Voice For Liberty
Individual liberty, limited government, economic freedom, and free markets in Wichita and Kansas.

 
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Government gets in front of a parade and pretends to lead it.
-- John Stossel

Under democracy one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to prove that the other party is unfit to rule -- and both commonly succeed, and are right.
-- H.L. Mencken

During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.
-- George Orwell

If you have ten thousand regulations, you destroy all respect for the law.
-- Winston Churchill
Congressman Ron Estes at Park City
United States Representative Ron Estes speaking at the Park City Chamber of Commerce. Recorded August 30, 2017. 
 
Click here for the full story.
WichitaLiberty.TV: Wichita and Kansas economies
In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: Bob Weeks and Karl Peterjohn discuss issues regarding the Wichita and Kansas economies. View here. Episode 163, broadcast September 3, 2017. 
From Pachyderm: Sedgwick County EMS Director Scott Hadley
From the Wichita Pachyderm Club: Sedgwick County EMS Director Scott Hadley. This is an audio presentation recorded on August 25, 2017. 
 
Click here for the full story.
A reminder of workplace freedom -- national employee freedom week
National Employee Freedom Week is a great time to reflect upon how fortunate Kansans are to have workplace freedom in a right-to-work state, one in which individuals are given the choice as to whether or not to join a union. From Kansas Policy Institute. 
 
Click here for the full story.
From The Sentinel this week
NYT Says Tax Cuts Nearly Killed Kansas. Gov. Sam Brownback once wrote in a column that the 2012 tax reforms would provide a "shot of adrenaline into the heart of the Kansas economy." The New York Times isn't going to let him forget it.

Fact Checking the Topeka Capital-Journal Fact Checkers. Fact checkers at the Sentinel are awarding three Pinocchios to Topeka Capital-Journal fact checkers for labeling "misleading" information presented to a KanCare House and Senate oversight committee by Kansas Budget Director Shawn Sullivan.

National Study on Brownback Welfare Reform Deserves More Local Media Attention. Two weeks ago, the Sentinel ran a brief article on the media reception to a national study by the the Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) on the welfare reform initiated by the Brownback administration. The article focused on the positive attention that the program received in USA Today. Not surprisingly, state and local media have done little but snipe.

Turbulence Rocks KC Council As Decision Nears on $1 Billion Airport Bid. It has been a turbulent day or two as the Kansas City, Missouri, City Council moves to a $1 billion bid decision on a new terminal at KCI.

K-State Earns Green Light for Free Speech. Kansas State University earned a green light from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE). FIRE rates colleges and universities based on their speech codes. A green light indicates the university or college's policies do not seriously imperil free speech.

Is Trump Taking Page from Kansas? President Donald Trump's administration announced on Wednesday that it will require work for welfare recipients. The move marks a return to 1996 requirements partially revoked under the Obama administration.

If Kansas School Funding Has Been "Slashed," Why Are Top Dogs Getting Bigger Cut? The media have a fondness for the action verb "slash" and its derivatives "slashed" and "slashing" when speaking of school funding in Kansas.
WichitaLiberty.TV: Kansas Speaker of the House Ron Ryckman
In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives Ron Ryckman joins hosts Bob Weeks and Karl Peterjohn to discuss current governmental affairs in Kansas. View here. Episode 162, broadcast August 20, 2017. 
 
Wichita employment trends
While the unemployment rate in the Wichita metropolitan area has been declining, the numbers behind the decline are not encouraging. 
 
Click here for the full story.
In Wichita, not your tax dollars
At a Wichita City Council meeting, citizens are told, "These tax dollars are not your tax dollars." 
 
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School administrators in Kansas got large pay hikes last year
Kansans who've been bombarded with media reports of schools being underfunded might be surprised to learn that some school administrators received large pay hikes in the 2017 school year.  Open Records requests submitted to to 21 districts representing 50 percent of students statewide produced multiple examples of school administrators receiving more than a 5 percent pay hike, several of which received double-digit increases. From Kansas Policy Institute. 
 
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Redesigned Naftzger Park likely not only subsidy
The developers of property near Naftzger Park in downtown Wichita will possibly receive millions in other subsidy. 
 
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Naftzger Park land ownership
One of the issues surrounding Naftzger Park in downtown Wichita is land ownership. 

