By: Charlotte O’Hara
Warning, warning, STOP THE STEAL, the Royals and the Chiefs are after your hard-earned money, coming from every corner of Kansas—your wallet is at risk! 70% of the cost for the new stadiums would be funded by YOUR state sales tax and Kansas Lottery funds through a tax scheme known as Star Bonds if the teams move to Kansas. Billionaires benefiting from public funds is an unacceptable spectacle. Let’s end the border war—keep the Chiefs and Royals in Missouri. Kansas simply can’t afford to subsidize them.
Well, that was exciting to write, now for additional details of the Star Bond plus grab bag of goodies (corporate welfare) that OUR REPUBLICAN controlled legislature passed for the Royals and Chiefs in June of 2024.
- 1. Open meeting’s act eviscerated: The Kansas legislative council, when meeting to review, to receive testimony or have discussion concerning a proposed Star Bond agreement, at discretion of the chair, may be closed to the public.
- 2. Kansas Lottery dollars raided: The formula, based on 2024 revenue, makes a cool $17 million available to the big boys right off the “bat” (Pardon the pun).
- 3. 100% of sales tax on alcohol.
- 4. Star Bond term for 30 years, increased from 20 years.
- 5. Star Bond district may include part or all of a previous Star Bond District, looks tailor made to re-Star Bond the Wyandotte County Legends?
- 6. Star Bond district not required to contain contiguous parcels of real estate.
AND by the time the Star Bonds are paid off, it will be time to build another stadium(s) which the taxpayers will be expected to finance!! So why are we doing this? Oh, I know, so the big boys in Topeka have the opportunity to hob knob with the big boys in the world of sports. I call it whoring after mega deals to make up for all of the flubs of the past. You know, like playing craps….lose, lose, lose and then bet REALLY big and…lose again.
To rub salt into the wound, if any of us go to see a game, WE GET TO PAY OUTRAGEOUS TICKET prices, after OUR tax dollars paid for 70% of the cost to build the stadiums. Just another corporate tax scam to add to the giveaway list which includes $8 billion to Panasonic from federal, state and local tax dollars (we can dream that some of the federal funds will be trimmed) and the newest one, Fiserve, which just received $154 million from Governor Kelly and 40% of their property tax bill will be rebated.
Now you have been warned, your next step: call your state rep and senator. If they voted for this Star Bond deal, tell them no tax subsidies for the Chiefs and or Royals. (See below for list) It doesn’t matter if your representative or senator is Republican or Democrat, both political parties support corporate welfare. This means there are very few elected officials in Kansas (local, state and federal) who represent you and me. No wonder we’re the high tax point on the prairie.
The big boys of professional sports have successfully played the States of Kansas and Missouri to continue the never ending Border War in order to pad their pockets.
House – Emergency Final Action HB 2001 – Passed; – 06/18/2024
Yea – (84):
Nay – (38):
Senate – Emergency Final Action HB2001 – Passed; – 06/18/2024
Yea – (27):
Nay – (8):
Present and Passing – (3)
Absent and Not Voting – (2)
Charlotte O’Hara
Governor for Kansas, 2026
Meet me at my upcoming appearances:
June 28th – 4:30 p.m.
Crawford County Republican Picnic
Lincoln Park
813 Memorial Dr, Pittsburg, KS 66762
