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Page 43

Kansas

Bill Graves, Republican

Legislature: Republican

Took Office: 1/95

Grade: B

Kansas is becoming more conservative all the time, but

Bill Graves, a moderate Republican, often seems to resist

the tide.  Graves was elected governor in 1994 by an over-

whelming 64-36 margin over the early favorite, then-

congressman Jim Slattery.  After working for his family's

trucking firm, Graves went to work for the Office of the

Kansas Secretary of State in 1980.  In 1986 he was elected

secretary of state, a post he kept until his 1994 election.

Graves has had a tumultuous first term in Topeka, tussling

with his party's conservative wing on a number of issues,

including school vouchers, which he opposes.  Objecting to

the legislature's proposal for a larger tax cut, Graves once

said, "What part of `hell no' don't you understand? "

Lately, he has been more agreeable to the smaller government

agenda.  With revenues pouring in, Graves has even been more

cooperative with the legislature on tax cuts.  In each of

the past two years he approved property and income tax cuts

that were substantially larger than the ones he initially

proposed.  This year he has promised to eliminate the car

tax if he is reelected in November, which seems likely.

Graves has towering approval ratings.  Graves's overall fis-

cal record is above average, but it does not measure up to

those of most of his fellow GOP governors elected in 1994.

And, given the robust Kansas economy, much more ambitious

fiscal reforms could have been achieved over the past four

years.

Score Grade Rank

Overall Fiscal Policy Score

56

B

14

Spending Score

64

B

11

Revenue and Tax Rate Score

52

B

16

Amount

0.3%

Average Annual Change in Real Per Capita Direct General Spending through 1996

-2.2%

Average Annual Change in Direct General Spending Per $1,000 Personal Income through 1996

-0.4%

Average Annual Recommended Change in Real Per Capita General Fund Spending through 1999

-2.1%

Average Annual Change in General Fund Spending Per $1,000 Personal Income 1996-98

2.6%

Average Annual Change in Real Per Capita Tax Revenue through 1997

-0.2%

Average Annual Change in Tax Revenue Per $1,000 Personal Income through 1997

-2.5%

Average Annual Recommended Change in General Fund Revenue Per $1,000 Personal Income through 1999

0.9%

Average Annual Change in Real Per Capita General Fund Revenue 1996-98

-1.2%

Average Annual Recommended Tax Changes as % of Prior Year's Spending through 1999

0.0

Change in Top Personal Income Tax Rate, proposed and/or enacted (% points)

0.0

Change in Top Corporate Income Tax Rate, proposed and/or enacted (% points)

13.8

1998 Combined Top Income Tax Rates (Personal plus Corporate) (*0.5)

0.0

Change in Sales Tax Rate, proposed and/or enacted (% points)

0.0

Change in Gas Tax Rate, proposed and/or enacted (cents per gallon) (*0.5)