Why is Brownback Campaigning for an Unpopular Tax? - Kansas city week in review

WHY IS KANSAS GOVERNOR SAM BROWNBACK ON A CAMPAIGN TO   PRESERVE WHAT SOME SEE AS AN UNPOPULAR TAX. SOME WEEK BROWNBACK GOES TO A TOUR OF UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES TRYING TO PREVENT THEM FROM LOSING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN CUTS FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE. LAWMAKERS ARE REFUSING TO RENEW A 1 PERCENT STATE SALES TAX IMPOSED DURING THE ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BROWNBACK'S SPREAD PREDECESSOR, DEMOCRAT MARK PARKINSON. BUT BROWNBACK SAYS IF THE TAX IS NOT RENEWED, IT WOULD MEAN A 4 PERCENT CUT TO THE UNIVERSITIES, AND THAT WOULD BE, WHAT HE CALLS, A MOMENTUM KILLER TO THE STATE. ISN'T IT STRANGE TO SEE BROWNBACK IN THE POSITION OF LOBBYING FOR WHAT SOME SAY IS MORE GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND ADVOCATING FOR MORE TAXATION? IT IS VERY, VERY STRANGE TO SEE THIS GOING ON. I THINK IT'S A CONTINUING SIGN OF JUST HOW DESPERATE THIS GOVERNOR IS TO RETAIN THIS TAX. BECAUSE HE KNOWS AND SO MANY LAWMAKERS IN TOPEKA KNOW, YOU REMOVE THIS SALES TAX TO EXISTING STATE REVENUE, AND YOU'VE GOT PROBLEMS UP AND DOWN YOUR BUDGET, EVEN MORE REMARKABLE THAN YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW IN THE WAKE OF THE BIG TAX CUTS THAT PASSED LAST YEAR. THIS IS A VERY STRANGE SITE AND THE PROGNOSIS IS NOW, NICK, THAT THE STATEHOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS NOT GOING TO ALLOW THIS SALES TAX TO GO THROUGH. THE BUDGET WILL HAVE TO BE CUT IN THE WAY THAT BROWNBACK FEARS, AND THIS IS REPUBLICANS OVER IN TOPEKA SORT OF BUILDING THEIR OWN NEST HERE, NICK. SO WHAT HAPPENS IF THIS SALES TAX IS NOT RENEWED IN THE STATE OF KANSAS? IT DEPENDS ON WHAT OTHER CHANGES ARE MADE TO TAX LAW IN THE STATE OF KANSAS. THERE IS SOME SUGGESTION THAT YOU COULD TRADE KEEPING THE SALES TAX FOR OTHER REDUCTIONS GOING FORWARD, BUT EVERY PROJECTION SUGGESTS THAT IF YOU LOSE THAT MONEY, THE 700 MILLION-DOLLAR HOLE IN THE STATE BUDGET GROWS EVEN MORE WIDE AND MAKES IT VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO FUND THE CORE FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT, NOT JUST HIGHER ED. HIGHER ED IS ALWAYS AN INTERESTING POLITICAL ISSUE BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY GOES TO COLLEGE OR SENDS THEIR KIDS TO COLLEGE. SO GENERAL TAXPAYER SUPPORT FOR HIGHER EDUCATION IS ALWAYS A BIT PROBLEMATIC. IT'S INTERESTING SAM BROWNBACK WOULD PUSH IN THE CHIPS ON THAT. HE'S TRYING TO FIND SOME WAY TO CONVINCE LAWMAKERS TO KEEP IT. IF THIS FAILS, HIGHER EDUCATION IS GOING TO SUFFER. WE HAD EVEN THE CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS SAYING IT'S GOING TO BE MEDICAL SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT ARE GOING TO SUFFER. