Editing Sam Brownback (section)

==Governor of Kansas (2011–2018)==
[[File:Flickr - The U.S. Army - Medallion presentation.jpg|thumb|Brownback and [[1st Infantry Division (United States)|1st Infantry Division]] Commanding General present a medallion to a child whose father died serving in [[Iraq]].]]

===Elections===
====2010 gubernatorial election====
{{Main|2010 Kansas gubernatorial election}}
In 2008, Brownback acknowledged he was considering [[2010 Kansas gubernatorial election|running for governor in 2010]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/sep/04/brownback_considering_gubernatorial_run_2010/|title=Brownback considering gubernatorial run in 2010|publisher=Lawrence Journal World and News|access-date=December 7, 2008|archive-date=December 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211053217/http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/sep/04/brownback_considering_gubernatorial_run_2010/|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2009, Brownback officially filed the paperwork to run for governor.<ref name=kc>{{cite web |url=http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node/16188 |title=Prime Buzz |publisher=Primebuzz.kcstar.com |access-date=August 23, 2010 |archive-date=August 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822072604/https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/?q=node/22169 |url-status=live }}</ref>

His principal Senate-career campaign donors, the [[Koch family|Koch brothers]] (and their [[Koch Industries]]), again backed Brownback's campaign.<ref name="koch_influence_2014_12_14_wichita_eagle" />

Polling agency [[Rasmussen Reports]] found that Brownback led his then-likely Democratic opponent, [[Tom Holland (politician)|Tom Holland]], by 31 points in May 2010.<ref name="rasmussenreports1"/><ref>[http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/kansas/election_2010_kansas_senate Election 2010: Kansas Senate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306132134/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/kansas/election_2010_kansas_senate |date=March 6, 2010 }}, Rasmussen Reports, March 3, 2010.</ref>

On June 1, 2010, Brownback named Kansas state senator [[Jeff Colyer]] as his running mate.<ref>[http://www.kansas.com/2010/06/02/1340122/brownback-ticket-gains-surgeon.html "Brownback ticket gains surgeon as lieutenant"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605031546/http://www.kansas.com/2010/06/02/1340122/brownback-ticket-gains-surgeon.html |date=June 5, 2010 }}, ''Wichita Eagle'', June 2, 2010.</ref>

On November 2, 2010, Brownback defeated Holland, by 260,594 votes.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kansas|work=[[The New York Times]]|year=2010|url=http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/kansas|access-date=October 19, 2014|archive-date=September 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160907161024/http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/kansas|url-status=live}}</ref> He succeeded Governor [[Mark Parkinson (Kansas politician)|Mark Parkinson]], who was sworn in after former governor [[Kathleen Sebelius]] resigned from her position and became U.S. Secretary of [[Health and Human Services]] in 2009.<ref>{{cite news|last=Goldstein|first=David|author2=Klepper, David|title=Sebelius sworn in to Cabinet, Parkinson becomes Kansas governor|publisher=The Kansas City Star|date=April 28, 2009 |url=http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/1168432.html|access-date=October 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430183737/http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/1168432.html |archive-date=April 30, 2009}}</ref>

