Western KS moderates weigh in on the theft of agency funds to pay for Brownback's tax plan

Welcome to the era of pick-pocket governance.

Gov. Sam Brownback's master plan to eliminate the state's income tax has yet to clear the Kansas Legislature, and already residents are finding unwelcome hands rooting around in their pockets, looking for money to cover the tax cuts' costs.

Out of the gate, Brownback's income tax plan required keeping in place a sales tax that was set to expire this year. Designed as a temporary fix for an emergency situation, the tax now may remain in place forever - not to pay for roads or schools or even incentives for "job creators" - but to finance a tax cut for people who have paid a modest rate all along.

The sales tax alone, however, may not be enough, forcing legislators to dig even deeper for extra money. They also have set their sights on the state's highways, well known for their high quality and the steady stream of cash needed to keep them in good repair.

One proposal has sought to grab some of the sales tax revenue scheduled to pour into the T-WORKS program, which develops highway projects that deliver the most economic benefit for communities and the state. The measure would strip $382 million over two years from highway funds to pay for the governor's income tax-free utopia. That measure was rejected this week by the House, in the face of strong protests, but the proposal likely has not seen its last days.

But there's more.