By John Celock
This week it was the Republicans’ turn.
Following last week’s GOP allegations that Kansas Democrats were engaging in a political stunt to lower property taxes, Democrats accused Republicans of setting up “political theater” in order to get them to vote for a tax hike. The accusations came after Rep. Scott Schwab (R-Olathe) proposed an amendment to repeal the state’s 2012 tax cuts, a motion that unanimously failed Wednesday in the GOP-controlled state House of Representatives.
Schwab said he was offering the proposal in an effort to show support for the tax cuts, which have been criticized by Democrats and moderate Republicans as setting the stage for large budget deficits in the state. Conservatives Republicans, including Gov. Sam Brownback (R), heavily favor the cuts and argue that they have helped grow business in the state.
“I had some people complain to me when I was vice chairman of tax and folks in my district that we shouldn’t have done this,” Schwab said. “I want to show we are on a trajectory.”
Under questioning by Democrats on the state House, Schwab admitted that he would not be supporting his amendment. Schwab’s admissions set the stage for Democrats to accuse the GOP of “political theater.” Schwab offered the plan as an amendment to a bill to provide property tax deductions for cattle, livestock and home improvement to benefit the disabled.
“This is political theater and not serious policy. This is a discussion we need to have and we will have it pretty soon,” state House Minority Whip Julie Menghini (D-Pittsburg) said. “A last minute Hail Mary kind of stunt when no one has had time to look it over and decide what levels are good levels is not something I can support.”
Wednesday’s accusations of political theater come a week after House Republicans accused Democrats of similar antics. During a debate on a bill to cut aviation taxes last week, Democrats were successful in attaching a property tax rebate program. The Democratic amendment, which is considered likely to fail in the state Senate, was slammed by Republicans as a vote designed solely for Democrats to put that they voted for a property tax cut on election mailers this year.
Wednesday’s income tax debate comes as the tax cuts are likely to be a top issue in this year’s competitive gubernatorial battle between Brownback and state House Minority Leader Paul Davis (D-Lawrence), the party’s presumptive nominee. The unanimous vote against the Schwab amendment prevents the GOP from being able to attack Davis and his fellow legislative Democrats as voting for a tax hike this year.
During the 2012 state legislative races, conservative Republicans used previous tax hike votes to slam Democrats and moderate Republicans, a largely successful effort by conservatives. The memories of those races continue to linger over Kansas politics, including during last year’s debate over whether to raise the state’s sales tax to help fund the income tax cuts.
State Rep. Don Hill (R-Emporia) described the Schwab amendment as “theater and gimmickry and game play” but also said the vote would be tough for the 60 lawmakers who were not serving in 2012 as tough. He had noted that either they would be backing a tax hike or supporting an effort that could have a dire fiscal impact on the state.
Schwab stressed to his colleagues that this was not an act of political theater.
“I’ve been accused of political grandstanding and showmanship. It is not. It is time we have political honesty,” Schwab said. “For the last year I have heard how horrible it was to cut those taxes. When asked if you would vote to change we don’t get that chance. When I ask people to put their vote where their mouth is then vote against it. I’m the one being accused of political showmanship. At the end of the day your is vote is your vote.”