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FEWER DOCTORS IN THE STATE OF KANSAS, NEW MEDICAL STUDENTS, AND EVEN THAT THE KU CANCER CENTER COULD LOSE ITS NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE DESIGNATION. I DOUBT. THAT I DON'T THINK THAT WILL HAPPEN. BUT CLEARLY THIS IS A SIGN OF JUST HOW DESPERATE, HOW EAGER THIS GOVERNOR IS TO MAINTAIN THIS TAX TO BE BUILDING THIS CAMPAIGN AT THIS POINT IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, NICK. IMAGINE IF BROWNBACK LOSES AND HE DOESN'T GET HIS WAY ON THIS TAX, HE STILL WINS, BECAUSE POLITICALLY HE CAN GO TO THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND SAY, I FOUGHT FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, AND IT WAS THE STATEHOUSE THAT BLOCKED THAT. NOT ME. I FOUGHT FOR YOUR KIDS GETTING A BETTER EDUCATION AND LOST. ERIC. AND THE HIGHEST PROFILE ASPECT OF KANSAS IS KU AND K-STATE FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL. SO PICTURE COULD BE, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE THEIR PROGRAMS EVEN THOUGH THESE PROGRAMS ARE MAKING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WITH NCAA TOURNAMENTS, SO THAT'S THE ACHILLES HEEL TO MOST PEOPLE. LET ME JUST SAY THIS VERY QUICKLY, BECAUSE ERIC IS RIGHT. WE'RE SEEING THIS IN KANSAS. WE SEE A LITTLE BIT OF IT IN MISSOURI. I DID A STORY ON THE FEDERAL SEQUESTER THIS WEEK. EVERYONE LOVES CUTTING SPENDING UNTIL IT ACTUALLY IMPACTS SOMETHING, AND SUDDENLY I CAN'T FLY, I CAN'T GO TO COLLEGE, I'M GOING TO LOSE MY ACCREDITATION AS A CANCER CENTER, THEY CAN'T MEASURE FLOOD STAGES ON THE MISSOURI RIVER. WE'RE NOT GOING TO -- IF EVERY TIME SOMETHING IS CUT YOU HEAR THE KIND OF REACTION THAT WE'VE HEARD IN THE PAST WEEK, WE'RE NEVER GOING TO CUT SPENDING IN THIS COUNTRY, AND I THINK TO SOME DEGREE POLITICIANS ARE BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND THAT. WE'LL SEE. UP NEXT ON WEEK IN REVIEW, WHY THE JACKSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE NOW SAYS IT'S EXTENDING ITS ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE HOURS INTO THE EVENINGS JUST TO KEEP UP WITH THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMING IN SEEKING A CONCEALED WEAPONS PERMIT. JACKSON COUNTY SHERIFF MIKE SHARP SAYS CONCEALED FIREARMS PERMITS ARE ALREADY UP 53% ON LAST YEAR. IN CLAY COUNTY, THERE UP 50%. WHY? THE -- A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND GUN CONTROL ADVOCATES ARE GOING TO PASS FEDERAL LAWS AND THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE THE ABILITY TO OWN GUNS OR CARRY A CONCEALED WEAPONS. YOU SAW PEOPLE SAYING THAT VERY THING. MY CONCERN, MY QUESTION IS, HOW MUCH OF THIS IS GOING TO COST TAXPAYERS TO EXTEND THESE HOURS FOR A SELECT FEW PEOPLE THAT WANT TO GET CONCEALED CARRY PERMITS, AND NO ONE IS ASKING THAT QUESTION, AND I HAVEN'T SEEN A SIMPLE EXPLANATION AS TO HOW MUCH THIS WILL COST. WELL, THAT'S A QUESTION FOR THE INVESTIGATIVE UNIT OF KCTV 5. THAT'S CORRECT. IT'S ALSO A WEEK THAT SEES THE MISSOURI HOUSE PASS LEGISLATION ATTEMPTING TO MAKE CRIMINALS OUT OF U.S. AUTHORITIES WHO ENFORCE FEDERAL FIREARM LAWS IN MISSOURI. DEMOCRATS NOTED WEDNESDAY THAT THE LEGISLATION LIKELY VIOLATES THE U.S. CONSTITUTION, WHICH GIVES SUPREMACY TO FEDERAL LAWS OVER STATE LAWS. THE BILL MAKES IT A FELONY PUNISHABLE BY UP TO FOUR YEARS IN PRISON FOR FEDERAL AGENTS TO TRY TO ENFORCE ANY FEDERAL LAWS OR REGULATIONS RELATING TO FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION OWNED BY MISSOURI RESIDENTS. IF THEY KNOW IT LIKELY VIOLATES THE CONSTITUTION AND WILL BE STRUCK DOWN, WHY DID THEY SPEND SO MUCH TIME DOING THIS? BECAUSE THEY ARE PLAYING INTO THEIR BASE, TRYING TO MAKE THEM HAPPY AND RECOGNIZE WHY THEY CAST THEIR VOTES TO THEM. THIS IS PLAYING TO THE BASE, NICK, AND TRYING