Dan Murray, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, released the following statement today on Senate Bill 30, legislation calling for the largest tax increase in Kansas history:
“Senate Bill 30 would raise taxes by $1.2 billion over two years. Small businesses can’t afford that. We think the Legislature can learn a lesson from small business and start living within its means. Small businesses understand you can’t spend money you don’t have. If you want to buy this, you have to give up that. You have to take a long, serious look at your budget and make some difficult decisions about what you can live without and where you can cut before you can even think about raising prices.
“The same is true for states. Governor Brownback has worked hard to make Kansas a state where ‘customers’ such as small businesses can succeed. He’s fought to create an environment where small businesses can expand and create jobs. If this tax increase goes through, the Legislature is going to reset the clock on Kansas’ economic recovery. It’s going to make it harder for existing businesses to grow, and it’s going to discourage other businesses from coming here.
“Senate Bill 30 is bad legislation that would make things worse for small businesses and working families, not better. Senate Bill 30 shows a deep misunderstanding of basic economics. Small-business owners know you can’t spend your way out of debt. We need a Legislature that’s willing and able to make the tough decisions when it comes to spending taxpayers’ money.
“Governor Brownback has said he’ll veto Senate Bill 30. We’re hopeful that the Legislature will slow down and work with the governor to come up with a better solution that solves the state’s financial problems without punishing small businesses, working families, and other taxpayers.”
NFIB is the state’s leading small-business association. To learn more, visit NFIB.com/KS and follow @NFIB_KS on Twitter.