====2014 gubernatorial election====
{{main|2014 Kansas gubernatorial election}}

In October 2013, Kansas state representative [[Paul Davis (Kansas politician)|Paul Davis]], the Democratic minority leader of the [[Kansas House of Representatives]], announced he would challenge Brownback in the [[2014 Kansas gubernatorial election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kansascity.com/2013/09/17/4487708/democrat-davis-enters-kan-governor.html|title=Democrat Paul Davis enters Kansas governor race|access-date=January 24, 2018|archive-date=February 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222142322/http://www.kansascity.com/2013/09/17/4487708/democrat-davis-enters-kan-governor.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2014, more than 100 current and former Kansas Republican officials (including former state party chairmen, Kansas Senate presidents, Kansas House speakers, and majority leaders) endorsed Democrat Davis over Republican Brownback,<ref name="davis_secures_2014_07_15_wichita_eagle" /><ref name="some_in_kansas_2017_06_06_wsj_com" /> citing concern over Brownback's deep cuts in education and other government services, as well as the tax cuts that had left the state with a major deficit.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Pianin|first1=Eric|title=Brownback Feeling Big Political Backlash to Tax Cuts in Kansas|url=http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2014/07/16/Brownback-Feeling-Big-Political-Backlash-Tax-Cuts-Kansas|work=The Fiscal Times|access-date=July 17, 2014|date=July 16, 2014|quote=In a startling rebuke to the governor, more than 100 Kansas Republican officials endorsed Davis on Tuesday, a rarity in statewide races and a wakeup call for Brownback, an arch-conservative on economic and social issues, and a former U.S. senator. The defectors said they are as concerned about cuts in education and other government services as well as the tax cuts that have left the state with a major hole in its budget.|archive-date=July 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718104639/http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2014/07/16/Brownback-Feeling-Big-Political-Backlash-Tax-Cuts-Kansas|url-status=live}}</ref>

Tim Keck, chief of staff of Brownback's running mate, Lt. Governor [[Jeff Colyer]], unearthed and publicized a 1998 police report showing that Davis, 26 and unmarried at the time, had been briefly detained during the raid of a strip club. Davis was found to have no involvement in the cause for the raid, and was quickly allowed to leave.<ref>[http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article2250432.html Strip-club smear campaign orchestrated by Sam Brownback official, says Paul Davis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316025123/http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article2250432.html |date=March 16, 2017 }}, ''[[Wichita Eagle]]'', Dion Lefler, September 20, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2017.</ref> Responding to criticism of Keck's involvement in the campaign, Brownback spokesman John Milburn commented that it was legal to use taxpayer-paid staff to campaign. Media law experts expressed amazement when they learned that the Montgomery County's sheriff released non-public investigative files from 1998 in response to a mere request. Brownback's campaign capitalized on the 16-year-old incident.<ref>[http://www.salon.com/2014/09/26/brownbacks_strip_club_obsession_gop_governor_basing_his_campaign_on_a_lap_dance/ Sam Brownback's strip-club obsession: GOP governor basing his campaign on a lap dance: Sam Brownback's right-wing agenda hobbled Kansas, so his campaign is now focused on a meaningless 16-year-old story] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316113115/http://www.salon.com/2014/09/26/brownbacks_strip_club_obsession_gop_governor_basing_his_campaign_on_a_lap_dance/ |date=March 16, 2017 }}, Simon Maloy, September 26, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2014/oct/04/closed-law-enforcement-records-become-public-sling/ In strip-club case, typically closed records were released, GOP tipped off] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728041607/http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2014/oct/04/closed-law-enforcement-records-become-public-sling/ |date=July 28, 2018 }}, ''[[Lawrence Journal-World]]'', October 4, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2017.</ref>

Brownback was reelected with a plurality, defeating Davis by 32,096 votes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2014/governor/ks/kansas_governor_brownback_vs_davis-4146.html |title=Election 2014 – Kansas Governor – Brownback vs. Davis |publisher=RealClearPolitics |access-date=April 9, 2015 |archive-date=March 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324010805/http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2014/governor/ks/kansas_governor_brownback_vs_davis-4146.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name= closerace/><ref>{{cite web|title=Kansas Secretary of State 2014 General Election Official Vote Totals|url=http://www.kssos.org/elections/14elec/2014%20General%20Election%20Official%20Results.pdf|access-date=March 13, 2017|archive-date=December 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230082200/http://kssos.org/elections/14elec/2014%20General%20Election%20Official%20Results.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Tenure===
Brownback took office in January 2011, in the early years of national recovery from the [[Great Recession]]. Also in 2011, Republicans resumed control of the Kansas House of Representatives with their largest majority in half a century. Most Republicans in the Kansas Legislature were members of the [[Tea Party movement]] who shared Brownback's conservative views.<ref name="tea_party_tenets_2011_12_21_washpost">Gowen, Annie, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-kansas-gov-sam-brownback-puts-tea-party-tenets-into-action-with-sharp-cuts/2011/11/02/gIQAkbnOAP_story.html" In Kansas, Gov. Sam Brownback puts tea party tenets into action with sharp cuts,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817170144/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-kansas-gov-sam-brownback-puts-tea-party-tenets-into-action-with-sharp-cuts/2011/11/02/gIQAkbnOAP_story.html |date=August 17, 2017 }} December 21, 2011 ''[[The Washington Post]]'' retrieved October 6, 2017</ref>

