Kansas BROKE! Rock chalk? More like rock bottom...

[MetaLord 9]

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/national_world/stories/2009/02/16/kansas_broke.html?sid=101

Kansas running out of money
State suspends tax refunds; payroll might be next
Monday, February 16, 2009 4:34 PM



ASSOCIATED PRESS
TOPEKA, Kan. -- Kansas has suspended income tax refunds and may not be able to pay employees on time, the state's budget director said today.
The state doesn't have enough money in its main budget account to pay its bills, prompting Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to suggest transferring $225 million from other accounts throughout state government. But the move required approval from legislative leaders, and Republican leaders refused Monday.
Budget Director Duane Goossen said that without the money, he's not sure the state can meet its payroll. State employees are scheduled to be paid again Friday.
Goossen said the state stopped processing income tax refunds last week.
GOP leaders are hoping to pressure Sebelius into signing a bill making $326 million in adjustments to the budget for the fiscal year that ends June 30.
Legislators approved that bill last week, but it has not reached her desk.
Goossen said the state might also have to delay payments to public schools and to doctors who provide care to needy Kansas residents under the Medicaid program.


I mean...don't 'cha think they coulda seen this coming???


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[~Barn~]

Put a big fence around it, and make that state a prison.

[rforsythe]

Ever driven through KS? It's already like a prison even without the fence.

[MetaLord 9]

Yeah but it's more like driving through "the prision experience." The only thing left to make it worse is enact a 25 mph state speed limit. Can you imagine doing 25 through ALL of Kansas without shanking someone??

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[TFOGGuys]

Yeah but it's more like driving through "the prision experience." The only thing left to make it worse is enact a 25 mph state speed limit. Can you imagine doing 25 through ALL of Kansas without shanking someone??

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Noooo...

[RajunCajun]

Wow, Obama wants to give like $250mill to bullshit like the Smithsonian Institute and $200mill to promoting use of and giving out condoms in that bullshit Stimulus Bill that just passed, but entire states can't pay their tax refunds or employees, WTF????? I'd like to know how many billions of $$ are going to crap causes that won't help people get or keep their jobs n the next 5 years! Good luck Kansas, and this is coming from a dude that just got laid off.....

[Captain Obvious]

I would definitely be pissed about the State holding my refund because it doesn't have the money to pay my refund, but imagine being the bus driver who doesn't know if they are getting their next paycheck yet are expected to be at work Monday morning.

[rforsythe]

Actually I agree with the condom thing. If we can discourage stupid people from breeding, it can only help future generations.

[Captain Obvious]

I'd like to know how many billions of $$ are going to crap causes that won't help people get or keep their jobs n the next 5 years!

Wish it would be so easy to simply blame it on Obama. Not only is it the Democrat congress who passed the bill, but it would have been full of shit spending if it was a Republican congress.

Unfortunately Congress is more concerned with "what will help me come re-election with my constituents?" and less with "what will actually help the nations economy?"

[dapper]

Prevention is cheaper. Instruction on how to use a condom is the next step...

CA started the 'suspended tax refunds' and KS is following.
The amount of money which isn't theirs to hold makes some nice interest dollars off of da' people. :)

[RajunCajun]

No blame specifically on Obama, both sides passed it, well kinda. And the condom thing, yeah, it could help keep people out of trouble. BUT, that isn't a HUGE issue compared to people loosing their jobs and their houses and not being able to get paid for the jobs they do have. Give that money to state govs to pay their damm employees and tax refunds and such, and things that create jobs now and let busnesses hire back peeps they let go,,,things that will make a difference now, not in 5-10 years, ya know...

[MetaLord 9]

Read it this way: Hi, I know that you're a Kansas state employee who has put in many years of great service with an exemplary record and that you've got a family to feed, so I'll give you a choice, which would you rather have: Your tax refund or your paycheck? And thanks again for the great job you do!

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[DFab]

The stimulus provides money for state budgets. It would have provided more, but the senate had to make big cuts to state assistance to get the 3 Republican senators to sign on. The senate would be unable to pass the bill without at least 2 republican votes due to a GOP filibuster.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/10/MNVI15QA5R.DTL

[XJ600s]

Dang, that sucks. I'm from Kansas and have a ton of friends and family still there.

At least my parents both work in Missouri, and their houses are both paid off...I doubt they'll have problems. But that still leaves tons of other people who'll be pissed off.

[CYCLE_MONKEY]

Actually I agree with the condom thing. If we can discourage stupid people from breeding, it can only help future generations.
The condom thing I agree with, but here's one better: sterilize habitual welfare breeders. 'Nuff said.

Perhaps do the illegals too? go home voluntarily, or get snipped, and sent home......

[Captain Obvious]

The condom thing I agree with, but here's one better: sterilize habitual welfare breeders.


Why not impose drug testing for welfare recipients? It is a whole lot less invasive and while I might bang a meth-head while stoned out of my mind, I shudder every time I see one when I am sober.

http://images.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/articles/2008/04/02/top/65st_080402_meth.jpg

[MetaLord 9]

^^Isn't that the girl off of the show House?

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