Bleeding Kansas Shows Peril of GOP Bid to End Income Tax

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback has a prairie-wide smile, a friendly manner and an abiding hatred of his state’s income tax. He pushed an unprecedented cut for individuals and small businesses through the legislature last year and is now plotting, as he says, to “take it to zero.”

Neighboring states in the nation’s sprawling midsection have taken note and are moving to piece together tax cuts, lest Kansas lure away jobs -- which is exactly what Brownback, a 56-year-old first-term Republican, wants to do. At least eight governors have said this month they want to cut or eliminate their levies.