>Americans for Prosperity-Kansas commends state Senate for putting a sunset on new spending program

The free-market grassroots group Americans for Prosperity-Kansas applauds the Kansas Senate for including in SB 417 the sunset provision introduced by Sen. Chris Steineger (D-Kansas City).

AFP-Kansas State Director Alan Cobb said Sen. Steineger continues to be a watchdog on the state budget, leading the effort to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent appropriately.

“We congratulate those who voted for Senator Steineger’s amendment, which adds a sunset to this new state spending program,” said Cobb. “When lawmakers are willing to put a sunset on any new program that increases state spending, that’s a step in the right direction.”

The bill was given final approval in the Senate on Wednesday. It provides money for housing grants – initially in areas affected by natural disasters last year, and then expanding to all rural communities. The sunset provision requires that the program end in 2015.

Cobb said as the session progresses, lawmakers need to make budget reductions to offset new spending increases.

“While we commend the Senate for putting a sunset on this program, we hope that in future appropriations lawmakers are able to trim other areas of the budget to make up for those spending increases.”