Washington D.C. — The Club for Growth Foundation released its 2024 Kansas State Economic Scorecard, offering residents of the Sunflower State insights into how each representative approaches pro-growth policies in Topeka.
The Scorecard analyzes policies and votes to assign an Economic Growth Score from 0 to 100, with 100 representing the highest support for pro-growth policies. In 2024, the Foundation reviewed 570 floor votes, scoring 14 Kansas House votes and 14 Kansas Senate votes.
“Through its State Economic Scorecards, the Club for Growth Foundation provides Kansans, and Americans across the country, with a detailed analysis into how state legislatures evaluate pro-growth policies,” said Club for Growth Foundation President David McIntosh “While Kansas has made commendable strides in delivering regulatory and tax relief that benefits hard-working Kansans, misguided priorities such as subsidies for sports stadiums, unchecked government spending, and the expansion of Medicaid continue to undermine true economic progress. These policies hinder the state’s ability to fully embrace a framework of sustained prosperity and fiscal responsibility.”
Click here to view the full 2024 Kansas State Economic Scorecard from the Club for Growth Foundation.
Key Highlights from the 2024 Kansas Scorecard:
Kansas Senate:
- Average Republican Score: 57%
- Average Democrat Score: 11%
- Highest Rated Republican(s): Sen. Mark Steffen (SD-34) and Sen. Caryn Tyson (SD-12): 100%
- Highest Rated Democrat(s): Sen. Tom Holland (SD-3): 27%
- Lowest Rated Republican(s): Sen. Robert Olson (SD-23): 24%
- Lowest Rated Democrat(s): Sen. Cindy Holscher (SD-8), Sen. Pat Petty (SD-6), and Sen. Mary Ware (SD-25): 3%
Kansas House:
- Average Republican Score: 52%
- Average Democrat Score: 35%
- Highest Rated Republican(s): Rep. Samantha Poetter Parshall (HD-6) and Rep. Paul Waggoner (HD-104): 100%
- Highest Rated Democrat(s): Rep. John Carmichael (HD-92): 67%
- Lowest Rated Republican(s): Rep. Mike Dodson (HD-67) and Rep. Mark Schrieber (HD-60): 28%
- Lowest Rated Democrat(s): Rep. Brandon Woodard (HD-108): 4%
Notable Pro-Growth Legislation:
HB 2036 – VETO OVERRIDE OF SIGNIFICANT TAX RELIEF
- Tax relief for Kansans by eliminating the state sales tax on food
- Reduces the number of income tax brackets from three to two
- Exempts Social Security benefits from the income tax
- Increases the residential property tax exemption from $40,000 to $100,000
- Increases the standard deduction by 3%
- Reduces the tax burden by $2.5 billion over the next 5 years
HB 2648 – VETO OVERRIDE FOR REGULATORY REFORM
- Implements new tools to provide economic impact analyses of any new rules and regulations, as well as for any regulation that costs $1 million or more to be approved by both legislative chambers
- Requires the Director of the Budget to audit regulations to guarantee agencies are complying with the new guidelines
HB 2783 – PREEMPTING RADICAL ENERGY REGULATIONS
- Prohibits municipalities and state agencies from enforcing Green New Deal regulations and restrictions on the use of motor vehicles based on the energy source used to power the vehicle
Notable Anti-Growth Legislation
HB 2001 – MASSIVE CRONY PROFESSIONAL SPORTS SUBSIDY SCHEME
- Authorizes new Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) bonds to attract professional sports teams from Missouri to Kansas to build sports stadiums
- Expands the bond cost limit from 50% of a project’s costs to 70%
- Taxpayers are on the hook to pay the bill of at least $700 million in government-issued bonds to finance the construction of these sports stadiums
SB 355 – MOTION TO IMPLEMENT MEDICAID EXPANSION
- Expands Medicaid to all aged under 65 whose income is equal to or less than 138% of the federal poverty line
- Medicaid population is estimated to expand at a minimal rate of 2.5% on an annual basis, which includes 150,000 new eligible individuals in FY2025 (equal to about 28% of the total current Medicaid population)
- The total cost is estimated at $1.6 billion just for the new population
SB 28 – ANOTHER MISSED OPPORTUNITY BUDGET AGREEMENT
- Increases total spending for FY2024 to $25.4 billion and FY2025 to $25.1 billion
- State employees receive a 5% to 10% across-the-board pay increase
- $80 million in increased Medicaid reimbursement payments
- $10 million in federal ARPA funds to subsidize the 2026 World Cup soccer tournament
- $70 million in additional crony grants to various higher education institutions
- 4.3% above the recommended General Fund spending
Note: This Scorecard is based on selected votes and does not reflect a legislator’s entire voting record. The Club for Growth Foundation does not endorse or oppose any legislator for public office.