Three of the candidates for Kansas governor have been painting remarkably different pictures of the state budget and the state’s economy. Democrat Paul Davis, Republican Sam Brownback and Libertarian Keen Umbehr (UM-ber) met Friday at a debate in Johnson County, where one of the topics involved taxes. Huge income tax cuts, championed by Governor Brownback, helped blow a hole in the state budget last year. Libertarian candidate, Keen Umbehr (UM-ber) says the cuts weren't fair because they completely eliminated income taxes for thousands of Kansas business owners.
But Brownback said his tax policies have been driving the state's economy to new heights.
Brownback touted the state’s low, 4.9 percent unemployment rate as further proof that his plan is working. Democratic challenger Paul Davis pointed out that the Kansas economy is growing slower than surrounding states and that the state’s creditworthiness has been downgraded on Brownback’s watch.