Topeka, KS (April 5, 2019): Kansas Chamber President and CEO Alan Cobb issued the following statement Friday regarding Senate Bill 22::

“It is unfortunate the Kansas Legislature did not act on Governor Laura Kelly’s veto of Senate Bill 22, a bill that would have stopped unintended state tax increases on Kansas families and businesses.

Make no mistake, if Kansas doesn’t decouple from recent federal tax changes which caused these Kansas tax increases, our state will be in an extremely uncompetitive position compared to nearly every other U.S. state, including Missouri, Oklahoma, Iowa and Arkansas, who have already decoupled from all or some of the federal provisions.

Without action this session by the Kansas Legislature and Governor Kelly, the tax burden on Kansas families and businesses will increase dramatically. Governor Kelly acknowledged this when she vetoed SB 22, saying that the burden would be felt the most by some of our state’s largest employers. If Kansas companies are hurt, so too will their employees and the state’s economy.

The Kansas Chamber and its members will continue to encourage and work with lawmakers and the governor to stop these unintended state tax increases on Kansas families and businesses.”