We can see that the park is built partially on land owned by private owners. City officials have said that a narrow strip of land on the east side of the park is involved. From this map we can see that the situation is more complex.

It would be interesting to learn how this mistake - if that's what it is - occurred. At one time the city owned the entire block after it acquired land to reform what was skid row.
 
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From Pachyderm: Kansas Secretary of Revenue Sam Williams
From the Wichita Pachyderm Club: Kansas Secretary of Revenue Sam Williams. This audio presentation was recorded August 11, 2017. 
 
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WichitaLiberty.TV: Naftzger Park
In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: Wichita Assistant City Manager and Director of Development Scot Rigby joins hosts Bob Weeks and Karl Peterjohn to discuss the plans for Naftzger Park. Then, Bob and Karl continue the discussion. View here. Episode 161, broadcast August 13, 2017. 
 
Naftzger Park construction manager
The City of Wichita seeks a construction manager for the construction of Naftzger Park. 
 
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Downtown Wichita gathering spaces that don't destroy a park
Wichita doesn't need to ruin a park for economic development, as there are other areas that would work and need development. 
 
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Kansas City school district boosts pay but not for teachers
The Kansas City school district, one of several Kansas districts using taxpayer money to sue for more funding, managed to provide  some pretty hefty pay increases for top management last year. From Kansas Policy Institute. 
 
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Naftzger Park contract: Who is in control?
The City of Wichita says it retains final approval on the redesign of Naftzger Park, but a contract says otherwise. 
 
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WichitaLiberty.TV: Congressman Ron Estes
In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: United States Representative Ron Estes, a Republican from Wichita representing the fourth district of Kansas, joins hosts Bob Weeks and Karl Peterjohn to discuss the issues of the day. View here. Episode 160, broadcast August 6, 2017. 
 
If you aren't getting email from Voice for Liberty
Troubleshoot why you aren't getting email from Voice for Liberty or other senders.
 
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Wichita WaterWalk contract not followed, again
Wichita city hall failed to uphold the terms of a development agreement from five years ago, not monitoring contracts that protect the public interest.

Beyond this, we now know that neither the city nor the WaterWalk developer followed the terms of the deal. The annual reports were not supplied by the company, and they were not requested by the city. As it turns out the annual reports purport to show that the city was owed no money under the profit sharing agreement.

But that's not the point. The issue is that the city did not enforce a simple aspect of the agreement, and the private-sector company felt it did not need to comply. Taxpayers were not protected, and we're left wondering whether these agreements were really meant to be followed.
 
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Naftzger Park concerts and parties?
In Wichita, a space for outdoor concerts may be created across the street from where amplified concerts are banned. 
 
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Metro area employment and unemployment
An interactive visualization of labor force, employment, and unemployment rate for all metropolitan areas in the United States. 
 
Click here for the full story and interactive visualization.

Wichita in the Wall Street Journal
A Wall Street Journal article reports on Wichita, but there are a few issues with quotes from the mayor. Specifically: Is the mayor not aware that Wichita's incentive programs are as valuable to companies as receiving cash payments?

Or does the mayor believe that the methods by which these programs are implemented obscure the economic realities?
 
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A Wichita social media town hall
A City of Wichita town hall meeting ends in less than nine minutes, with a question pending and unanswered. 
 
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WichitaLiberty.TV: After the Kansas tax increases
In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: Jonathan Williams, chief economist at American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), joins Bob Weeks and Karl Peterjohn to discuss what ALEC does, and then topics specific to Kansas. View here. Episode 159, broadcast July 30, 2017. 
 
Judge Melgren defends Constitutional protections
While it has become increasingly common for members of the U.S. Supreme Court to make news by public comments, particularly during their summer recess, Wichita Pachyderm Club members had the opportunity for Kansas federal district Judge Eric F. Melgren to quote from his judicial colleagues in a way of defending the Constitution's concept of the separation of powers. By Karl Peterjohn. 
 
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Naftzger Park tax increment financing (TIF)
Background on tax increment financing (TIF) as applied to Naftzger Park in downtown Wichita. 
 
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Tax collections by the states
An interactive visualization of tax collections by state governments. 
 
Click here for the full story and interactive visualization.

Wichita MSA employment series
Charts of employment in the Wichita metro area, along with Kansas and the United States.

