Views
Opinion column
by Murrel Bland
Gov. Sam Brownback came to Kansas, City, Kan., Friday, July 15, to speak to members of the Congressional Forum, a committee of the Chamber of Commerce. About 75 persons, mostly community business leaders, attended and heard the state’s chief executive speak on a wide range of subjects.
Gov. Brownback, a conservative Republican, had high praise for the economic development efforts in Wyandotte County, particularly in the western area.
The governor cited the recent ground breaking for the $62 million U.S. Soccer training complex just east of 98th Street and Parallel Parkway and the $310.5 million Amazon distribution center to be built just south of the Turner Diagonal near Riverview Avenue. Both are expected to be completed late next year.
The soccer complex will be a venue for training not only players, but also coaches and referees from all over the world. The governor said it could be the site for training the U.S. men’s team to win its first World Cup. He mentioned that the U.S. Women’s team has won its World Cup three times in 1991, 1999 and 2015; that drew applause from the women in the audience.
The governor praised Community College President Doris Givens for the school’s willingness to establish a warehouse-training program for employees of the Amazon center.
The recent legislative session was a difficult one, the governor said, as state tax revenue continues to fall sort of projections. This has caused deep cuts in various state programs, including those in the areas of higher education and healthcare. The state had to sell $900 million in bonds to break even at the end of the fiscal year June 30. The state’s credit rating has been downgraded.
The governor’s critics, including moderate Republicans and Democrats, have complained that his tax elimination for limited liability corporations (LLCs) has forced the legislature to increase sales tax–one of the highest in the nation. He did say that he would consider legislation that would eliminate the tax on food, particularly for those with limited incomes.
He said tax collections are down because the three major business groups in Kansas—agriculture, aviation and gas and oil—are hurting. He dismissed the suggestion that he might approved legislation to reinstate the income taxes for LLCs. He said that states with no income tax continue to grow.
The governor’s critics have said that states with no income tax have strong tourism trades such as Florida and Wyoming; Kansas does not have mountains and or seashores. Gov. Brownback agreed that more money needs to be spent on Kansas tourism.
The governor praised state legislators in general and the four who attended the forum. Those present included state Representatives Pam Horton Curtis and Tom Burroughs and state Senators David Haley and Steve Fitzgerald. All are Democrats except for Fitzgerald, who is a conservative Republican. The governor said these legislators serve for very little money and are very dedicated.
The governor put in a plug for his plan to bring the American Royal to Wyandotte County. He has proposed to use the sales tax revenue bonds to finance a new location for the Royal. He said the American Royal could also be a center for genetic research on farm animals.
There has been speculation that one location for the American Royal could be Wyandotte County Park, Bonner Springs, across the street from the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame.
Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is the executive Director of Business West.