Below is an opinion piece in the Wichita Eagle by Duane Goossen, Former Kansas budget director.

“But therein lies the challenge of Step 2. Legislators must both add money and balance the budget. Brownback is correct in part. New school money has to be budgeted. But to do that realistically and responsibly requires more revenue, if not during this session, then definitely in the next. Brownback skipped over the hard part, and kept mum about his own culpability in creating revenue problems for the state in the first place.

“So, just as in the last legislative session, when they overrode Brownback’s tax veto, it appears a bipartisan coalition of legislators will have to again go it alone without leadership from the governor. That makes the task much harder, but that’s the next step. The success of the 2018 legislative session will be measured by how well lawmakers achieve Step 2.”

Originally posted to Facebook 1/21/18.