Since 1990 the country has experienced three recessions. For the first two, Wichita was able to catch up with the employment growth experienced by the entire nation. For the most recent recession, however, this hasn't been the case. In fact, as time has progressed since 2010, the gap between Wichita and the nation has grown. Wichita is falling farther behind.
 
Click here for the full story.

Taxpayer choice: Grow government or help kids
The tax credit scholarship program is the only real school choice option in the state of Kansas.  ... Taxpayers will now have the option of making sure that some of their state tax liability goes to help some of Kansas' neediest children achieve their educational dreams. From Kansas Policy Institute. 
 
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Kansas Freedom Index for 2017
Kansas Policy Institute has released the completed Freedom Index for 2017. Did your legislators support or oppose economic freedom? 
 
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Kansas legislative highlights for 2017
Kansas Legislative Research Department, one of four nonpartisan agencies that provide support services for the Kansas Legislature, has released its annual highlights of legislation document for the 2017 session. 
 
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Naftzger Park in Downtown Wichita
The City of Wichita is proposing to spend $1,500,000 to transform Naftzger Park from its present form to something else. Click here for information resources.  Below, an illustration from the city of the possible future of Naftzger Park. That's astroturf, not grass.


More Cargill incentives from Wichita detailed
More, but likely not all, of the Cargill incentives will be before the Wichita City Council this week.

In the past, economic development subsidies of this type were justified by local governments as necessary to recruit new companies to the area. These subsidies, however, are used simply to retain a company that is already located in downtown Wichita. 
 
Click here for the full story.
In Wichita, new stadium to be considered
The City of Wichita plans subsidized development of a sports facility as an economic driver. 
 
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WichitaLiberty.TV: Being safe online
In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: Dave Cunningham of Flint Hills Group joins Bob Weeks and Karl Peterjohn to discuss online threats and how to remain safe. View here. Episode 158, broadcast July 16, 2017. 
 
National Transit Database, an interactive visualization
An interactive visualization of data over time from the National Transit Database.

In the case of Wichita, we see that "OpExp per PMT" for 2015 is $1.02. This is total operating expense per passenger mile traveled. It's not the cost to move a bus a mile down the street. It's the cost to move one passenger one mile. And, it is operating cost only, which means the costs of the buses are not included. 
 
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Wichita WaterWalk agreement not followed
Does the City of Wichita enforce its public-private partnership agreements? In some cases the city doesn't even ask for the information that is needed for enforcement. 
 
Click here for the full story.
Intrust Bank Arena loss for 2016 is $4,293,901
As in years past, a truthful accounting of the finances of Intrust Bank Arena in downtown Wichita shows a large loss. 
 
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Happy Fiscal New Year, Kansas (not)
A Kansas public policy group celebrates tax increases. But it isn't enough, and more reform is required. 
 
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WichitaLiberty.TV: John Todd and Wichita issues
In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: John Todd joins Bob Weeks and Karl Peterjohn to discuss issues involving the City of Wichita, including the future of Naftzger Park and economic development. View here. Episode 157, broadcast July 9, 2017.
 
Schools defend massive income tax hike
As Kansans collect smaller paychecks this month because of the massive income tax hike passed by the Legislature, school districts' lobbying arm is defending it as an "investment." From Kansas Policy Institute.
 
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Deconstructing Don Hineman
Another Kansas legislator explains why raising taxes was necessary. So he says. 

Hineman shows that it is difficult to cut spending. People become accustomed to other people paying for their stuff. Legislators want to appear to be doing more for their constituents, providing seemingly free stuff while pushing aside the idea of paying for it. And so government grows, at the expense of our liberty and what might have been had the money been left in the productive private sector.
 
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From Pachyderm: Wichita city council candidates
From the Wichita Pachyderm Club: Wichita City Council Primary and General Election Candidates. This audio presentation was recorded June 30, 2017. 
 
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WichitaLiberty.TV: Kansas Representative Susan Humphries
In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: Kansas Representative Susan Humphries joins Bob Weeks and Karl Peterjohn to discuss issues in the Kansas Legislature. Humphries represents District 99 in far east Wichita and Andover, and just completed her first term. View here. Episode 156, broadcast July 2, 2017. 
 
Decoding Duane Goossen
When reading the writings of former Kansas State Budget Director Duane Goossen, it's useful to have a guide grounded in reality.

