If you needed more evidence that the Republican Party no longer stands for anything, take a look at what’s happening in Kansas. Governor Sam Brownback successfully cut income taxes in Kansas and even Republican legislators are now arguing that the rate cuts are to blame for the state’s budget shortfalls. They want to hike income taxes badly enough to override the Governor’s veto.

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback said Tuesday that he will veto a bipartisan bill that would roll back personal income tax cuts he’s championed to help balance the state budget.

The conservative Republican governor announced his planned action four days after the GOP-controlled Legislature approved the measure. The bill’s tax increases would raise more than $1 billion over two years starting in July.

Brownback has criticized the measure as harmful to middle-class families and small business owners. Supporters say it’s necessary to help close projected budget shortfalls totaling nearly $1.1 billion through June 2019.

Kansas has struggled to balance the budget since GOP lawmakers slashed personal income taxes in 2012 and 2013 at Brownback’s urging. Brownback and his allies continue to argue that the tax cuts he championed are creating economic growth and the state’s problems were largely caused by slumps in agriculture and oil production.

The GOP led legislature passed a bill erasing Brownback’s tax cuts despite the governor’s promise to veto it and he did.

https://twitter.com/govsambrownback/status/834209537540358144

The Kansas House successfully voted to override the veto.

The Kansas House has voted to override Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s veto of a bill increasing personal income taxes to help balance the state budget.

The vote Wednesday was 85-40. That’s one vote more than the two-thirds majority necessary in the 125-member House.

The House’s action clears the way for an attempt to override in the Senate.

The bill would raise more than $1 billion over two years starting in July. It would increase income tax rates and end an exemption for more than 330,000 farmers and business owners.

Kansas has struggled to balance its budget since GOP lawmakers slashed income taxes in 2012 and 2013 at Brownback’s urging. The bill would reverse key Brownback tax policies.

I used to think that Republicans generally believed that deficits result from too much spending. It looks like many in the Kansas GOP think they happen when the people aren’t taxed enough.