Kansas Economic Freedom Index
I found some interesting articles today while researching issues on the Internet (http://wichitaliberty.org/kansas-economic-freedom-index/ and http://wichitaliberty.org/kansas-government/kansas-economic-freedom-inde...). Both were written by Bob Weeks out of Wichita, KS. Mr. Weeks rates each state senator and representative on their votes on economic issues. Weeks uses the late Milton Friedman, a 1976 Nobel prize winner in Economics, as his guide (http://www.hoover.org/bios/friedman.html). In particular he cites Friedman's work, Capitalism and Freedom (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1962), Chapter 1, "The Relation Between Economic Freedom and Political Freedom," pp. 7-17 (http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/ipe/friedman.htm).
According to Weeks, "I’ve received criticism from one lobbyist concerning the way I prepared this index. The specific criticism related to using votes taken in “committee of the whole” action rather than at the time of final action. The lobbyist said that if a person voted for (or against) a bill in final action, that is the only vote that should be used in an index like what I’ve created."
Weeks defends his choice by stating that legislators often change their vote when it is "on the record" and that not all committee of the whole votes are recorded. His premise is that legislators will vote differently if it becomes apparent that a bill is going to pass or fail come the final vote. He contends that legislators will vote for political survival rather than personal conviction.
Weeks also says that he was criticized for including the Community Defense Act. The Community Defense Act would have regulated the operation and location of sexually oriented businesses and established uniform regulations to prevent undesirable secondary effects of such businesses. It would have placed limitations and restrictions on the types of performances and behaviors that may take place within these businesses and the hours that the businesses could be open. This measure was not passed by the legislature. Weeks justifies this position by stating "These types of restrictions on conduct between consenting adults, as well as the centralized planning that the zoning restrictions implement, are contrary to both personal and economic freedom."
Whether one agrees with Weeks on that premise is one of personal belief and open to debate.
However, overall the premise of the Kansas Economic Freedom Index seems sound so I went looking to see how the people that currently represent me (Representative Lisa Benlon, 22nd District and Senator Tim Owens, 8th District) voted this last session. Rep. Benlon received a rating of 9%. A low rating is a poor rating. This rating is indicative of a legislator who votes to raise taxes on the citizenry as well as expand both the physical size and the reach (or power) of government over that citizenry.
Senator Tim Owens (R - District 8) fared little better. Considering he is a Republican and not a Democrat he should have voted differently than Benlon. However, his votes were surprisingly close to Benlon's. Owens received a rating of 20%. To be fair, not every issue was present in both the House and the Senate, so a direct one to one comparison is not available.
The highest rated representative was Melvin Neufeld (R - District 115) who received a rating of 100% but Mr. Neufeld was absent for two of the issues used to rate the representatives. The highest rated senator was Mary Pilcher-Cook (R - District 10) at 93%. According to the Index, Pilcher-Cooks' vote for the Community Defense Act was the only black mark on her record.
If you are wondering where I would have been rated had I been in the legislature this last session I would have a rating of 95%. I would have voted to pass the Community Defense Act. When it comes to economic freedom in Kansas would you rather have a representative who was rated at 9% or one that is rated at 95%? The choice is yours in November.