For example, Goosen wrote: "We became famous, the poster state for bad tax policy."
No, Kansas became the poster state for bad spending policy. Our legislature and governor had several years to find ways to reform spending, but there was not the will to do so. One example: The budget for next year contains $47.2 million in spending because the legislature did not adopt a recommended plan to save money on purchasing health insurance for school employees. That number rises to $89.0 million the following year. 
 
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Kansas employment by industry
An interactive visualization of Kansas employment by industry.  
 
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Downtown Wichita jobs, sort of
The claim of 26,000 workers in downtown Wichita is based on misuse of data so blatant it can be described only as malpractice. 
 
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Kansas legislature broke a lot of promises
The Kansas Truth Caucus and KPI offered multiple scenarios to balance the budget without a tax increase, including the securitization of future tobacco settlement payments, a one-time / $196 million use of excess school carryover cash reserves, efficiency savings and other spending restraints.  Most in the Kansas Legislature, however, had little interest in making better use of existing resources to avoid a tax increase. From Kansas Policy Institute. 
 
Click here for the full story.
Airport traffic statistics, 2016
Airport traffic data presented in an interactive visualization, updated through 2016. A few observations regarding Wichita airport traffic as compared to the nation:
  • Since 2014, passenger traffic at the Wichita airport has been level, while increasing for the nation.
  • The number of departures has been declining in Wichita, while level and increasing for the nation.
  • The number of available seats on departing flights from Wichita has been mostly level while rising for the nation. 
Click here for the full story and interactive visualization.

School cash reserves hit $203 billion
U.S. Census data just released shows school cash reserves for 45 states set a new record in 2015 at $203 billion, up from $188 billion in 2014. From Kansas Policy Institute. 
 
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Voting to raise taxes in Kansas
Here are printable tables of voting on legislation that raised taxes in Kansas.
 
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WichitaLiberty.TV: Kansas Representative Leo Delperdang
In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: Kansas Representative Leo Delperdang joins Bob We eks and Karl Peterjohn to discuss issues in the Kansas Legislature. Delperdang represents District 94 in west Wichita, and just completed his first term. View here. Episode 155, broadcast June 25, 2017. 
 
The yardstick for the Kansas experiment
A politician's boasting should not be the yardstick for policy. 
 
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WichitaLiberty.TV: David Schneider on Convention of States
In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: David Schneider of Citizens for Self-Governance joins Bob Weeks and Karl Peterjohn to explain the Convention of States project. View here. Episode 154, broadcast June 18, 2017 
 
From Pachyderm: Wichita school board candidates
From the Wichita Pachyderm Club: A forum of candidates for Wichita school board. Recorded June 16, 2017. 
 
Click here for the full story.
Wichita post-recession job growth
Since 1990 the country has experienced three recessions. For the first two of these, Wichita was able to catch up with the employment growth experienced by the entire nation.

For the most recent recession, however, this hasn't been the case. In fact, as time progressed since 2010, the gap between Wichita and the nation has grown.
 
Click here for the full story.
In Kansas, sweeps to continue
Why did the legislature and governor raise taxes in Kansas? One reason cited by many is the need to stop "robbing the highway fund." This refers to transferring ("sweeping") money from a fund in the Kansas Department of Transportation to the state's general fund, where the money is then spent on things besides highways. There was bipartisan agreement that this practice should stop.

But: Guess what? Transfers from the highway fund to the general fund are scheduled to continue for another two years, based on the budget passed by wide margins in both chambers of the legislature. 
 
Click here for the full story.
Wichita, Kansas, and U.S. economic dashboards
Dashboards of economic indicators for Wichita and Kansas, compared to the United States. 
 
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Coverage of Downtown Wichita workers
The Wichita Eagle's coverage of the number of workers in Downtown Wichita isn't fake news, just wrong news. 
 
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Explaining the Kansas budget, in a way
A video explaining the Kansas budget is accurate in many aspects, but portrays a false and harmful myth regarding school spending. 
 
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Metro Monitor for the Wichita economy
A research project by The Brookings Institution illustrates the performance of the Wichita-area economy. 
 
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Census data for downtown Wichita workers
Is the presentation of the number of workers in downtown Wichita an innocent mistake, mere incompetence, or a willful lie? 
 
