Kansas is in fiscal meltdown, as usual, with Republican Gov. Sam Brownback's efforts to cut taxes even more deeply "crumbling."
After more moderate Republicans joined the GOP-dominated legislature following last November's election, the party has appeared more willing to concede defeat and ditch Brownback's tax experiment. Last week, the state House and Senate passed a bill that would generate more than $1 billion by eradicating most of Brownback's reforms. It would raise personal income tax rates (though still not as high as the pre-Brownback rates) and end the loophole that has allowed 330,000 business owners—including subsidiaries of Wichita-based Koch Industries—to avoid paying income taxes.
Not just that, though. The legislature is actually advancing Medicaid expansion, now, in spite of the uncertain future of the program and the Affordable Care Act that made the expansion possible.
Supporters said Medicaid expansion would help with health care access for more than 150,000 Kansans and bring millions of federal dollars to Kansas.
“It’s going to protect people. It’s going to help people. It’s going to spur economic development,” said Rep. Steven Crum, D-Haysville. […]
The vote came after a bill to expand Medicaid had been tabled Monday in a House committee until at least April 3. Expansion supporters amended a separate bill Wednesday to add Medicaid expansion; that passed 85-40. After numerous other amendments failed, the bill advanced in the House, 83-40.
The bill still must win final House passage before heading to the Senate.
The vote was a victory for proponents of expansion, which gained momentum after Democrats and moderate Republicans gained seats in the Legislature in the November election.
Making things even more curious is this:
Which is not something you’d expect to hear out of the Obamacare-hating Brownback’s mouth. Yes, something very strange is happening in Kansas.