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rhoades@house.state.ks.us

January 18, 2008

In keeping with tradition, senators and representatives gathered in the House chamber to hear the Governor’s State of the State address—the unveiling of the administration’s goals for the 2008 legislative session.

In what has become its own tradition, the price exceeds our state’s ability to pay. Last year, we spent $526 million more than revenues and this year the push is on to overspend again.

Before one bill is introduced we’re already at 4.2 percent above last year’s spending since, rightly, we’re committed to fulfill the third year of the school finance plan, among other responsibilities.

In the last three years, Kansas state government spending has risen 26.7 percent. We’re mandated by law to retain a 7.5 percent cash reserve—a buffer for emergencies—but the state has earmarked much of it for anticipated expenses.

If we could find the resolve to tie increased spending even remotely to inflation—say, a 5 percent increase—it would leave us with around $70 million to spend above last year’s $6 billion-plus budget. However, the price of just two of the Governor’s proposals would take us around $100 million in additional spending.

It’s politically popular to promise more, but it’s financially impossible to sustain this strategy indefinitely. From the Wichita Eagle: “The state is going to have to tap at least $200 million in state reserves to maintain current spending. That leaves little money for the governor’s proposals and she did not say from where the money could come.” Something has come out recently that she intends to use money from gambling. But the constitutionality is still be decided and no casinos are up and running to my knowledge.

The State of New Jersey is now experiencing some of the long-term effects of high taxes and outpaced spending. To address its growing debt, Governor Corzine has initiated a monetization plan, selling off New Jersey’s assets—its highways—to private companies for toll roads. He considers it an economic innovation; I suppose in the same way sub-prime and interest-only loans have been sold as creative financing. Said one New Jersey state senator, “It baffles me…Citizens of this state expect politicians to make the same tough choices they make every day, and it starts with cutting spending.”

It’s no secret I oppose government spending that either exceeds revenues or exacts a higher and higher demand on its citizens. When is enough, enough? I’ll be honest with you. It will never be enough unless you say it is. “Government always finds a need for whatever money it gets,” Reagan advised.

Government’s role was never intended to provide for us, but to provide for the common defense. It was not established to secure our blessings, but to secure the blessings of liberty—freedom to work, dream, invent, build and accomplish the impossible.

Said James Madison, “I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents...” That goes for states, as well.

Government does its citizens no favor by extending its reach, even if the promise is to give you something you need when the actual outcome is to take more of what you have away. Most Americans can tell you how much they receive as a tax refund, but not how much is taken from them in withholdings. Who wouldn’t give you back some of your money if you gave them twice as much with zero interest?

By encumbering its citizens with convoluted and contradictory regulations and weighing them down with an ever-increasing tax burden, an over-reaching government promises security, but produces subservience.

Said Thomas Jefferson, “To preserve [the] independence [of the people,] we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our election between economy and liberty, or profusion and servitude.” By economy, he meant thrift; by profusion, financial gluttony.

The Governor spoke of a new “innovation economy.” I’m all for innovation, but perhaps more than something new, what we need is something old…old-fashioned self-discipline.

I will continue to advocate for fiscal restraint. I’d like to see money shifted to successful or promising projects rather than retaining everything in perpetuity and adding new programs on top of old ones. Sometimes you need to scrape down to the wood and seal the windows before you add another coat of paint. Curb appeal is great for the seller, but windows that don’t leak are better for the buyer.

We live in the greatest state, with the greatest people in the country. We owe it to them to address our state’s debt issue before it becomes a crisis and not push reality onto a future administration or the backs of hard-working Kansans.

Not only did Benjamin Franklin famously say, “In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes”; he also said, “A small leak can sink a great ship.” Or a great state.

 Marc Rhoades represents District 72 in the Kansas House of Representatives. He can be contacted at rhoades@house.state.ks.us To receive his articles electronically, contact the same e-mail address.