When the Kansas Legislature convenes in January, one-third of the seats will be filled by someone new. The election results show that many voters recognized the serious financial trouble in Kansas and now expect a change in direction. But will they get it?

Lawmakers face a daunting task. To successfully alter the situation, they must take a big risk and do something that does not come naturally to politicians—gather a bipartisan coalition and reform the tax system to raise revenue.

State finances have so soured that the current budget sunk $350 million underwater even after record amounts were taken out of the highway fund and large spending cuts were unceremoniously applied to universities and Medicaid providers. This leaves Kansas schools and other key state services highly vulnerable to another round of debilitating cuts.

Kansas simply does not have enough revenue to pay even a constrained set of bills. The 2012 income tax cuts unbalanced the Kansas budget from the moment of implementation, but the situation has become especially dire today because lawmakers emptied reserves and exhausted other one-time budget maneuvers in earlier efforts to patch up the budget.

We have few options left. Without more revenue, lawmakers must make deep cuts-to-the-bone in state programs. For those legislators who voted in 2012 to deliberately starve the state’s revenue stream in order to downsize government, this is a happy climax. But that group lost heavily in the elections.

In the 2017 Legislature, moderate Republicans and Democrats now have enough numbers in each chamber to pass policy changes, if they work together. But forming coalitions becomes challenging whenever there’s hard medicine to swallow. Kansas lawmakers will face headwinds as the Trump administration and a Republican Congress attempt to pass the very kind of tax legislation on a national scale that Kansas seeks to undo here.

Then, even if tax policy changes pass the Legislature, the governor may not sign the bill. But despite the barriers, lawmakers must forge ahead because the stakes for Kansas are enormous. The financial sickness will not heal up on its own without corrective action.

One obvious step forward would close the LLC loophole which allows business income to go untaxed. The recent Kansas Speaks survey showed that 61 percent of Kansans support this action. Some lawmakers may be tempted to do only this and declare victory, but that alone will not fix the budget.

At a minimum, lawmakers must make revenue equal expenses, which requires ending the LLC loophole as well as enacting a package of other financial corrections. Reducing sales tax on food as part of this package–as some lawmakers propose to do—would require further upward adjustments to balance the cost.

Can lawmakers work across party lines to enact change? Will the governor sign a bill rescinding at least a portion of the 2012 tax cuts? Unless the answer to both questions is “yes,” the financial suffering of Kansas will worsen, plunging our state into a further downward spiral.

Duane Goossen formerly served 12 years as Kansas Budget Director.

The ideas behind Thanksgiving make it one of our most universal and important holidays. Living the spirit of Thanksgiving is good medicine for our bodies, souls, families and communities. Fortunately, an appreciative attitude doesn’t cost anything; it takes very little time; it’s always available; and while there are lots of side effects, every one of them is wonderful.

Author and counselor Melody Beattie puts it this way: “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

Chances are you’re pretty good already at practicing an attitude of gratitude. The following are a few simple and quick exercises that can further build up your muscles of appreciation while warming the hearts of those around you. Each of these activities can be done in five minutes or less.

· Write a very short, spontaneous note of appreciation to a loved one, public figure, or a person who provides service for you, such as your child’s teacher or the manager of your apartments. You can express your gratitude on a slip of paper and put it on a co-worker’s desk, or you might mail a card to a friend, or convey your thanks electronically via e-mail.

· Phone a family member you don’t see very often or call an old neighbor–locally or long-distance–and take a few minutes to say thanks or to share your admiration for a personal trait he or she possesses. Keep the conversation brief and upbeat, knowing that you have probably made that person’s day.

· Whether around home or at work, promise yourself that you’ll give out at least three genuine compliments before your day ends. The nice thing about compliments is that they tend to be contagious. There’s no telling how far what you start might spread!

· Either first thing in the morning or last thing at night, engage in a couple minutes of silent, personal thanksgiving. Focus on your many blessings, be they large or small.

Thanksgiving is the practice of choosing to think about our blessings. It doesn’t mean we bury our heads in the sand and deny negativity and problems. But it does mean that we choose to face our difficulties with courage, optimism, creativity, and faith.

Our thoughts are like mental magnets. Whatever we dwell upon, we tend to draw to us. As we apply this principle, it follows that one of the best gifts we can give to ourselves, our families, and our world is develop the habit of positive thinking.

As our skill in practicing the “gratitude attitude” grows, we begin to see more clearly what is good and beautiful in other people, in ourselves, and the world around us. The world becomes a much brighter and friendlier place, and all kinds of new possibilities begin to unfold. It is then that our appreciative attitude has taken root, and we can carry the spirit of Thanksgiving with us on a daily basis.

Linda K. Beech is Ellis County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences.

By U.S. Sen. JERRY MORAN
R-Kan.

Thanksgiving is a time to gather together and count our many blessings. We take a day away from the hustle and bustle – and our all-consuming busy-ness – to pause and reflect on the things for which we are grateful. I appreciate the opportunity to be reminded each year of what’s important, to express my gratitude, and to enjoy our traditional meal (the stuffing is my favorite part).

Food-filled celebrations are a time I reflect on the hard work of the people who raised our turkey, grew our vegetables and harvested the grain used to bake bread. As a kid growing up in rural Kansas, our entire community revolved around the work of getting our crops to the local grain elevator. Each year, families in our area battled market uncertainty and unpredictable weather for a chance at a successful harvest. Young people rolled up their sleeves and went to work alongside their parents, spending long days and late nights in a tractor or combine while still making certain all of the livestock were cared for. This tradition has not changed for hardworking farmers and ranchers across our state or for the next generation of Kansas kids growing up on our farms today. They learn the technical and business skills needed to run a farm or ranch, as well as the value of hard work, perseverance and working as a team to get things done.

As Kansans, this work is near and dear to our hearts, but for many Americans living in urban areas, this is not the case. Thanksgiving is a time when the contributions of rural America shine, and when individuals across the country are connected by the simple but valuable tradition of a meal. It is also a time when we ought to be reminded that our safe, affordable food supply and agricultural traditions are what make it all possible.

As chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, I have had the opportunity to lead a number of fights to preserve these traditions which over the last few years have been under siege. When I am in Washington, D.C., I spend a lot of time sharing with people who are not familiar with what the rural way of life really looks like – that in rural Kansas, local economies depend on the success or failure of our ag community.

From the Department of Labor’s (DOL) proposed rule to ban youth under the age of 16 from participating in many common farm-related tasks, to the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Waters of the United States rule to regulate ponds and ditches, it feels as though for years now, the federal government has been working against our traditions. That’s why I consider it so crucial to advocate for Kansas values and the Kansas way of life on Capitol Hill. We must continue to raise our voices to share our priorities – we have seen how effective we can be when we work together like we did in 2012 to successfully force the DOL to withdraw their proposed restrictions on young people working on family farms.

We can appreciate this holiday’s special role in reminding all Americans how important agriculture is for all of us. We can celebrate our blessings by working to provide for those without a meal on their tables or family around them this week – by volunteering at local food banks, donating non-perishable items or inviting those we know who may be spending the holiday alone to be a part of our gatherings. My wife Robba and I are looking forward to spending Thanksgiving this year with soldiers and their families at Fort Riley. We are thankful for the hard work of farmers and ranchers across Kansas and for the opportunity to reflect on the many ways we are blessed.