COVID-19 Archives - Kansas Policy Institute

Kelly’s budget raises taxes during recession 0
- Featured
- January 14, 2021
President Obama once publicly admitted that it is a bad idea to raise taxes in the middle of a recession. And yet, under an unprecedented COVID economic downturn, Gov. Kelly’s budget has not one, but two tax increases. These tax hikes financed a record-setting state budget, 29% bigger than in 2017. By contrast, the Governor
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A Kansas Budget for Economic Growth & COVID Protection 0
- Tax & Spending
- January 4, 2021
Kansas government is at a crossroads. One path leads to economic malaise, and an ever-increasing budget financed on the backs of those living paycheck to paycheck. Another path leads to a self-sustaining economy, where every tax dollar spent is knowingly tied to a public benefit. As Kansas lawmakers await and consider Governor Laura Kelly’s tax
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Students need meaningful school choice, not federal theater 0
- Featured
- December 29, 2020
School children around this country are suffering amidst social isolation, learning challenges with remote or part-time learning, and the general fear of a global pandemic. Research clearly shows those effects are falling hardest on at-risk, low-income, and special needs students. This also means that children of color are being disproportionately harmed. We all know ofREAD MORE

An Open Letter to County Commissioners About COVID Mandates 0
- Tax & Spending
- November 23, 2020
Kansas counties should not consider mandatory non-pharmaceutical intervention: mask mandates, curfews, or lockdowns. There are more productive ways to fight the effects of COVID-19 than mandates. My name is Michael Austin, Director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Government at the Kansas Policy Institute. We help ensure Kansans are informed about incoming challenges so they can
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Legislature could turn incoming fiscal shortfall into savings 0
- Tax & Spending
- November 18, 2020
This month, state forecasters and legislative researchers announced a $119 million budget shortfall by the end of the fiscal year 2022. However, they failed to mention that closing the budget shortfall would leave the state with a zero-ending balance with no room for error. Come January 2021, Kansas policymakers have an opportunity to turn this
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$Reversing years of Kansas fiscal mismanagement$
Reversing years of Kansas fiscal mismanagement 0
- Tax & Spending
- November 9, 2020
It is needed now more than ever for the Kansas government to adjust its budget like many Kansas families and businesses are doing today. Kansans painfully adapted to life during the pandemic, but governments around the state have done little to no belt-tightening. With the state 2020 election behind us, Kansans must acknowledge that the
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