Three candidates running for Kansas governor staked out strikingly different approaches to tax policy at a debate in Johnson County. Governor Sam Brownback and the Republican controlled legislature eliminated income tax on almost 200,000 businesses and self-employed individuals, and cut income tax rates for everyone else. But those cuts helped trigger a 300 million dollar tax shortfall last year. Paul Davis, the Democratic candidate, says Brownback's cuts put too much pressure on sales and property taxes. He didn't say how to he'd fix it, but said that Brownback's income tax cuts threaten Johnson County's competitiveness.
Brownback says his tax cuts are attracting people and wealth to Johnson County.
The libertarian candidate in this race, Keen Umbehr, also took part in today's (FRI) debate. He said Brownback's tax cuts don't go far enough. Umbehr wants to end income tax all together and impose a higher state sales tax instead.