Gov. Kelly’s “Axing Your Taxes” plan provides essential relief for all Kansans

As a proud Kansan and a beneficiary of dairy and produce raised literally within a few square miles of my Hutchinson home, I am deeply disturbed to learn that more than 10 percent of Kansans are food insecure, including one in seven children in our state.

What can we do? One thing is to encourage the Kansas legislature to pass Governor Kelly’s “Axing Your Taxes” plan.

Cutting sales taxes on food, feminine hygiene products and diapers will make trips to the grocery store more affordable for families struggling with inflation.

Cutting taxes on social security for our seniors and providing a four-day tax holiday in August as students head back to school will ease the burden on other vulnerable populations. We all  know how often teachers use their own money to fund essentials in their classrooms. A back to school tax holiday will stretch budgets so that teachers and parents can do more to provide our students with everything they need to thrive in the classroom.

Last year, Governor Kelly signed a law that would phase out the shockingly high 6.5 percent food sales tax over the next three years. While this was a huge feat, Governor Kelly knows that we can – and must – do more to address food insecurity in our state. Thanks to recent responsible budget management, we have the means to do it and now is the time.

The “Axing Your Taxes” plan is estimated to save Kansas over $500 million over the next three years. At this moment, we can put money back in the pockets of hardworking families without raising taxes on low income or middle-class Kansans. There is no reason not to.

I am proud to serve as the President of Kansas Appleseed, where one of our top legislative priorities is to work with our partners to fully eliminate the state’s food sales tax. Our goal is to attack food insecurity head on because in this state known for raising food for the nation, it is inexcusable that tens of thousands of Kansans do not have regular or reliable access to food.

Kansas has the financial resources, we have our deeply ingrained sense of fairness, we have the same pioneer grit that helped us to settle this state. We must meet this head on so that Kansans are not forced to opt between food and health care, utilities, or emergency costs. Fully eliminating the food sales tax is the first and best step in taking care of those in need.

We have the power -- and the budget -- to get this done. Join me in urging the Kansas legislature to come together and pass Governor Kelly’s “Axing Your Taxes” plan and provide essential relief for our families once and for all.

Gaye Tibbets is president of Kansas Appleseed, an organization that works to promote healthy families statewide.