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Melissa Rooker  |  Kansas House

Dear Friend:

I am writing you from the floor of the House, at 1:00 am (though it won’t be sent until later this morning), on Day 112 of the 2015 legislative session.  

We were scheduled to gavel in 30 minutes ago, but are hung up waiting while staff processes the conference committee report for the bill we will be voting on. Once again, we have no ability to read and evaluate the legislation we are being asked to consider.  While we wait, House leaders are busy trying to round up the votes they need to pass this bill.

Not much in it has changed since we voted last night/this morning.  It raises sales tax on all things, including food, cuts out itemized reductions, offers amnesty for tax dodgers, raises cigarette taxes $0.50 among other things.  Most importantly, 330,000 businesses still pay nothing and the “March to Zero” income tax rate reductions will continue, whether we can afford them or not.

Additionally, most of the added policy components remain in the bill – including expansion of private school vouchers and a property tax lid that will be devastating for local units of government.  Aside from removing the provision that imposed a sunset on most sales tax exemptions, and removing the rate reduction on food sales nothing has changed – the latter making this bill even worse than the last.  The ending balance falls short of balancing (a constitutional requirement), meaning that around $50 million will still need to be cut from the budget to balance.

Once again, the politics of fear were employed throughout the day.  A joint caucus of the Senate and House Republicans was held, and the governor “implored” us to pass this bill.  He said that we shouldn’t waste time assigning blame, then blamed increases in Medicaid caseloads and the fixes to our pension funding for our fiscal problems.

Out of a $6.5 billion budget, the statement was made that “the only place to find the amount of money needed to balance would be the operating funds for our Regents institutions.”  In other words, to protect the failed economic policy that:

  1. Brought us to the brink of insolvency, 
  2. Avoided restoring balance and fairness to our tax code, and 
  3. Ensured that all who benefit from state services, schools and infrastructure pay something into the system, 

the budgets for KU, KState, Emporia State, Ft. Hays State, Wichita State, Pittsburg State, Washburn and the state’s technical and community colleges would be line-item vetoed out of the budget entirely.  Seriously? The only option?

CONTACT MELISSA

 
In Topeka: 
State Capitol Room 168-B
Topeka, KS 66612
melissa.rooker@house.ks.gov
785-296-7686

At home in Fairway
4124 Brookridge Drive
Fairway, KS 66205
melissa@melissarooker.com
913-961-1555

Twitter Facebook

Reasonable people know there are choices.  Leadership has chosen to take certain remedies off the table entirely – no business tax loophole fix, and no change in the March to Zero.  The governor threatened to veto any bill that touched those things.  The overwhelming public sentiment is “Make him veto the bill.”  I share that desire but need to explain the reality of why that hasn’t and won’t happen. Math is once again the problem, this time in terms of the makeup of the legislature. 

WE DO NOT HAVE THE NUMBERS TO DO THIS.  Period.

Not enough who would be willing to pass the bill with a simple majority, and certainly nowhere near a veto-override 2/3 majority required.  As I said, choices (in this case those made by the voting electorate) have consequences.

I have been consistent in my position – I am willing to work for a compromise that provides long-term relief in the form of real revenue reform, but I will not cast a vote that leaves our state to face this same financial crisis next year, and the next year and the year after that. This is just another plan that plays favorites in our tax code, allowing big businesses to game the system while Kansans are left to pick up the tab.

I love my state, by now you must know that. This is a gut check moment for all of us.  I took a stand and voted NO on this plan.  My decision may cause pain for some, but the consequences of enabling the failed policies that brought us here will cause longer-lasting damage if we don’t right the ship of state.  It’s called tough love for a reason and as every parent knows sometimes it’s the only way.

In the coming days, the consequences of these choices will be laid bare.  I trust and hope you will understand the choice I made early this morning.  Your support has sustained me and I am honored to have the opportunity to serve. Please continue to share your thoughts with me as we lean on each other to get through this.

Ad Astra Per Aspera.






Rep. Melissa Rooker
State Representative, District 25
Melissa Rooker | 4124 Brookridge, Fairway, 66205
Paid for by Melissa Rooker for State Representative, Sheila Davis, Treasurer
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