Kansas governor vetoes 2nd tax bill

TOPEKA, Kan. — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly on Friday vetoed a tax relief plan from the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature for the second time in two months, arguing that even the new, smaller measure would “decimate” the state’s finances.

The second tax bill, like the first, was designed to provide relief to individuals and businesses that have been paying more in state income taxes because of changes in federal tax laws at the end of 2017. Republicans are expected to try to override her veto when the Legislature reconvenes May 29 before adjourning for the year.

The bill vetoed Friday would save taxpayers roughly $90 million during the budget year beginning in July and about $240 million over three years. It was less than half the size of a GOP tax relief plan that Kelly vetoed in late March.

“It will decimate the state’s ability to pay our bills and invest in our people,” Kelly wrote in her veto message to lawmakers. “Successful tax reform must be shaped by a thoughtful, big-picture vision — not by a rushed attempt to achieve an immediate political victory.”

Democrats warned that the second tax bill, like the first one, could cause big budget shortfalls within a few years.

However, when the second tax bill passed, Republican leaders appeared to have the two-thirds majorities necessary in both chambers to override a veto. They couldn’t say the same about the first tax bill.

Kelly said such measures returned to a tax-cutting experiment under former GOP Gov. Sam Brownback that became nationally notorious because of persistent budget woes that followed.

Bipartisan legislative majorities repealed most of the Brownback tax cuts in 2017, and Kelly ran successfully last year against Brownback’s political legacy.