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As Wichita considers new ventures, a look back at some data
The City of Wichita will soon be flooded with data regarding downtown convention and performing arts facilities. Past experience should warn us to be skeptical. 
 
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Wichita about to commit to more spending. Bigly.
This week the Wichita City Council considers hiring a consulting firm to develop plans for a new performing arts and convention center. 
 
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On Wichita's STAR bond promise, we've heard it before
Are the City of Wichita's projections regarding subsidized development as an economic driver believable? 
 
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Growth in Downtown Wichita Jobs
Even if we accept the measure of jobs used by the City of Wichita, the trend is in the wrong direction. Citizens should ask for truth and accountability. 
 
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Downtown Wichita's Block One, a beneficiary of tax increment financing
Before forming new tax increment financing districts, Wichita taxpayers ought to ask for progress on current districts. 
 
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Rich States, Poor States, 2107 edition
In Rich States, Poor States, Kansas improves its middle-of-the-pack performance, but continues with a mediocre forward-looking forecast. 
 
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Medicaid expansion survey in Kansas
Should Kansans accept the results of a public opinion poll when little is known about it? 
 
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Downtown Wichita business trends
There has been much investment in Downtown Wichita, both public and private. What has been the trend in business activity during this time? 
 
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Fake government spawns fake news
Discussions of public policy need to start from a common base of facts and information. An episode shows that both our state government and news media are not helping. 
 
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Which Kansas governor?
Can you guess which Kansas governor and administration did these things in order to create savings? 
 
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For Sedgwick County Commission, too much debate
Commissioners create a safe zone, free from debate and differing opinions.

By moving to end motions and debate, the Sedgwick County Commission isn't effectively serving citizens and taxpayers. 
 
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Kansas farm income
This is an example from the visualization Personal income in the states. It compares farm income in Kansas and Plains states with non-farm income. 

Tax collections by the states
An interactive visualization of tax collections by state governments. 
 
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Kansans are concerned about the level of state spending on schools
A public opinion poll asks whether Kansans are concerned about school spending, but leaves us wondering why they are concerned. 
 
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Personal income in the states
An interactive visualization of income growth and change in the states, by major sector. Of note is the steep decline in farm income in Kansas and other Plains states. 
 
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Highway budget cuts and sweeps in Kansas
A public interest group makes claims about Kansas roads and highways that are not supported by data. It's not even close. 
 
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Economic indicators for the states
An index of past economic activity for each state, and another index looking forward. Presented in an interactive visualization.
 
Click here for the full story and interactive visualization.
Wichita Eagle, where are you?
The state's largest newspaper has no good reason to avoid reporting and editorializing on an important issue. But that's what the Wichita Eagle has done. 
 
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Kansas revenue estimates
Kansas revenue estimates are frequently in the news and have become a political issue. Here's a look at them over the past decades. 
 
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Kansas tax receipts
Kansas tax receipts by category, presented in an interactive visualization. 
 
Click here for the full story and interactive visualization.
Wichita property tax rate: Level
The City of Wichita says it hasn't raised its property tax mill levy in many years. For this year, the city is correct. 
 
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Downtown Wichita tax base is not growing
There's been much investment in downtown Wichita, we're told, but the assessed value of property isn't rising.
 
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State and local government employee and payroll
Considering all state and local government employees in proportion to population, Kansas has many, compared to other states, and especially so in education. 
 
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Spending in the states, by fund
The National Association of State Budget Officers publishes spending data for the states. In this interactive visualization, I present the data in a graphical and flexible format. 
 
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Kansas state school assessments
An interactive presentation of Kansas state school assessment scores at the state, district, and building levels. 
 
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Accountability in Kansas public schools
Critics of school choice say there is no accountability outside the traditional public schools. Here are the standards Kansas used to hold its schools accountable.
 
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No one is stealing* from KPERS
No one is stealing from KPERS, the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System. But there are related problems.
 
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Year in Review: 2016
Here are highlights from Voice for Liberty for 2016. Was it a good year for the principles of individual liberty, limited government, economic freedom, and free markets in Wichita and Kansas?
 
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In Wichita, the phased approach to water supply can save a bundle
In 2014 the City of Wichita recommended voters spend $250 million on a new water supply. But since voters rejected the tax to support that spending, the cost of providing adequate water has dropped, and dropped a lot.
 
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