Kansas averts furloughs for thousands of state employees

[Zorro]

Source: Reuters

While still unable to agree on a budget, Kansas lawmakers on Saturday averted a furlough of thousands of non-essential employees by passing a bill defining all employees as essential, officials said.

Republican Governor Sam Brownback said in a statement posted on his website that he will sign the bill so that state services can continue working uninterrupted.

The Kansas House and Senate have been in session for more than two weeks past the usual adjournment date while trying to make up a $400 million deficit for the budget year that begins on July 1.

Income tax cuts engineered by Brownback and approved by the Republican-dominated legislature three years ago have created revenue shortfalls. The governor said the cuts would help Kansas compete with bordering Missouri and other states to draw business.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/kansas-averts-furloughs-thousands-state-employees-000814557--business.html

[Thinkingabout]

1. How much business did his cuts draw from neighboring states?

[underpants]

2. Almost none

Complete trickle down failure.

[Thinkingabout]

3. I doubt it was the reason companies moved to Kansas. If he admitted the truth

It would be he cut taxes for his friends already in Kansas.

[BuelahWitch]

13. Lawrence just lost 300 call center jobs

Kinedyne is leaving at the end of the year.
Haven't read up on how the rest of the state is doing, but I don't think businesses are falling over one another to settle in Kansas.

[tblue37]

21. Their most highly qualified employees have no desire to bring their children to a state with

underfunded schools that have to close early, as happened this year in a number of districts.

[NCjack]

4. Kansas is a failed State. Since it refuses to increase tax revenue, it needs

some out-of-the-box ideas. Perhaps Kansas could sell itself to Missouri, which would cause it to lose its 2 US senators, governor, state legislature, but its people could remain in their homes and businesses. Or, Kansas could ask the Federal government to convert it into a US Park, administered by the US Park Service -- which would require most of the people to sell to the Park Service and to leave. Folks, we are beyond prayer. Someone has to bite the bitter cyanide pill and do something. Looks like Brownback can't hide his problem until a DEM administration takes over and takes heat from GOP for raising taxes.

[KingCharlemagne]

6. Coffee, meet monitor! You owe me a new one! ROTFLMAO! - nt

[rpannier]

8. Sell it to some other country

If they could find a buyer

Maybe France would buy that bit of the Louisiana Purchase back
Though I can't imagine why they would
We could give it to them
Pay them to take it

[NCjack]

17. Your idea has merit. Maybe the Native Americans in Kansas could be enticed to

take it back, escort the current non-NA people to the border, and establish a sustainable economy built on native grasses and buffaloes? The USG would have to give them a cash signing bonus and monthly maintenance payments to get the system working, but it would be less than saving Brownback's ass.

[BuelahWitch]

12. Could you sell us to Colorado instead?

Their economy is doing much better than Misery's, not to mention the uncriminalized marijuana...

[NCjack]

16. Wouldn't work, because Brownbackers would eliminate taxes, thus giving Kansorado

the problem Kansas now has. See what I mean? Kansas GOP politicians must not be allowed to run anything more complicated than a roadside lemonade stand.

[Jumpin Jack Flash]

23. Why would the Governor of Colorado care about what Brownbackers want

since they "sold" Kansas to Colorado?

[Jumpin Jack Flash]

22. Sure, as long as Kansas is converted into a fully farmable marijuana state

means every Koch or Mosatanos crops are destroyed and marijuana and hemp are planted instead.

[BuelahWitch]

24. Sounds like a plan! n/t

[Jumpin Jack Flash]

25. Yep, it means JOBS for everyone! :)

But don't give Brownback ideas...

[a kennedy]

5. Worse Kansas or Wisconsin.....

They BOTH SUCK.

[QED]

18. Arizona is on the same downward trajectory

with Ducey. Same failed ideas hoping for a better result.

Kansalecistan
Wiscalecistan
Arizalecistan

[marble falls]

7. "Good job, Brownie!"

[rpannier]

9. They need to finish their work

This Governor of Kansas should be listed as non-essential employee
That would save a lot of money

[mazzarro]

11. +1000% B-I-N-G-O!!!!!!!! n/t

[paleotn]

10. what's the deal, can't Brownback finish the job he started?

....Decreasing the revenue side through tax cuts was the easy part. Has he lost his nerve when it comes to cutting the spend side? I'm not terribly familiar with Kansas politics, as we have our own problems here in NC. But it seems to me Brownback talks a good game about shrink government down to bath tub size, but when it comes to actually doing it, he's wimped out.

Come on Sam, cut $400M in spend and see where that gets you. We know you want to. It's a huge part of your nutty world view. So just get up off your ass and do it. I double dog dare you! What the hell kind of name is Brownback anyway?

[hollowdweller]

14. It's obvious that the GOP feared a public backlash for cutting services.

Imagine if the public employees in Wisconsin had had the balls to walk off the job.

They might have got a raise instead of a good fucking by Walker.

What this shows that striking still has real power. But most Public Employees are too afraid to do it.

[SmittynMo]

15. Kansas and Brownback

Help Kansas compete? What kind of bullshit is that? Brownback took a huge risk in cutting taxes, just to get elected. Apparently, the GOP has no idea on how to balance a budget. It's simple math, right? And now because of this lack of education, the whole state is going down in flames. Nice leadership there, eh? Ya gotta love the GOP and their failed policies. I don't feel sorry for Kansas at all. They put this idiot in there. And what's this bullshit about drawing businesses to Kansas? Have you ever been there? Who would ANYONE want to live there, especially now. That in itself, speaks volumes.

The GOP failures never end!!!!.

[QED]

19. They won't be furloughed but also won't be paid for a while

"The bill passed unanimously by the House and Senate on Saturday declares all employees essential but could mean pay will be delayed until the budget is approved."

[BigDemVoter]

20. I would LOVE to know how many of those who avoided furloughs voted for those AssClown Republicans?

I would be inclined to ask them how it's been working out for them??