize our tax incentive programs to make them work better for the businesses they are designed to serve. Kansas will compete more effectively for jobs and attract companies that offer the best-
paying jobs. Under our plan, high potential start-up companies can sell their tax credits to already established businesses. It’s a win-win situation: start-up businesses receive needed infusions of cash & already profitable Kansas companies save money.
Source: 2004 State of the State address to the Kansas Legislature
, Jan 12, 2004
Create tax credit for rural business development
Our plan pays special attention to rural Kansas. It creates a Rural Business Development Tax Credit that will ensure that investments are made in viable job-producing businesses, many of which will be tied to agriculture. Our Revitalization Program also
extends funding for the Enterprise Facilitation program now nurturing businesses in 24 Kansas counties. So far, this program, which helps communities help themselves, has sparked the creation or expansion of nearly 70 businesses in rural areas.
Source: 2004 State of the State address to the Kansas Legislature
, Jan 12, 2004
$12B in federal economic stimulus as state block grants.
Sebelius signed $12B in federal economic stimulus as state block grants
The nation's governors urge you to include state countercyclical funding as part of your legislation to stimulate the economy. This would include $6 billion in Medicaid assistance by freezing scheduled federal FMAP reductions and increasing all states' F
Congress approved $20 billion in assistance to states, including $10 billion in Medicaid and $10 billion in block grants. The governors' current stimulus proposal is essentially the same, with the exception that it is a total of $12 billion as opposed to $20 billion. This proposal can be enacted quickly, as there is precedent and it is timely, temporary and targeted.
Additionally, governors appreciate federal efforts to use tax policy to get additional money into the hands of consumers and businesses to stimulate the economy. When considering tax changes to spur economic growth, governors urge Congress and the Administration to follow the maxim of "Do no harm" by avoiding changes at the federal level that would diminish state tax revenues or force state actions that would undermine the effectiveness of federal efforts.
We look forward to working with you to enact the appropriate stimulus program.
Source: Letter from 37 governors to House & Senate Leadership NGA-0801TX on Jan 28, 2008
Page last updated: Nov 23, 2011