Two of Brownback's major stated goals were to reduce taxes and to increase spending on education.<ref name=NYTM>{{cite news|author1=Chris Suellentrop|title=The Kansas Experiment|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/magazine/the-kansas-experiment.html|access-date=August 6, 2015|work=The New York Times Magazine|date=August 6, 2015|quote=He is modest in demeanor, flat almost to the point of dullness.|archive-date=August 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805233327/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/magazine/the-kansas-experiment.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

By April 2012, Brownback had an approval rating of 34 percent according to a Survey USA Poll.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cjonline.com/news/2012-04-28/brownback-numbers-plunge-agenda-emerges |title=Brownback: Numbers plunge as agenda emerges |work=The Topeka Capital Journal |access-date=January 16, 2012 |archive-date=April 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430104750/http://cjonline.com/news/2012-04-28/brownback-numbers-plunge-agenda-emerges |url-status=live }}</ref> A Republican polling company found his approval rating to be 51 percent in May 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cjonline.com/news/state/2012-05-02/gop-pollster-points-brownbacks-popularity |title=GOP Pollster points to Brownback's popularity |work=The Topeka Capital Journal |access-date=January 16, 2012 |archive-date=May 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505145732/http://cjonline.com/news/state/2012-05-02/gop-pollster-points-brownbacks-popularity |url-status=live }}</ref> In November 2015, Brownback had an approval rating of 26 percent according to a Morning Consult poll, the lowest among all governors in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/prairie-politics/article45615459.html |title=Poll: Brownback most unpopular governor in the nation |work=The Wichita Eagle |access-date=March 23, 2016 |archive-date=March 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311175852/http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/prairie-politics/article45615459.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Three separate polls between November 2015 and September 2016 ranked Brownback as the nation's least-popular governor<ref name="most_unpopular_2015_11_24_kc_biz_journ">[http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/blog/morning_call/2015/11/sam-brownback-most-unpopular-usa-goveror.html "Most unpopular governor in America? Brownback wins in landslide,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123164755/https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/blog/morning_call/2015/11/sam-brownback-most-unpopular-usa-goveror.html |date=November 23, 2020 }} November 24, 2015, ''Kansas City Business Journal''</ref><ref name="least_popular_2015_05_12_wichita_eagle">[http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article77258832.html "Poll: Brownback remains least popular governor in the nation,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004040037/http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article77258832.html |date=October 4, 2017 }} May 12, 2016, ''[[Wichita Eagle]]''</ref><ref name="new_poll_2016_09_20_cjonline_com">[http://cjonline.com/news-state-government-local-state/2016-09-20/new-poll-ranks-gov-sam-brownback-nations-least-popular "New poll ranks Gov. Sam Brownback as nation's least popular governor,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316025140/http://cjonline.com/news-state-government-local-state/2016-09-20/new-poll-ranks-gov-sam-brownback-nations-least-popular |date=March 16, 2017 }} September 20, 2016, ''[[Topeka Capital-Journal]]''</ref>—a September 2016 poll showing an approval rating of 23%.<ref name="brownback_might_not_2017_03_the_atlantic">[https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/03/sam-brownback-might-not-be-governing-kansas-much-longer/519165/ Sam Brownback Might Not Be Governing Kansas Much Longer] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313130650/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/03/sam-brownback-might-not-be-governing-kansas-much-longer/519165/ |date=March 13, 2017 }}, ''[[The Atlantic]]'' (AP), Russell Berman, March 10, 2017. Retrieved March 13, 2017.