"’Why shouldn't the people be able to vote on tax increases?’ asks Rep. Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita, the leading TABOR proponent in Kansas.”

That’s a good question. Why not?

According to the response given in this Wichita Eagle editorial on Sunday, the “people” (re: you) do not have the wherewithal to handle such heady issues.

Says the editorial:

“Voters elect their representatives to attend to complex budget and fiscal policy matters, and decide what priorities are most important for the state.”

Okay, then why be afraid of a Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights?

TABOR simply makes the budget process more transparent and sensible. If a tax hike is truly needed, let the representatives explain why; then allow the voters to make the final decision.

Are critics truly afraid that the voters will demolish the schools their children go to, the hospitals their families use, and the roads they use every day?

Such fears are irrational and unfounded.

TABOR creates a clear incentive for government to perform more efficiently and effectively. Our representatives are still vital to this process, as they’re the ones crafting the legislation and presenting it to the taxpayers. They still exercise their comparative advantage as legislative experts to present their constituents with the most important issues; however, the liberties politicians take with the gray areas of the budget process would not longer be acceptable.

For those of you still unsure of your competency in handling such “complex” issues, take a look at our fellow Americans in Colorado. Nobody’s arguing Coloradans are smarter than the rest of us; yet somehow, they’ve been able to handle the “complex” process of voting on tax issues for years now.

Just look at the numbers:

Since TABOR was enacted in Colorado in 1992:

• Colorado ranks 3rd in population growth, Kansas ranks 36th.

• Colorado ranks 3rd in personal income growth, Kansas ranks 41st.

• In 1992 Colorado ranked 18th in per capita income, Kansas ranked 24th.

-In 2003, Colorado ranked 9th and Kansas ranked 28th.

-Per capita income growth in Colorado ranked 6th during this time period and Kansas’ ranked 30th.

• Colorado ranks 3rd in productivity growth since 1992, Kansas ranks 32nd.

Prior to the passage of TABOR in Colorado in 1992, Colorado and Kansas growth was similar.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

We think Kansans are smart and complex enough to vote on how their money is being spent.