By STEVE KORANDA

Advocacy organizations joined forces Wednesday at the Statehouse and asked Kansas legislators to change course on tax policy.

The event coincided with the Legislature’s return to Topeka to wrap up the session.

One major issue that stands between them and adjournment is a $290 million revenue shortfall.

Gov. Sam Brownback recently proposed three options to address the projected shortfall, but the groups at Wednesday’s event say he should consider a fourth: reversing a 2012 tax cut bill that exempted more than 330,000 business owners and farmers from state income taxes. Annie McKay, with the Kansas Center for Economic Growth, is a frequent critic of the governor’s tax policy.

She said the state needs a long-term budget fix. Without one, she said, growing costs for services such as education and Medicaid will produce continued budget deficits. “We don’t have the ongoing revenue to pay for those, so this idea that we can cut our way out of this is simply a false choice that’s being presented,” McKay said.

“It’s not a long-term solution.” That plan will be a tough sell in the Statehouse, where Brownback and his supporters in the Legislature maintain the tax cuts are helping boost the economy. They also say now is not the time to raise taxes.

The three options established by state revenue leaders and the governor would take money from higher education, the Kansas Department of Transportation and early childhood programs, among other programs.

However, McKay and others said a revamped tax plan could help the state avoid repeated revenue shortfalls.

“We are going to be in this situation year after year after year, because we will be facing budget shortfalls and gaps year after year after year until we address the structural issue that we face,” she said.

Groups participating in the event included the Kansas-National Education Association, Kansas Action for Children, Kansas Organization of State Employees and Kansas Contractors Association. —

Stephen Koranda is a reporter for KPR

Submitted from the office of Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins

WASHINGTON, DC– On Thursday, April 28th, the House Homeland Security Committee will be holding a hearing entitled, “Transferring Guantanamo Bay Detainees To The Homeland: Implications For States And Local Communities.”Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) invited Todd Thompson, the Leavenworth County Attorney, as a witness to speak about how the President’s plan to close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay and potentially transfer the remaining terrorists to the Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth would impact the Leavenworth community.

“Time and time again, the folks of Leavenworth have voiced their opposition to the President’s plan to potentially transfer Guantanamo detainees to Fort Leavenworth. That’s why I have been fighting, since January of 2009, to stop the President’s campaign promise from being fulfilled,” said Congresswoman Jenkins. “I am thrilled that Todd will be a key witness at this important hearing. His testimony will help provide another local viewpoint as to why the President’s campaign promise is deeply flawed and how it will adversely affect the Leavenworth community.”

Ahead of the hearing, Todd Thompson, the Leavenworth County Attorney, stated the following:

“The lack of communication from the President and Department of Defense with the Leavenworth community has made it nearly impossible for us to prepare for the possibility of the detainees from Guantanamo Bay coming here. There are national and international leaders and their families that live in this community. Families have loved ones buried a short distance from where the detainees would be housed. That, coupled with the strain of already-limited resources in our area, would be detrimental to our community.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — H&R Block says it’s laying off 250 workers, citing a disappointing tax season.

The Kansas City Star reports the downsizing announced Tuesday by the Kansas City based company amounts to 12.6 percent of its workforce.

H&R Block said it handled roughly 19.6 million tax returns in the just-completed tax season. That’s more than 4 percent less than last year.

The company says it expects a revenue decline this year and will release a full report June 9.

H&R Block’s CEO, Bill Cobb, is vowing to be aggressive in attracting business next tax season.

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — Another patient has filed a lawsuit accusing a former physician assistant at the Veteran’s Administration hospital in Kansas of sexual abuse.

The complaint filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court of Kansas brings to at least four the number of civil lawsuits filed against Mark E. Wisner, and the federal government. Wisner also faces criminal charges of aggravated criminal sodomy, solicitation and sexual battery.

Wisner did not return a phone message. The hospital in Leavenworth reiterated that once accusations were brought to the attention of its leadership Wisner was immediately removed from patient care and an investigation initiated.

The Iraq war veteran alleges that Wisner conducted improper genital examinations and comments. He contends Wisner suggested he would withhold pain medications if the patient did not allow the examinations.

KINGMAN COUNTY – Two people were injured in an accident just before 10 a.m. on Wednesday in Kingman County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Chevy Pickup driven by Paul Rohlman, 86, Cunningham, was eastbound on the south shoulder of U.S.54 one mile west of Kingman.

The pickup backed onto the eastbound lane of U.S.54 in the path of a 2011 Dodge Pickup driven by Wayne L. Deakman, 77, Chochise, Arizona.

The Dodge attempted to avoid the Chevy. It entered the westbound lane, struck a westbound 2006 Acura Sedan driven by Sandra Haugen, 56, Wichita, and continued into the north ditch.

The Acura avoided to the left and struck the driver’s side of the Chevy pickup..

Rohlman was transported to Wesley Medical Center.
Haugen was transported to the hospital in Kingman.

Deakman was not injured.

Rohlman was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

SUMNER COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities continue to investigate an accident that injured two people just after 3 a.m. on Wednesday in Sumner County.

The Kansas Turnpike Authority reported a van driven by Britt E. George, 50, Wichita, was northbound on Interstate 35 and stopped for a toll-booth ticket at the Arkansas City/South Haven plaza.

The van was rear-ended by a semi driven by Christopher J. McGahey, 32, Commerce City, Colorado.

Both drivers were transported to a local hospital.

George was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KTA.

The accident did significant damage to the toll plaza.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A homeless man has pleaded guilty to criminal use of explosives after he went to apply for a job a Wichita abortion clinic with a small bottle of gunpowder and a wick in his backpack.

The Wichita Eagle reports that 20-year-old Moises R. Trevizo Jr. admitted Monday to the charge and is scheduled to be sentenced June 24 in Sedgwick County District Court.

Police have said he didn’t mean any harm and carried everything he owned in the backpack when he showed up to the South Wind Women’s Center in August. Police said the device was too small to damage the clinic.

The clinic operates in the building once owned by slain abortion provider George Tiller.