</ref><ref name="CarpenterTCJ09202016">[http://cjonline.com/news-state-government-local-state/2016-09-20/new-poll-ranks-gov-sam-brownback-nations-least-popular New poll ranks Governor Sam Brownback as nation's least popular] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316025140/http://cjonline.com/news-state-government-local-state/2016-09-20/new-poll-ranks-gov-sam-brownback-nations-least-popular |date=March 16, 2017 }}, ''[[Capital Journal]]'', Tim Carpenter, September 20, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2017.</ref> In the state elections of 2016—seen largely as a referendum on Brownback's policies and administration—Brownback's supporters in the legislature suffered major defeats.<ref name="conservative_lawmakers_ousted_2016_08_03_wsj">[https://www.wsj.com/articles/conservative-lawmakers-ousted-in-kansas-election-1470226094 "Conservative Lawmakers Ousted in Kansas Primary Election: GOP races seen as referendum on Gov. Sam Brownback's tax-cut policy,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004084924/https://www.wsj.com/articles/conservative-lawmakers-ousted-in-kansas-election-1470226094 |date=October 4, 2017 }} August 3, 2016, ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]''</ref><ref name="ks_republicans_sour_2017_02_24_the_atlantic" /><ref name="kansas_voters_rebuke_2016_11_12_wichita_eagle">Flentje, Ed, Prof. of Public Administration ([[Wichita State University]]), former Kansas secretary of administration to Republican governor [[Mike Hayden]], [http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article114270433.html "Kansas voters rebuke Brownback, tax plan,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004035808/http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article114270433.html |date=October 4, 2017 }} November 12, 2016, ''[[Wichita Eagle]]''</ref> In 2017 after a protracted battle,<ref name="ks_republicans_sour_2017_02_24_the_atlantic" /> the new Kansas Legislature overrode Brownback's vetoes, voting to repeal his tax cuts and enact tax increases.<ref name="ks_lawmakers_override_2017_06_06_wichita_eagle">[http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article154684809.html "Kansas lawmakers override Brownback veto of tax increases."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407093406/https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article154684809.html |date=April 7, 2019 }} June 6, 2017, ''[[Wichita Eagle]]''</ref><ref name="senate_house_override_2017_06_06_cjonline_com">[http://cjonline.com/news/state-government/2017-06-06/senate-house-narrowly-override-gov-sam-brownback-s-veto-12-billion "Senate, House narrowly override Gov Sam Brownback's veto of $1.2 billion tax bill,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004035601/http://cjonline.com/news/state-government/2017-06-06/senate-house-narrowly-override-gov-sam-brownback-s-veto-12-billion |date=October 4, 2017 }} June 6, 2017, ''[[Topeka Capital-Journal]],'' (also at [http://eedition.cjonline.com/news/state-government/2017-06-06/senate-narrowly-overrides-gov-brownback-s-veto-12-billion-tax-bill CJ's E-edition]{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }})</ref><ref name="lawmakers_override_2017_06_06_kwch_tv">[http://www.kwch.com/content/news/Bill-raising-taxes-delivered-to-Kansas-governor-426826281.html "Lawmakers override governor veto on tax bill."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004035823/http://www.kwch.com/content/news/Bill-raising-taxes-delivered-to-Kansas-governor-426826281.html |date=October 4, 2017 }} June 6, 2017, [[KWCH-TV]] ''Eyewitness News''</ref><ref name="ks_econ_outlook_2017_06_11_cjonline_com">[http://cjonline.com/news/state-government/2017-06-08/kansas-economic-outlook-shifting-reversal-brownback-tax-policy "Kansas' economic outlook shifting with reversal of Brownback tax policy,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004034850/http://cjonline.com/news/state-government/2017-06-08/kansas-economic-outlook-shifting-reversal-brownback-tax-policy |date=October 4, 2017 }} June 11, 2017, ''[[Topeka Capital-Journal]]''</ref>

