Jan. 17, 2019 The unveiling of Gov. Laura Kelly’s budget this morning underscores the continued repairs needed in Kansas. Her spending plan commits to paying off past debts, strengthening a depleted state workforce, and fully funding our public education system. It also wisely leaves a healthy ending balance, critical to cushioning our state in the … Read More

Nov. 26, 2018 The Kansas Center for Economic Growth is speaking out today against the Department of Homeland Security’s “public charge” proposal. As an organization that advocates on behalf of Kansans, we are concerned the proposed rule would cause major harm to Kansas immigrants and their families. We urge that the rule be withdrawn in … Read More

Emily Fetsch Nov. 2, 2018 Kansans believe in fairness. However, a recent study by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) and the Kansas Center for Economic Growth finds that the lowest-income Kansans are contributing a higher share of their income to fund our priorities. Without an equitable tax structure, we will struggle to make necessary investments in … Read More

Oct. 17, 2018 A new study released today by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy and the Kansas Center for Economic Growth finds that the lowest-income Kansans pay 1.5 times more in taxes as a percent of their income compared with the state’s wealthiest residents. The study, Who Pays? A Distributional Analysis of the Tax … Read More

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities October 5, 2018 Kansas’s inadequate public investment in higher education over the last decade has contributed to rising tuition prices, often leaving students with little choice but to take on more debt or give up on their dreams of going to college. The problem is especially serious for Black, … Read More

Laura Hales August 17, 2018 Safe, affordable housing creates economic stability for communities. Yet an increasing number of families have difficulty affording housing, despite having one or two wage earners at home.[1] When a large percentage of a household’s income is consumed with housing expenses, families are less likely to have enough resources to meet … Read More

Heidi Holliday July 13, 2018 On July 1, 2018, Kansas celebrated its “fiscal new year” – and for the second year in a row, this occasion is something to celebrate. Our state’s budget is recovering after five years of failed tax policy, and with that, our ability to invest in our state’s core services. We’re … Read More

Emily Fetsch May 31, 2018 This year marks the 50-year anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act (FHA). The FHA was part of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, with the goal of ending racial discrimination in the housing market. While some progress has been made, federal enforcement has never been fully implemented … Read More

Michael Raven May 31, 2018 In keeping with the pioneer spirit, Kansans are not afraid of hard work. For generations, residents have worked to build roads, extract oil and natural gas, and feed the nation. Underlying this work ethic is the assumption that if people work, they should achieve financial security. However, new data from … Read More

Heidi Holliday May 25, 2018 Last June, when a bipartisan majority of Kansas lawmakers passed comprehensive tax reform, we knew that recovery from the Brownback tax plan would take time. In the 2018 session, legislators made significant progress for our state, advancing good policies and rejecting proposals that would endanger Kansas’ recovery. Here are some … Read More