Kansas learned tax lesson the hard way

Kansas learned tax lesson the hard way
By Dinah Sykes
For The Washington Post
Oct. 29, 2017

Americans want efficient government, responsible spending and reasonable taxes. This is not difficult. Yet sometimes what seems so simple becomes complicated when these concepts are turned into buzzwords and used as weapons for political gain.

In 2012, Republicans in Kansas enacted what was described as a “revolutionary” tax overhaul that promised to be a “shot of adrenaline to the heart of the Kansas economy.” With the benefit of hindsight, we can say with certainty this promise was unfulfilled. In the following five years, Kansas experienced nine rounds of budget cuts, stress on state agencies and the inability to effectively provide the core functions of government for our citizens.

As Republicans in Congress begin working to modify the federal tax code, I worry that tax reform done poorly could lead to similar failure. I hope federal lawmakers learn from mistakes made at the state level.

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