Brownback, who had a 66% disapproval rating after the repeal of his signature law,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://morningconsult.com/governor-approval-ratings-july-2017/|title=America's Most and Least Popular Governors — July 2017|last=Easley|first=Cameron|date=July 18, 2017|work=Morning Consult|access-date=March 22, 2019|language=en-US|archive-date=October 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018032653/https://morningconsult.com/governor-approval-ratings-july-2017/|url-status=live}}</ref> left office in 2018 as one of the least popular governors in the country.<ref name="auto"/>

''[[The Kansas City Star]]'' was named a finalist in the Public Service category for a [[2018 Pulitzer Prize]] due to its series entitled "Why so secret, Kansas?" The ''Star'' reported that Kansas's already-secretive state government had only grown worse under Brownback.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article209025559.html|title=The Star honored by Pulitzer Prizes as finalist in public service|work=kansascity|access-date=August 13, 2018|language=en|archive-date=June 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625142844/http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article209025559.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pulitzer.org/prize-winners-by-year/2018|title=2018 Pulitzer Prizes|website=Pulitzer|language=en|access-date=January 23, 2020|archive-date=January 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200120062921/https://www.pulitzer.org/prize-winners-by-year/2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Legislative agenda====
Brownback proposed fundamental tax reform to encourage investment and generate wealth while creating new jobs. Consistent with those objectives, he also proposed structural reforms to the state's largest budget items, school finance,<ref>{{cite web |last=Wistrom |first=Brent |url=http://www.kansas.com/2011/11/09/2095722/brownback-plan-could-change-how.html |title=Brownback plan could change how schools are funded &#124; Wichita Eagle |publisher=Kansas.com |date=November 9, 2011 |access-date=July 23, 2013 |archive-date=October 31, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031065924/http://www.kansas.com/2011/11/09/2095722/brownback-plan-could-change-how.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Medicaid]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2011/November/08/kansas-medicaid-managed-care-brownback-kancare.aspx |title=Kansas Announces Sweeping Medicaid Restructuring |publisher=Kaiser Health News |date=November 8, 2011 |access-date=July 23, 2013 |archive-date=March 26, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130326060645/http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2011/November/08/kansas-medicaid-managed-care-brownback-kancare.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> and Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS), which have unfunded liabilities of $8.3 billion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kansas.com/2011/11/04/2089413/83-billion-question.html |title=$8.3 billion question &#124; Wichita Eagle |publisher=Kansas.com |date=November 4, 2011 |access-date=July 23, 2013 |archive-date=October 31, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031070832/http://www.kansas.com/2011/11/04/2089413/83-billion-question.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Brownback sought to follow a "[[Red states and blue states|red state]] model", passing conservative social and economic policies.<ref name=NYT>{{cite news|last=Eligon|first=John|title=Brownback Leads Kansas in Sharp Right Turn|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/14/us/politics/brownback-leads-kansas-in-sharp-right-turn.html|access-date=February 15, 2014|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 13, 2014|archive-date=February 15, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140215025859/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/14/us/politics/brownback-leads-kansas-in-sharp-right-turn.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Taxes====
{{main|Kansas experiment}}
As governor, Brownback initiated what he called a "red-state experiment"—dramatic cuts in income tax rates intended to bring economic growth.<ref name=NPR>{{cite news|last1=Mclean|first1=Jim|title=Trump's Tax Plan Has Echoes Of The Kansas Tax Cut Experiment|url=https://www.npr.org/2017/09/30/554506190/trump-s-tax-plan-has-echoes-of-the-kansas-tax-cut-experiment|access-date=October 4, 2017|publisher=[[NPR]]|date=September 30, 2017|archive-date=October 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003233829/http://www.npr.org/2017/09/30/554506190/trump-s-tax-plan-has-echoes-of-the-kansas-tax-cut-experiment|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2012, Brownback signed into law one of the largest income tax cuts in Kansas' history<ref name="kansas.com"/>—the nation's largest state income tax cut (in percentage) since the 1990s.<ref name="kansas_tries_2014_04_17_bloomberg_bizweek">{{cite web|last=Coy|first=Peter|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-04-17/kansas-governor-brownbacks-lab-for-steep-tax-and-budget-cuts|title=Kansas Tries to Shrink Its Way to Prosperity|date=April 17, 2014|work=[[Bloomberg BusinessWeek]]|access-date=May 31, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421014754/http://www.businessweek.com:80/articles/2014-04-17/kansas-governor-brownbacks-lab-for-steep-tax-and-budget-cuts|archive-date=April 21, 2014|url-status=dead|url-access=limited}}</ref> Brownback described the tax cuts as a live experiment: {{cquote|[On] taxes, you need to get your overall rates down, and you need to get your social manipulation out of it, in my estimation, to create growth. We'll see how it works. We'll have a real live experiment.<ref name=ljworld.experiment>{{cite web |title=Brownback gets heat for 'real live experiment' comment on tax cuts |url=http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2012/jun/19/brownback-gets-heat-real-live-experiment-comment-t/ |publisher=Lawrence Journal World |access-date=October 28, 2014 |archive-date=November 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110182638/http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2012/jun/19/brownback-gets-heat-real-live-experiment-comment-t/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="this_is_whats_the_matter_2014_09_29_new_republic">{{cite web|last=Judis|first=John B.|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/119574/sam-brownbacks-conservative-utopia-kansas-has-become-hell|title=This Is What's the Matter With Kansas|work=The New Republic|date=September 30, 2014|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20141203090523/http://www.newrepublic.com/article/119574/sam-brownbacks-conservative-utopia-kansas-has-become-hell|archive-date=December 3, 2014|access-date=May 31, 2025|url-status=dead|url-access=limited}}</ref><ref name="kansas_tries_2014_04_17_bloomberg_bizweek" />}}