TO MAKE THEIR OWN VOTERS HAPPY. WHILE THEY FOUND TIME TO DEVOTE TO THAT ISSUE, THEY FOUND NO TIME TO EXPAND MEDICAID IN MISSOURI. REPUBLICAN SENATORS MADE IT CLEAR THIS WEEK THERE WILL BE NO MEDICAID EXPANSION IN MISSOURI THIS SESSION. THE REPUBLICAN-LED SENATE VOTED DOWN A DEMOCRATIC ATTEMPT TO INSERT $890 MILLION OF FEDERAL FUNDS INTO MISSOURI'S BUDGET TO EXPAND MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY TO AN ESTIMATED 260,000 LOWER INCOME ADULTS. SO IS THAT IT FOR THIS ISSUE THIS YEAR? YES. IT'S DEAD FOR THIS SESSION, NICK, BARRING AN INCREDIBLE EVENTUALITY HERE, BUT YES, IT'S DEAD. WHAT'S AMAZING ABOUT THIS IS THIS IS THE ONE ISSUE THAT GOVERNOR JAY NIXON IN HIS FIVE YEARS IN AUGUST, HE TRIED HARDER, PUSHED HARDER, WAS MORE AGGRESSIVE ON THIS ONE PARTICULAR ISSUE THAN ANYTHING ELSE DURING HIS RUN. HERE YOU HAVE A POPULAR GOVERNOR JUST REELECTED TO A SECOND TERM, AND HE COULDN'T GET THIS THING ACROSS THE FINISH LINE. NOW, I TALKED TO HIM YESTERDAY FOR A STORY THAT I HAVE GOING THIS WEEKEND, WHICH YOU'LL FIND ON YOUR DOOR STEPS PROBABLY SUNDAY MORNING AS WELL. GOING TO BE A GREAT NEWSPAPER. GOING TO BE A GREAT NEWSPAPER. PROSPECTS FOR IT LOOK BETTER NEXT YEAR AS MORE AND MORE MISSOURIANS RECOGNIZE THAT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE BEING SENT OUT OF MISSOURI TO OTHER STATES. MISSOURI TAXPAYER DOLLARS BEING USED ELSEWHERE TO FUND THIS PROGRAM BUT NOT HERE AT HOME. TIME, HE SAYS, IS ON HIS SIDE. WE'LL SEE IF IT CAN PASS MUSTER NEXT YEAR. ERIC. AND WE HAVE AN AP STORY IN THE CALL ON THAT SAME THING. GREAT NEWSPAPERS THIS WEEK. GREAT NEWSPAPERS, AS WELL AS THE CURFEWS AND OTHER THINGS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HERE. STEVE IS RIGHT. I THINK WE'RE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY JAY NIXON PUSHED SO *** THE MEDICAID EXPANSION. NICK, LET'S CONNECT THAT DOT WITH THE GUN DISCUSSION. MUCH OF WHAT STATE LEGISLATORS NOW DO IS CAST SYMBOLIC VOTES, VOTES THAT AREN'T REALLY ON THE MERITS BUT SAY SOMETHING. THE REASON MEDICAID FAILED IN MISSOURI AND IS FAILING IN OTHER STATES IS NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE ALL LAWMAKERS OBJECT TO THE SPECIFICS. THEY JUST DON'T LIKE OBAMACARE, PERIOD. THEY DON'T CARE WHEN IT'S GOOD FOR THEIR STATE OR NOT. WE DON'T LIKE OBAMACARE, AND WE DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING THAT WOULD GIVE OBAMACARE A CHANCE TO SORT OF GROW AND ESTABLISH ROOTS. THAT'S TRUE ON THE EXCHANGES. THAT'S TRUE ON MEDICAID, ALL PROVISIONS OF OBAMACARE. SO YOU KNOW, I THINK WHERE JAY NIXON MAY HAVE MISCALCULATED IS, SOME THOUGHT HE COULD SOMEHOW RATIONALLY CONVINCE LAWMAKERS TO GO ALONG WITH THIS USING THE MONEY GOING TO OTHER STATES ARGUMENT OR THAT WE HAVE POOR PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP ARGUMENT. AGAIN, I DON'T THINK LAWMAKERS EITHER ON GUNS OR ON MEDICAID OR A LOT OF ISSUES ARE CASTING VOTES BASED ON THE MERITS. THEY'RE CASTING THEM BECAUSE OF THE MESSAGE IT SENDS, AND THAT'S CERTAINLY TRUE ON THE MEDICAID DECISION IN MISSOURI. BUT COULDN'T IT ALSO BE, THOUGH, AS MANY LAWMAKERS TALKED ABOUT, THAT YES, YOU'RE GETTING FEDERAL MONEY RIGHT NOW, STACEY, THAT YES, IT'S FREE MONEY RIGHT NOW FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BUT A FEW YEARS OUT, THE STATE IS GOING TO HAVE TO STOP PAYING FOR