TOPEKA, KAN. – The Kansas chapter of the grassroots group Americans for Prosperity released the following statement in response to the State of the State address and the budget proposed by Gov. Brownback:

“There are a number of major issues our state faces in the 2012 legislative session, and we appreciate Gov. Brownback being willing to bring about significant reform plans in our school finance formula and tax policies, as well as working toward reducing state debt,” said AFP-Kansas state director Derrick Sontag.

“AFP-Kansas has long advocated for limiting the growth in government expenditures, and we applaud the Governor for proposing a budget that reduces State General Fund (SGF) spending and calls for limiting spending growth to no more than 2 percent each year. It’s important that we continue to work toward reining in state spending to ensure our expenditures do not exceed tax revenues.

TOPEKA, KAN. – The Kansas chapter of the grassroots group Americans for Prosperity-Kansas released the following statement in response to President Obama’s remarks made in Osawatomie, Kan., today:

“Today, President Obama chose small town America for the location of an address called a ‘make-or-break moment’ for the middle class,” said AFP-Kansas state director Derrick Sontag. “The President took this opportunity to discuss his administration’s plans to promote fairness and equality, but it begs the question, ‘fair play for whom?’ ”

“Part of the President’s plan to ‘level the playing field’ forces tax increases on small business owners and investors – the very people creating jobs and helping make our economy move. Allowing the government to continue to pick winners and losers in the marketplace just makes way for more crony capitalism.

The Wichita chapter of the grassroots group Americans for Prosperity-Kansas (AFP-Kansas) is thanking everyone who carried and signed the petition to put the city’s hotel guest tax incentive on the ballot.

In September, the Wichita City Council approved a large incentive package for the hotel, including a proposal to refund 75 percent of the hotel’s guest tax to the hotel for its own use. AFP-Kansas’ Wichita chapter and other local groups organized a petition drive to collect enough signatures for the city to put the guest tax provision up for a public vote.