Two in three Kansans disapprove of Governor

Brownback unpopular, trails in polls

Why is the number 33 such a problem for Gov. Sam Brownback? It's not his age. So why should he be so worried about the number 33?

Purportedly, 33 percent is his approval rating with Kansas voters. Only one in three Kansans approve of the job Brownback is doing, according to a recent Public Policy Polling poll. And that's not just because Democrats and Independent voters disagree with him. Brownback is underwater with his own party too, with just 46% of Kansas Republicans approving of his job.

Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling, sums up the mood of Kansas voters succinctly: "Kansas voters really don't care for Sam Brownback and haven't for some time now."

In addition to not approving of his job performance, Kansans also don't much like his policies. According to the same poll, only 26% think Brownback's much-hyped tax plan consisting of tax breaks for big business and billionaires has been successful. On education, Brownback fares almost as bad with just 31% of Kansans agreeing with him that public schools are adequately funded.

"Sam Brownback has been an unmitigated disaster as governor and these poll numbers reflect that Kansans believe this to be true,” said Kansas Democratic Party Chair, Joan Wagnon. “Brownback has weakened our economy, has weakened our schools, and weakened our middle-class. From day one Brownback has focused on dividing our state and helping only his big business, special interest backers."

Brownback promised new jobs, but has failed to deliver. Kansas trails all her neighbors in job creation and continues to lag behind the national average. Just last December Kansas lost 7,400 jobs even as Brownback tried to claim otherwise. It also can't help that the few new jobs in Kansas are mostly low-paying, weakening the middle-class.

Or maybe Kansans are concerned about Brownback's record on education. As reported in The Gayly last August, Brownback promised to improve reading scores and protect higher education. So far he's broken both those promises. That doesn't even take into account the fact that he made the single largest education cut in Kansas history. Voters want the Kansas Supreme Court to hold Brownback accountable on school funding.

It's also problematic that the cost of being a Kansan continues going up under Brownback. Higher property taxes, higher utility bills, and higher tuition all make it harder for Kansas families to survive under Brownback.

Yet another explanation could be the drastic increase in Kansans living in poverty under Brownback. With almost a quarter of Kansas kids living below the poverty line our future generations are moving backwards. Brownback's response: strip families of assistance and discourage Kansans from seeking help.

Finally, it could be because all the legislators Brownback helped elect have done nothing but embarrass Kansas by trying to pass discriminatory legislation and tax breaks for big political donors.

Staff Report

The Gayly – February 28, 2014 @ 1:10pm