The legislation was crafted with help from his Budget Director (former [[Koch family|Koch brothers]] political consultant Steven Anderson);<ref name="koch_influence_2014_12_14_wichita_eagle" /><ref name="demos_highlight_2010_09_19_mclatchydc_com" /><ref name="budget_director_2013_09_06_ljworld_com" /><ref name="former_budget_dir_2013_09_07_ap_cjonline_com" /><ref name="this_is_whats_the_matter_2014_09_29_new_republic" /> the Koch-sponsored [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] (ALEC);<ref>Abouhalkah, Yael T, [http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/yael-t-abouhalkah/article649505.html "Davis attacks, Brownback suffers as new tax-cut problem slams Kansas,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006162552/http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/yael-t-abouhalkah/article649505.html |date=October 6, 2017 }} June 30, 2014 ''[[Kansas City Star]]'', retrieved October 6, 2017</ref> and [[Arthur Laffer]], a popular [[supply-side economics|supply-side]] economist and former economic adviser for President [[Ronald Reagan]].<ref name="tea_party_tenets_2011_12_21_washpost" /><ref name="crash_and_burn_2017_06_07_forbes">[https://www.forbes.com/sites/beltway/2017/06/07/the-great-kansas-tax-cut-experiment-crashes-and-burns/#227c1aab5508 "The Great Kansas Tax Cut Experiment Crashes And Burns,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006163042/https://www.forbes.com/sites/beltway/2017/06/07/the-great-kansas-tax-cut-experiment-crashes-and-burns/#227c1aab5508 |date=October 6, 2017 }} June 7, 2017, ''[[Forbes]]'' retrieved October 6, 2017</ref>

The law eliminated non-wage income taxes for the owners of 191,000 businesses, and cut individuals' income tax rates.<ref name=KAKE.signs/> The first phase of his cuts reduced the top Kansas income-tax rate from 6.45 percent down to 4.9 percent, and immediately eliminated income tax on business profits from [[partnerships]] and [[Limited liability company|limited liability corporations]] passed through to individuals.<ref name="kansas_tries_2014_04_17_bloomberg_bizweek" /> The [[income tax]] cuts would provide {{USD}}231 million in tax reductions in its first year, growing to {{USD}}934 million after six years.<ref name=KAKE.signs/> A forecast from the Legislature's research staff indicated that a budget shortfall will emerge by 2014 and will grow to nearly {{USD}}2.5 billion by July 2018.<ref name=KAKE.signs>{{cite web|title=Brownback Signs Tax Cuts Law In Statehouse Ceremony |url=http://www.kake.com/home/headlines/Brownback_To_Sign_Tax_Cuts_In_Statehouse_Ceremony_152569155.html|publisher=KAKE News |access-date=October 29, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029213649/http://www.kake.com/home/headlines/Brownback_To_Sign_Tax_Cuts_In_Statehouse_Ceremony_152569155.html|archive-date=October 29, 2014}}</ref> The cuts were based on model legislation published by the [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] (ALEC).<ref name="ljworld"/><ref name="Pilkington"/>

