Event will cover pros, cons of Kansas tax policies

LAWRENCE – How does cutting taxes affect the well-being of our state’s budget? Kansas Public Radio’s Statehouse Bureau Chief Stephen Koranda will moderate a panel discussion on the topic featuring Democratic state Sen. Laura Kelly and Dave Trabert, president of the Kansas Policy Institute. They’ll talk about the pros, cons and philosophy behind the Kansas tax experiment, which included an income tax exemption for more than 300,000 businesses and cuts to personal income tax rates. The discussion is open to the public and will take place on from 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, at the Lawrence Public Library.

Repealing some of the tax cuts pushed by Gov. Sam Brownback is currently up for discussion as lawmakers work to eliminate a shortfall in the state budget. Other suggestions include cutting spending, moving funds from other areas of the budget, raising alcohol and tobacco taxes and liquidating a state investment pool.

KPR is licensed to the KU and broadcasts on 91.5 FM and 96.1 FM in Lawrence, 89.7 FM in Emporia, 91.3 FM in Olsburg-Junction City, 89.9 FM in Atchison, 90.3 FM in Chanute, and 99.5 FM and 97.9 FM in Manhattan. KPR can be heard online at http://kpr.ku.edu. KPR also operates KPR2, a news-talk programming stream, which can be heard on an HD receiver or on KPR’s website.