TOPEKA -- The Kansas chapter of Americans for Prosperity (AFP) today unveiled its agenda for the 2005 state legislative session, which opens in Topeka this week. The agenda was announced at a media briefing in the Kansas State Capitol building featuring AFP-Kansas state director Alan Cobb and AFPF Distinguished Scholar Dr. Barry Poulson.

The proposed Taxpayer's Bill of Rights amendment is a top issue AFP-Kansas will watch during the upcoming legislative session, Cobb said. A Taxpayer's Bill of Rights is a state constitutional amendment that would limit the annual growth in government. Under a Taxpayer's Bill of Rights amendment, state spending and debt could not grow faster than the rate of annual population growth plus inflation. Surplus revenue received above this amount would accrue in budget stabilization and emergency funds, and a portion would be returned to taxpayers. Tax increases or spending above the amount of the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights limit would require voter approval.

"The Taxpayer's Bill of Rights amendment is the long-term solution to Kansas' budget challenges," Cobb said. "Our recent study showed that if Kansas had implemented a Taxpayer's Bill of Rights in 1992, taxpayers would have received $1.1 billion in tax rebates and reductions, and we would have squirreled away $1.4 billion in Rainy Day funds that would have offset the budget shortfalls that occurred during the recent economic downturn."

Cobb also said AFP-Kansas would also keep a watchful eye on any proposed tax hikes following the state Supreme Court's ruling that the legislature must further increase spending on state education programs.

"The Supreme Court did not mandate any tax hikes, but that doesn't mean some members of the legislature won't try to push tax hikes through," Cobb said. "AFP's grassroots citizen activists are going to be watching potential tax increases very closely. AFP-Kansas will do everything we can to make sure that constituents know very clearly where their legislators vote on any tax increases that may be considered."

Cobb said other issues Americans for Prosperity will watch during the upcoming legislation session include lawsuit reform and health care.