In a May 2014 ''[[The Wall Street Journal|Wall Street Journal]]'' op-ed entitled "A Midwest Renaissance Rooted in the Reagan Formula", Brownback compared his tax policies with those of [[Ronald Reagan]]. Brownback anticipated a "prosperous future" for Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri because they had enacted policies based on economic principles that Reagan laid out in 1964.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Brownback|first1=Sam|title=A Midwest Renaissance Rooted in the Reagan Formula|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=May 28, 2014|url=https://online.wsj.com/articles/sam-brownback-a-midwest-renaissance-rooted-in-the-reagan-formula-1401317548|access-date=October 28, 2014|archive-date=April 21, 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180421174159/https://www.wsj.com/articles/sam-brownback-a-midwest-renaissance-rooted-in-the-reagan-formula-1401317548|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="this_is_whats_the_matter_2014_09_29_new_republic" />

The act was criticized by law professor Martin B. Dickinson of Kansas University for shifting the tax burden from wealthy Kansans to low- and moderate-income workers,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2012/may/27/kansas-tax-act-most-regressive-nation/ |date=May 24, 2012 |title=Kansas tax act most regressive in nation |work=The Lawrence Journal-World |access-date=May 27, 2012 |archive-date=May 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120528010439/http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2012/may/27/kansas-tax-act-most-regressive-nation/ |url-status=live }}</ref> with the top income tax rate dropping by 25%.<ref name=MPeters>{{cite news|last1=Peters|first1=Mark|title=Sam Brownback's Tax-Cut Push Puts Kansas Out on Its Own|url=https://online.wsj.com/articles/sam-brownbacks-tax-cut-push-puts-kansas-out-on-its-own-1402448126|access-date=June 13, 2014|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=June 10, 2014|archive-date=July 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707052404/http://online.wsj.com/articles/sam-brownbacks-tax-cut-push-puts-kansas-out-on-its-own-1402448126|url-status=live}}</ref> Under Brownback, Kansas also lowered the sales tax and eliminated a tax on small businesses.<ref name=MPeters/> The tax cuts helped contribute to [[Moody's]] downgrading of the state's bond rating in 2014.<ref name=SKraske>{{cite news|last1=Kraske|first1=Steve|title=Gov. Sam Brownback suffers a political brownout|url=http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/article348571/Gov.-Sam-Brownback-suffers-a-political-brownout.html|access-date=June 13, 2014|work=The Kansas City Star|date=May 2, 2014|archive-date=July 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140704225708/http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/article348571/Gov.-Sam-Brownback-suffers-a-political-brownout.html|url-status=live}}</ref> They also contributed to the S&P Ratings' credit downgrade from AA+ to AA in August 2014 due to a budget that analysts described as structurally unbalanced.<ref>{{cite news|title=S&P downgrades Kansas in another blow to Brownback tax cuts|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-kansas-ratings-idUSL2N0QC1MO20140806|work=[[Reuters]]|date=August 6, 2014|access-date=August 7, 2014|archive-date=January 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106034251/http://www.reuters.com/article/usa-kansas-ratings-idUSL2N0QC1MO20140806|url-status=live}}</ref> As of June 2014, the state had fallen far short of projected tax collections, receiving $369 million instead of the planned-for $651 million.<ref name="Josh Barro">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/29/upshot/kansas-tax-cut-leaves-brownback-with-less-money.html |title=Yes, if You Cut Taxes, You Get Less Tax Revenue |author=Josh Barro |date=June 27, 2014 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=September 2, 2014 |archive-date=September 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140919130936/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/29/upshot/kansas-tax-cut-leaves-brownback-with-less-money.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The tax cuts and their effect on the economy of Kansas received considerable criticism in the media. Critics of the tax cuts included [[Michael Hiltzik]] of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', the editorial board of ''[[The Washington Post]]'', ''[[The New Republic]]'', and Bloomberg ''[[Businessweek]]''.<ref name="kansas_tries_2014_04_17_bloomberg_bizweek" /> ''[[The New York Times]]'' described Brownback's policies as "too far to the right".