Submitted

The budget crisis a/k/a “The Experiment” brought on by Governor Brownback’s and legislators such as Sue Boldra’s ill-fated tax policies continue to send the state spiraling downward economically. The overall negative effect on citizens across Kansas continues with the latest being the $97 million cut to the State University system.

The biggest blow will be felt by students wishing to attend Fort Hays State University. For them, there will be a 6 percent tuition increase. Fort Hays has stood apart from other State schools by offering the lowest tuition rates and the most significant enrollment growth for several years.

Boldra and Brownback have changed that by refusing to do the responsible thing, which is to make the income tax system fair and stop giving the ultra-large corporations undeserved tax cuts while the wage earners pay full tilt. It’s unfortunate that after Fort Hays had succeeded in keeping a university education affordable, the students and their parents will now have to shoulder the shortfall.

This is all the result of having puppet legislators such as Sue Boldra kowtow to a governor who still contends his policies are working. I believe, now more than ever, an overall change in state government is imperative in order to prevent further damage. I call upon Boldra and her far-right compatriots in the Kansas Legislature to take action this month. 

They need to pass legislation to fix this financial problem right now, and do it in a way that Brownback’s veto cannot stand. When Fort Hays suffers, all of western Kansas hurts, and this slashing of funding for the most affordable University in Kansas is in effect taking the million dollars out of the pockets of the citizens of Hays and Ellis County who count on Fort Hays to contribute mightily to our economy.

Eber Phelps, D-Hays, is a candidate for state representative in the 111th District, which includes most of Ellis County and all of the city of Hays.