SOME OF THIS. WHERE IS THAT MONEY GOING TO COME FROM? IT'S GOING TO COME FROM STATE TAXPAYERS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $890 MILLION NEXT YEAR HAD MISSOURI EXPANDED MEDICAID, BUT IN A NUMBER OF YEARS, THOSE DOLLARS ARE GOING TO DWINDLE AND THE STATE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A BIGGER PART OF THE TAB. THE PROBLEM IS, THOSE INDIGENT PEOPLE ARE STILL GOING TO GET HEALTH CARE. IF THEY WALK INTO A HOSPITAL, THEY HAVE TO BE COVERED. AND GOING FORWARD, THAT'S A BIGGER COST TO TAXPAYERS THAN IT IS IF WE EXPAND MEDICAID OR MEDICARE IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI. LAWMAKERS IN MISSOURI AND IN KANSAS WORRY ABOUT THIS FACT, NICK. THEY SAY AFTER THREE YEARS THE STATE'S SHARE BEGINS TO GROW UP TO 10% AFTER A FEW YEARS. WHAT GOVERNOR BROWNBACK IS SAYING, LOOK AT THE FEDERAL FINANCIAL PICTURE. DO YOU REALLY EXPECT AND CAN YOU COUNT ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO TRULY PAY THAT 90% OR WILL THE STATE'S SHARE BECOME 12%, THEN 15, THEN 25% DOWN THE ROAD. STATE SENATOR RYAN SILVEY IN MISSOURI TOLD ME THIS WEEK, MEDICAID FOR THE EXISTING PROGRAM, IT GROWS BY $200 MILLION A YEAR, AND HE SAYS WE CAN'T AFFORD WHAT WE'VE GOT NOW. WE CAN'T FULLY FUND THE STATE PUBLIC SCHOOL FARM -- FORMULA. HOW ARE WE GOING TO FINANCE THE PROGRAM GOING FORWARD IF WE BUY INTO THIS NEW PROGRAM? VERY BRIEFLY, ONE OF THE REASONS MISSOURI AND KANSAS' STATE SHARE IS SO LARGE IS BECAUSE THE STATE PAYS ABOUT 40% OF THE COST OF MEDICAID FOR THE EXISTING PROGRAM. THE IDEA IN THE EXPANDED MEDICAID IS TO LIMIT THAT TO JUST 10%, SO THE ARGUMENT YOU HEAR FROM THE OTHER SIDE IS IT WON'T COST YOU NEARLY AS MUCH AS THE CURRENT MEDICAID PROGRAM ON THE STATE LEVEL. NEXT ON WEEK IN REVIEW, NEW WYANDOTTE COUNTY MAYOR MARK HOLLAND WAS TIMELY SWORN INTO OFFICE THIS WEEK. BUT THE ONLY COMMISSIONER NOT IN ATTENDANCE AT HIS SWEARING-IN CEREMONY AT THE STANDING ROOM ONLY AFFAIR IN THE COMMISSION CHAMBERS, ANN MURGUIA, THE PERSON HOLLAND DEFEATED FOR THE JOB EARLIER THIS MONTH. A MESSAGE ON MURGUIA'S CELL PHONE SAID SHE WAS TRAVELING AND WOULD RETURN TODAY, ACCORDING TO THE KANSAS CITY STAR. REALLY, STEVE? SHE WOULD HAVE SET ASIDE THAT DAY, WOULDN'T SHE, WHEN SHE WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE AS THE DAY TO BE SWORN IN? THAT'S RIGHT, NICK, AND I CAN TELL YOU I WAS AT THE INAUGURATION CEREMONIES LAST NIGHT AND THE BUZZ IN THE ROOM WAS ALL ABOUT THAT ONE EMPTY CHAIR UP ON THE PLATFORM THERE. 10 SEATS FOR COMMISSIONERS. 9 WERE THERE. THE ONE MISSING WAS ANN MURGUIA, AND YOU CAN BET EVERYONE WAS SAYING THAT, NICK, THAT ANN MURGUIA WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE IF SHE HAD WON THIS ELECTION. AS IT WAS, SHE DIDN'T RETURN FROM OUT OF THE COUNTRY UNTIL TODAY, ONE DAY AFTER THE BIG CEREMONY. BECAUSE SHE'S STILL GOING TO BE ON THE COMMISSION, SHE HAS TO WORK WITH MARK HOLLAND. WHAT DOES THIS SAY ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS? WELL, I SPOKE TO HER ELECTION NIGHT, AND SHE INSISTED REPEATEDLY, WE'LL GET ALONG FINE. WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE. WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER, BUT BOY, WHAT A MESSAGE SHE SENT YESTERDAY, NICK. YOU KNOW, IN 2001, AL GORE, WHO HAD LOST A BITTER, BITTER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WITH