Wonder how this budget shortfall for the current and next fiscal year works out politically?

Wait, this is a real dollars-and-cents problem here, revenues for this and next fiscal year falling about $159 million in the remaining seven months of this fiscal year and $194 million in the year that starts July 1.

And, remember, we’re in a two-year budget, so when legislators approved the spending plan last session (it was June) they were thinking: Maybe a little touch-up for the second year and we’re out on the campaign trail.

Well, that’s all gone now. The governor is taking the lead with about $109 million of spending cuts in the current year, including another $48 million nick of the Kansas Department of Transportation budget, for a total of $350 million in this year alone, and some other cuts and shuffles that most of us won’t notice.

RELATED: Brownback says state has “good shot” to meet revenue goals.

Look for that touch-up of the budget this coming session to include more cuts in spending and maybe, just maybe in an election year, a tax increase or two.

But practically, the state constitution calls for a balanced budget, if even just $1 is in the bank every July 1, so it’s going to be done. No telling what happens if the Legislature and governor don’t put together a balanced budget. Do they lose their parking slots? Are they arrested? Does the Kansas Supreme Court or someone dock legislators’ pay? As we said, there’s no telling because it hasn’t happened since the earth cooled enough that the Statehouse could be built and restaurants started popping up so lobbyists can take lawmakers out for lunch and dinner and drinks.

So, ugly as that might be, there’s still the politics to be wrestled with.

Those politics started in 2012, when the Legislature passed a vastly expanded version of an income tax bill Gov. Sam Brownback proposed, and though it probably wasn’t a good move, he signed the giant tax cuts into law.

RELATED: Officials say Kansas economic recovery leaves rural counties behind.

It has taken three years, but those tax cuts have come home to roost, not spurring the increased revenues that was the goal, resulting in revenue shortfalls.

The politics? Well, Brownback doesn’t stand for re-election, so he’s in the clear.

Do Republicans call the cuts in spending to balance the budget a long-overdue reduction in the size of government which most people who vote Republican revere? Who isn’t for cutting wasteful or maybe just unproductive spending of our tax dollars—for those who haven’t figured a way to turn themselves into Limited Liability Companies so they don’t have to pay state income taxes?

Do Democrats, who don’t have enough votes in either chamber to pass or kill legislation, just complain and blame Republicans as they have the past three years? Or do Democrats come up with a plan, a budget or the tax increases necessary to prevent further cuts into programs and aid to local units of government?

It’s a matter of weighing which is the politically most advantageous.

Republicans, of course, with the legislative majority can assert that they tried a dramatic new taxation philosophy that didn’t work, but led to massive spending cuts that they can sell as efficiencies. And, so far, the spending cuts haven’t shown up in the everyday lives of most Kansans—unless they build highways for a living.

Democrats can point fingers at shaved expenditures for K-12 education and highways. But don’t look for a Democrat-proposed budget because it is going to require tax increases which they probably don’t have the votes to hang on Republicans, and they don’t want to cut social programs that are needed by the poor and the ill and their children.

Where do the politics of this revenue shortfall go? It’s going to depend on who thinks up the catchiest phrase for their campaigns. Wonder what it will be?

Syndicated by Hawver News Co. of Topeka, Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver’s Capitol Report. To learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit www.hawvernews.com.

The vocation of agriculture began thousands of years ago when the first farmer dug a hole in the soil and planted the first seed. Way back then others began working with and domesticating animals that have evolved into present-day hogs, cattle, sheep, chickens and other livestock.

The farm and ranch creed has always been to nurture the land and livestock while making improvements and coaxing a bountiful harvest. Farmers and ranchers hold enduring respect for the land that sustains them. Their reward has resulted in abundance.

With this evolution in agriculture, today’s producer faces many new and sometimes unexpected challenges. Profit margins and production costs are in a constant state of flux. Weather patterns change while farmers and ranchers continue looking for ways to make profits and stay in this business.

This week Insight takes a look at the opposite end of the spectrum. Here are 11 ways to cut your profit margins. Think long and hard before implementing any of these in your operation.

1)   Blindly follow seasonal trends or patterns. If the market is going up, do not sell. It may go higher. If the market falls – do not sell. It may turn around and go up.

2) Never trust a U.S. Department of Agriculture crop or livestock report. From all the information available these reports are “strictly legit.” But never mind; discard these reports at all costs.

3) Blame the big grain companies. Everyone knows they manipulate the farmer and make all the profits.

4) Blame the big cattle packers. Everyone knows they manipulate stockmen and make all the profits.

5) Assume prices and costs are related. No place is it written that because you spend $1,000 an acre to produce irrigated corn you are guaranteed a profit on your grain.

6) Hold the short crop because less corn, wheat or beans must mean the price of these commodities will increase. In reality, by the time you hear a crop is in short supply, everyone else has heard the news too and the price has already gone up.

7) Follow the majority. If your neighbor sells his corn, it is probably the right time for you to sell yours. Ignore most conversation in the local coffee shop or coop. Figure out your own marketing strategy.

8) Ignore the futures market and basis because everyone knows that a bunch of speculators are rigging the market. Remember, speculators lose money too and provide liquidity for the market.

9) Never sell until you have a crop. Oftentimes, before you harvest a crop is the best time to lock in profits. Take a hard look at future contracting.

10) Shoot for the market high. Smart marketers have abandoned this philosophy for the goal of, “shooting for higher.”

11) Blame the banker or your wife. Again, everyone knows a banker lends you money when he/she shouldn’t. And if all else fails, who has any broader shoulders than your spouse.

You may just want to take a hard look at yourself. Operating a farm or ranch is as tough a profession as there is going these days. It takes all the wisdom, knowledge, technology, dedication and determination, luck and the blessing of Mother Nature to grow a profitable crop or market outstanding livestock.

And that’s not even taking into consideration a continually evolving marketing plan. Each farm and ranch and farmer and rancher is different. Look to yourself and those who are knowledgeable and can help you be successful.

Best of luck.

John Schlageck, a Hoxie native, is a leading commentator on agriculture and rural Kansas.