The Sam Adams Alliance - Building a network for liberty

Kansas Resource Guide

November 6, 2007

Sam Adams State Resource Guides are designed to help citizens get involved in their home state.

Do you have additional information that you'd like to see on this list? Please email your tips to resources@samadamsalliance.org.

Background

Kansas is known as one of the most conservative states in the union. It is often thought to have three political parties—Democrats, moderate Republicans and conservative Republicans. Most political debate occurs between the two sides of the Republican Party, while Democrats try to pull away some of the more moderate/left leaning Republicans to gain more control in the state.

At the federally level, that state has not supported a Democratic presidential candidate since 1964. Bush took the state in both 2000 and 2004 by an overwhelming margin. Both U.S. Senators are Republican and Kansas’ U.S. House representation is split 2-2.

The Kansas state legislature is a part-time legislature that usually convenes in January and lasts about 90 days. The Governor does have the ability to call for a special session though. There are no term limits on members of the legislature. There are 125 members in the House of Representatives and 40 members in the Senate—Republicans hold a super-majority in both chambers. The Governor and Lt. Governor are Democrats however and are term-limited.

Issues

Initiative and Referendum

Kansas has no initiative and referendum rights. It does however allow recall of all statewide officials, except members of the judiciary. There is also recall at the local level, but the same hold true, no judicial officials.

Taxes

Kansas ranks above average in most tax categories when compared with the rest of the country. Kansans put 11.2% of their income into state and local taxes. Property taxes and corporate taxes are also above the national average. The tax burden has risen dramatically over recent years and has been cause for much concern throughout the state. The state and local taxes are the highest they have ever been in Kansas. In 2002, Kansas was ranked 24th in property tax burden and is now ranked 14th.

Think Tanks

Flint Hills Center for Public Policy
http://www.flinthills.org/

Actions Groups

Americans for Prosperity- Kansas
http://www.americansforprosperity.org/index.php?state=ks

Kansas Taxpayer’s Network
http://www.kansastaxpayers.com/

Kansas Sunshine Coalition for Open Government
http://www.sunshinecoalition.com/index.html

Blogs

Voice for Liberty in Wichita
http://wichitaliberty.org/

Stay Red Kansas
http://blog.stayredkansas.com/

El Dorado Kansas Blog
http://www.eldoradokansasblog.com/

Resources

Official State Website
http://www.kansas.gov/index.php