News from the House of Representatives

There were 85 men and women who stood up for comprehensive tax policy, not the consumption taxes and budget gimmicks our governor would like to impose on us to protect his failed tax experiment.

Here’s the list of how folks voted on every HB 2178 vote. What’s notable – and disappointing – are the two Representatives who first voted YES for HB 2178, but then stood with Gov. Brownback yesterday and didn’t vote to override.

If you’re in Representative Adam Smith’s district (western Kansas) or Representative Abraham Rafie’s district (Johnson County), let them know you’re disappointed they didn’t stand strong.

To those who stepped up and voted YES yesterday after initially voting no, thank you.

(John Alcala, Clay Aurand, Tom Burroughs, Lonnie Clark, Blaine Finch, Mary Martha Good, Tim Hodge, Leo Mastroni, Ken Rahjes, Troy Waymaster, Brandon Whipple)

We’re also excited about the House passing Medicaid Expansion with 83 votes! Great work on an issue Kansas has long needed to address. The bill now goes to the Senate.

There were 24 Senators who also showed courage and wisdom yesterday in voting to override the Governor’s veto (they fell 3 votes shy of the required 27 needed to override).

The 16 who stood with Governor Brownback to reject a sensible tax policy that would get our state back on track:

Senate President Susan Wagle

Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning

Larry Alley

Molly Baumgardner

Bud Estes

Steve Fitzgerald

Jake LaTurner

Julia Lynn

Ty Masterson

Rob Olson

Mike Petersen

Mary Pilcher-Cook

Dennis Pyle

Gene Suellentrop

Caryn Tyson

Rick Wilborn

We’re now back at square one. It’s our hope that both Chambers will continue to work on comprehensive policies that fix our budget instability. Relying on the Governor’s cocktail of one-time gimmicks and consumption taxes is not a path to prosperity.