GEORGE BUSH, HE WAS ON THE PODIUM WHEN GEORGE BUSH WAS SWORN IN. THAT'S A TRADITION IN AMERICAN POLITICS THAT ANN MURGUIA SORT OF THUMBED HER NOSE AT, WHICH IS NOT A GOOD THING. IF YOU'RE TRYING TO GET A NEW DRIVER'S LICENSE IN MISSOURI, YOU MIGHT HAVE A HARD TIME. AS PUNISHMENT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE'S DECISION TO SHARE PRIVATE CONCEALED WEAPON PERMIT INFORMATION TO FEDERAL AUTHORITIES, A CONTROVERSY WE DISCUSSED LAST WEEK ON THE PROGRAM, THE MISSOURI SENATE THIS WEEK VOTED TO DEFUND THE ENTIRE MISSOURI DRIVER'S LICENSE BUREAU BUDGET. THAT'S RIGHT, ELIMINATE ALL FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE POSITIONS IN THE DRIVER'S LICENSE DIVISION. WAS THIS STRICTLY AN ATTENTION GRABBING MOVE, STACEY CAMERON? YEAH. IT WAS A SHOT ACROSS THE BOW FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AND EXECUTIVE BRANCH TO AND THE STATEHOUSE IN TERMS OF HOW DID THOSE CONCEALED WEAPONS GET TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION. GIVE US WHAT WE WANT IN TERMS OF INFORMATION OR YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE YOUR MONEY, YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE YOUR JOBS. SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? IF YOU'RE TRYING TO GET A DRIVER'S LICENSE IN MISSOURI. NOR HAS IT BECOME LAW YET, AND IT WON'T. ONE OF THE THINGS TRUE WHEN YOU BLUFF IS YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE AT LEAST SOME CHANCE. I THINK EVEN LEGISLATORS WHO ARE ON THE OTHER SIDE AGREE WITH THAT. IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT, THE STATEHOUSE PASSING SOME LAW, THREATENING TO PASS A LAW THAT'S MERELY CEREMONYOUS AND IT'S PLAYING TO THE BASE. AT THIS POINT, IT'S REPUBLICANS IN THE MISSOURI STATEHOUSE SAYING WE'RE GOING TO PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS. IF NOT, THE PEOPLE WHO YOU YOU E INFRINGING RIGHTS --. THE ISSUE IS REAL, BUT THE REMEDY IS OBVIOUSLY MEANT FOR SHOW. POLITICS IN JEFFERSON CITY? POLITICS IN WYANDOTTE COUNTY. THEY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING, AND IT'S JUST A BLUFF MOVE TO AT LEAST CREATE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON. PEOPLE HAVE TO HAVE DRIVER'S LICENSE AND THEY HAVE TO OPEN THEIR OFFICES AND THEY HAVE TO FUND THOSE PEOPLE, BECAUSE LAWMAKERS NEED DRIVER'S LICENSES, TOO. THERE WAS SOME CONCERN ABOUT WHETHER THEY ACTUALLY EVEN GOT TO THE RIGHT TARGET HERE, ABOUT WHETHER THEY HAD EVEN PUT THE LINE IN THE BUDGET AND WHETHER THEY HAD ACTUALLY DEFUNDED ACCIDENTALLY THE LICENSING OF BOATS AND RV'S, AND IT WASN'T THE DRIVER'S LICENSE BUREAU, SO EVEN IN TRYING TO MAKE A PUNISHMENT, THEY'VE GOT THE WRONG DIVISION. IT WILL ALL BE SORTED OUT IN THE END. AS THEY MOVE TO ADJOURNMENT, THEY'LL FIGURE IT OUT. THAT IS IT FOR THIS WEEK'S KANSAS CITY'S WEEK IN REVIEW. OUR THANKS TO OUR REVIEWERS, FROM THE CALL, ERIC WESSON, DAVE HELLING, AND THE STAR'S STEVE KRASKE WHO CAN BE HEARD WEEKDAY MORNINGS AT 11 ON UP-TO-DATE, AND DIGGING FOR ANSWERS AND DIGGING INTO HIS POCKET ON HIS CELL PHONE FROM THE INVESTIGATIVE UNIT AT KCTV 5, STACEY CAMERON. I'M NICK HAINES, FROM ALL OF US HERE AT KCPT, THANKS FOR SPENDING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND   Captioning provided by Caption Associates, LLC www.captionassociates.com