Open Letter to ALL State Senators and especially Senator Hardy:

Senator Hardy,  nearly 75% of the benefits in this bill (which was developed and pushed by powerful business lobbyist) goes to the big businesses that benefited for years under the Brownback tax cuts at the cost of our most vulnerable citizens, children, schools, highways, medical facilities, and sales tax. Meanwhile, according to KDOR, benefits on individual filers would only amount to a $39 dollar tax break for a family (married w/2 kids) with a federally AGI of $120,000 p/y and a $12 tax break for a family (married with 0 or 1 child) and an AGI of $60,000 p/y.  The median household income in Salina is just under $46,000, meaning your average constituent likely will see little or no benefit from this legislation.

The 2012 Brownback tax cuts proved that tax cuts for big business didn’t work. Things such a solid infrastructure (quality roads, public transportation, etc…), quality employees,  workforce training, and quality of life (affordable housing, good schools, access to medical care, etc…) do draw the attention of big business though. Of course these things can’t be kept up and improved on when we keep giving hundreds of millions of dollars away to big businesses.   Senate leadership brought this bill up as a priority over the financial security of the State, our most vulnerable citizens, children, our education system, our highways, our healthcare system, etc….  Voting for this bill with hopes that the house will take care of it correctly, or that anyone in the Senate leadership will care it if it does cause monetary issues was probably a risk that wasn’t worth taking. That rings hollow.  The Senate usually has the reputation as the more deliberative body.  Not so here.   We need leaders, not followers of failed leadership, in the legislature.

This bill is now in a House Committee. When it comes to the House floor for a vote, be advised Representatives Claeys, Dierks and Johnson, we will be watching.

Saline County Democrats

Janice Morris, Chair

Andrea Pfeifer, Communication Director