# What isn't the matter with Kansas? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 12, 2014, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398 "2014-11-12T01:39:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/101 "2015-06-14T22:08:15Z")
Not as high as Washington state, which I think is over 8%. On the other hand, Washington has no income tax. ---
**Author:** ![emacknight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ec8ea/32.png) [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/102 "2015-06-14T22:33:08Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Not as high as Washington state, which I think is over 8%. On the other hand, Washington has no income tax. Luxury! It’s 15% in Nova Scotia, Canada. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/103 "2015-06-14T23:38:08Z")
They can get away with that because Canadians are just too nice to complain about it. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/104 "2015-06-22T19:33:10Z")
Oops. Kansas loses 4,000 jobs in May. Unemployment up from 4.2% to 4.4%. Gov. Brownback continues to deny that his plan doesn’t work and raises the sales tax by 0.5% (State Legislature reduced the increase to 0.35%) on the backs of the poor. Fail, fail, fail, fail, fail. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/105 "2015-06-22T19:58:47Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > Oops. > > Kansas loses 4,000 jobs in May. Unemployment up from 4.2% to 4.4%. Gov. Brownback continues to deny that his plan doesn’t work and raises the sales tax by 0.5% (State Legislature reduced the increase to 0.35%) on the backs of the poor. > > Fail, fail, fail, fail, fail. [That depends on how you define “success.”](http://www.salon.com/2015/06/17/sam_brownback_is_winning_dont_be_fooled_by_the_hype_his_radical_experiment_is_far_from_finished/) ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/106 "2015-08-01T06:12:12Z")
Keep it up Kansas! [https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/kansas-collects-3-7m-less-233611276.html](https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/kansas-collects-3-7m-less-233611276.html) ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/107 "2015-08-01T06:16:45Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Keep it up Kansas! > > [https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/kansas-collects-3-7m-less-233611276.html](https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/kansas-collects-3-7m-less-233611276.html) > [@](#): > > Revenue Secretary Nick Jordan noted that income tax collections in July were better than expected. Personal income tax collections exceeded expectations by $3 million, or 2 percent, at $153 million. You were saying? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/108 "2015-08-01T14:52:55Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > You were saying? Nice cherry pick. That place is fucked. ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/109 "2015-08-01T15:01:05Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > You were saying? > [@](#): > > A $6 million decline in general sales, financial institution, and oil and gas receipts during the month eroded those gains. Also, the state is STILL working on processing 2014 income tax returns (or at least was as of last week – [Kansas Revenue Department still processing paper tax returns](http://cjonline.com/news/2015-07-22/kansas-revenue-department-still-processing-paper-tax-returns) ), so some of the income tax collections reported in July were actually paid several months ago, and the state is just now getting around to cashing the checks. That makes July look “better,” but it’s coming on top of a $14 million shortfall in individual income tax receipts in June. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/110 "2015-08-01T15:04:37Z")
But wait, there’s more. Cuts to education have caused teachers to leave the state at alarming rates. They are fucked into the next generation. [http://www.salina.com/opinion/editorials/teachers-leaving-kansas-should-be-a-wake-up-call/article\_8c146e53-b42b-5068-a0e1-f01024b80d59.html](http://www.salina.com/opinion/editorials/teachers-leaving-kansas-should-be-a-wake-up-call/article_8c146e53-b42b-5068-a0e1-f01024b80d59.html) ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2015, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/111 "2015-08-04T04:02:04Z")
Stupidity and ignorance are what the Republicans seem to want. A well-edumacated populace makes it more difficult for them to further their agenda. Teachers are the enemy (good ones, at least). ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2015, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/112 "2015-08-05T15:42:35Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > But wait, there’s more. Cuts to education have caused teachers to leave the state at alarming rates. They are fucked into the next generation. > > [http://www.salina.com/opinion/editorials/teachers-leaving-kansas-should-be-a-wake-up-call/article\_8c146e53-b42b-5068-a0e1-f01024b80d59.html](http://www.salina.com/opinion/editorials/teachers-leaving-kansas-should-be-a-wake-up-call/article_8c146e53-b42b-5068-a0e1-f01024b80d59.html) NPR reported on the exodus of Kansas teachers recently: [http://http://www.npr.org/2015/07/09/421528581/shrinking-kansas-budgets-push-many-teachers-across-state-lines](http://http://www.npr.org/2015/07/09/421528581/shrinking-kansas-budgets-push-many-teachers-across-state-lines) So much for job creation. This class of professionals is voting with their feet. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/113 "2015-08-11T22:36:49Z")
[More data and analysis](http://econbrowser.com/archives/2015/08/kansas-the-macro-outlook) on the ongoing Kansas “experiment.” Money quote: “I would argue much of the downturn especially post January 2013 is self-inflicted, due to the fiscal policies implemented.” ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/114 "2015-08-11T23:58:51Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Stupidity and ignorance are what the Republicans seem to want. A well-edumacated populace makes it more difficult for them to further their agenda. Teachers are the enemy (good ones, at least). Without teachers, there’s more money for shouldermapads! ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2015, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/115 "2015-09-05T19:42:18Z")
The Kansas state Supreme Court is now in a battle with the legislature over control of the state court system. The legislature recently acted to move authority to appoint chief judges and manage budgets to local courts, conflicting with the state constitution which gives the Supreme Court “_general administrative authority over all courts in the state_.” The act will take funding away from the entire court system if local control is not put in place. Because, you know, activisty judges “legislating from the bench” is a _very bad_ thing. [WSJ article](http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2015/09/03/in-kansas-ruling-puts-court-funding-in-jeopardy/) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2015, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/116 "2015-09-05T20:48:59Z")
There’s plenty the matter with Kansas, since [it can’t even beat South Dakota State](http://www.sbnation.com/2015/9/5/9266047/kansas-south-dakota-state). ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/117 "2015-11-07T15:23:13Z")
Kansas continues to be a complete disaster. More budget cuts and they have had to raise cigarette and sales taxes. [https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/kansas-slashes-revenue-forecast-adjusts-235646647.html](https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/kansas-slashes-revenue-forecast-adjusts-235646647.html) ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/118 "2015-11-07T16:39:20Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Kansas continues to be a complete disaster. More budget cuts and they have had to raise cigarette and sales taxes. > > [https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/kansas-slashes-revenue-forecast-adjusts-235646647.html](https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/kansas-slashes-revenue-forecast-adjusts-235646647.html) From the article: > [@](#): > > “I am confident we would be in far worse shape had the tax cuts never happened,” Senate President Susan Wagle, a Wichita Republican, said in a statement. The delusion runs deep. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2016, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/119 "2016-06-03T15:29:39Z")
[https://www.yahoo.com/news/kansas-faces-budget-woes-amid-school-funding-fight-232150214.html?ref=gs](https://www.yahoo.com/news/kansas-faces-budget-woes-amid-school-funding-fight-232150214.html?ref=gs) Kansas continues to swirl down the bowl. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2016, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/120 "2016-06-03T17:16:01Z")
Hey, I **paid** my Kansas taxes for last year. Don’t blame me! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398.md?page=7)