Kansas Republicans vowed to make our lives easier and cheaper. How’s that working out? | Opinion
Prices continue to rise. At the grocery store, the gas pump, in rent and utility bills — Kansans’ wallets are hurting, and we have yet to see any relief. Just the other day, I received my new property tax appraisal. My home value increased by almost 15%. Since January 2021, the average Kansas household has spent $33,275 more because of inflation. That could have been a new car, a down payment on a house, two years of day care or college tuition.
In 2024, Republicans campaigned on lowering prices and taxes for everyday people. They won based on those promises, but have yet to follow through on those promises. For example, state Sen. TJ Rose claimed that one of his top goals was to lower taxes. State Sen. Mike Thompson said on his website that he voted to lower property taxes and reduce income taxes on families. After the election, Kansas Republicans stated that property tax relief was a priority. Yet, despite controlling both chambers of the Legislature by huge margins, they have failed to deliver any tangible support for working families. Meanwhile, corporations and the wealthiest Kansans continue to benefit from a tax system that favors them over the middle class.
The Kansas Legislature plans to end its work early this year, which doesn’t leave much time to get legislation passed. So, what have the Republican supermajorities done to help hardworking Kansas families? Not much.
The only major legislation that has passed, via a veto override, is a bill that interferes with parental and medical decisions. Dubbed the Help Not Harm Act, Senate Bill 63 inserts government into deeply personal family choices. And how does this impact most Kansans? Not at all. Only about 1.4% of American youth identify as transgender.
Instead of assisting the nearly two-thirds of Kansans who own homes with a real property tax cut, Republicans continue to obsess over our personal medical decisions. Instead of making life more affordable for all 2.9 million people here, they continue to target one of the smallest and most vulnerable populations.
In February, the Kansas House passed House Bill 2119, which eliminates the affordable housing tax credit. How does that help Kansas families? It doesn’t.
The state Senate passed Senate Bill 35, which cuts state property levies. While it sounds beneficial, the reality is that a home worth $200,000 would see only $34.50 in annual savings, while a $300,000 home would see just $51.75 in tax cuts — barely enough to cover a tank of gas.
The Kansas Senate also passed Senate Bill 10, granting property tax exemptions for private airplanes, boats and other fancy vehicles. This does nothing to help hardworking Kansans who are struggling, but instead benefits those already rich enough to afford a private plane.
Instead of prioritizing real economic relief, Republicans have wasted significant time (and tax dollars) on bills that don’t help Kansas families. They’ve debated laws about raccoon ownership, while Kansans struggle with housing costs. They’ve moved to ban quarantining during one of the worst tuberculosis outbreaks in the state’s history. And they’ve pushed to ban abortion yet again, instead of expanding Medicaid or making child care more affordable. It is insulting..
Meanwhile, critical issues such as public schools, child care, infrastructure and health care accessibility continue to be ignored. Kansas families need leaders who will work diligently to improve our daily lives, not waste time on unnecessary, divisive laws and political theater.
It’s time for Republican lawmakers to fulfill their promises and enact real, commonsense policies that make life more affordable for regular Kansans. This includes lowering property taxes in meaningful ways, reducing taxes for lower- and middle-class families, passing child care tax credits, expanding Medicaid and ensuring paid family and medical leave. These are real solutions that would help hardworking Kansans make ends meet, become more independent and build a better future for their families.
Kansans are struggling, and instead of providing help, Republican legislators are wasting our time and causing actual harm. They must refocus on policies that drive down costs for families and working people, rather than playing politics with our lives.