President Trump’s actions are not only unseating the WOKE Democrats but are also blowing up the old Republican guard that has, for too long, colluded with Democrats on open borders, tax-and-spend policies, and an unrelenting embrace of green energy subsidies.
Even here in Kansas, political power brokers like the Koch Brothers and the Chamber of Commerce have been pushing for the open-border agenda. The Chamber has also served as a conduit for tax incentives funneled to developers in Johnson County and other Kansas communities.
Policy Convergence: Republicans and Democrats on the Same Side
So, what are examples of this policy convergence between Republicans and Democrats? A prime example is the over $1 billion in local and state incentives handed out to the Panasonic lithium battery plant in De Soto. More than $1.1 billion of your tax dollars have been used to pad Panasonic’s bottom line. This deal has been supported by both Democrats, led by Governor Laura Kelly, and many Republican leaders, including Senate President Ty Masterson.
The Panasonic APEX deal marks the latest chapter in the “Green Dream Team” saga. This movement started in Kansas back in 1999 with the passage of SB 45 under Governor Bill Graves (R), which granted 100% property tax exemptions to all alternative energy-generating facilities with no sunset clause. After 16 years of these exemptions, the Republican leadership finally admitted their mistake in 2015, limiting the exemption to 10 years. My opinion? These subsidies should have been axed altogether—cut, gone, over.
Please note, existing “green” generation facilities were grandfathered in under the 100% exemption, leaving taxpayers on the hook for an indefinite period.
A New Era: Enter Trump
But now, hallelujah, enter Trump! Along with securing the border, throwing out WOKE ideology, and right-sizing government, President Trump is focused on unleashing the power of fossil fuels. Hopefully this long night of alternative energy subsidies in Kansas, which has only served to line the pockets of the “Green Dream Team” investors, will finally come to an end after 25 years.
In addition, the following tweet from President Trump in 2018, “The globalists Koch Brothers, who have become a total joke in real Republican circles, are against strong borders and powerful trade…” reflects my experience of the Koch Brothers supporting open borders when I served as State Representative, District 28 (2011-2012).
A Wake-Up Call for Kansas Republicans
Perhaps it’s time for the Kansas Republican Party to take note?
