Insight Kansas

1 week ago | marysvilleonline.net | Insight Kansas |Michael A. Smith |Michaël Smith

Underpaid for years, Kansas legislators finally received a substantial pay increase this year. Instead of a paltry per diem (per day) allowance, they now receive $43,000 per year and remain eligible for KPERS benefits. Normally, I would argue in favor of this. It takes courage for legislators to raise their own pay and then sit for re-election before collecting it.

Jun 28, 2024 | marysvilleonline.net | Insight Kansas |Michael A. Smith |Michaël Smith

A month ago, I editorialized about the recent defeat of a proposed sales tax extension for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals stadiums in Jackson County, Mo.Led by a group called KC Tenants, the “no” vote secured a 58 percent majority. Their message was, why subsidize venues for billionaire-owned, for-profit sports teams when Kansas City residents cannot find affordable housing? kAm%96 >6DD286 C6D@?2E6D @? 3@E9 D:56D @7 E96 DE2E6 =:?6] w@H6G6C[ :E 5:5 ?@E C6D@?2E6 H:E9 E96 z2?D2D {68:D=2EFC6] x?

May 29, 2024 | marysvilleonline.net | Insight Kansas |Michael Smith |Michaël Smith

Kansas policymakers are abuzz about the recent defeat of a sports stadium tax in Jackson County, Mo. Unfortunately, they’re saying all the wrong things. To paraphrase James Carville, “It’s affordable housing, stupid.”If the tax had been approved, the money would have gone to renovate Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Super Bowl-winning Chiefs. The three-eighths-cent sales tax extension would also have partially financed a new, downtown stadium for the Royals.