<ref name="Josh Barro"/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Eligonsept|first1=John|title=Conservative Experiment Faces Revolt in Reliably Red Kansas|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/15/us/conservative-experiment-faces-revolt-in-reliably-red-kansas.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=October 28, 2014|date=September 14, 2014|archive-date=October 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008113202/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/15/us/conservative-experiment-faces-revolt-in-reliably-red-kansas.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Hiltzik|first1=Michael|title=How Tea Party tax cuts are turning Kansas into a smoking ruin|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-mh-kansas-a-smoking-ruin-20140709-column.html|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=October 27, 2014|date=July 9, 2014|archive-date=November 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106005423/http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-mh-kansas-a-smoking-ruin-20140709-column.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Grover Norquist]] of [[Americans for Tax Reform]] defended the tax cuts as a model for the nation.<ref>{{cite web|title=Norquist defends tax cuts despite Brownback woes in Kansas|url=https://thehill.com/policy/finance/218449-norquist-defends-tax-cuts-despite-brownback-woes/|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=September 21, 2014|access-date=October 29, 2014|archive-date=October 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028173937/http://thehill.com/policy/finance/218449-norquist-defends-tax-cuts-despite-brownback-woes|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2017, a bi-partisan coalition presented a bill that would repeal most of Brownback's tax overhaul to make up for the budget shortfall.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Berman |first1=Russell |title=How Sam Brownback's Kansas Tax-Cut Experiment Went Wrong |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/02/the-republican-blowback-against-sam-brownback-kansas/517641/ |website=The Atlantic |language=en |date=24 February 2017}}</ref> The Senate passed SB 30 (38–0, with 2 not voting) on February 2, 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2018/b2017_18/measures/vote_view/je_20170202151108_929405/|title=Bills and Resolutions &#124; Kansas State Legislature|website=www.kslegislature.org|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=April 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406033516/http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2018/b2017_18/measures/vote_view/je_20170202151108_929405/|url-status=live}}</ref> The House passed SB 30 as amended (123–2) on February 22, 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2018/b2017_18/measures/vote_view/je_20170222103940_182851/|title=Bills and Resolutions &#124; Kansas State Legislature|website=www.kslegislature.org|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724201823/http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2018/b2017_18/measures/vote_view/je_20170222103940_182851/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Conference Committee Report was adopted by both the House (69–52) and Senate (26–14) on June 5, 2017. On June 6, 2017, the bill was sent to Brownback for signature, but he vetoed the bill. Later in the day both the House and Senate voted to override the veto.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2018/b2017_18/measures/sb30/|title=SB 30 &#124; Bills and Resolutions &#124; Kansas State Legislature|website=www.kslegislature.org|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724201824/http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2018/b2017_18/measures/sb30/|url-status=live}}</ref> Senate Bill 30 repealed most of the tax cuts which had taken effect in January 2013.

Brownback's tax overhaul was described in a June 2017 article in ''[[The Atlantic]]'' as the United States' "most aggressive experiment in conservative economic policy".<ref name="theatlantic_tax_experiment_dead_2017">{{cite news |work=The Atlantic |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/06/kansass-conservative-tax-experiment-is-dead/529551/ |title=The Death of Kansas's Conservative Experiment |date=June 7, 2017 |access-date=June 7, 2017 |first=Russell |last=Berman |archive-date=June 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170612210830/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/06/kansass-conservative-tax-experiment-is-dead/529551/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The drastic tax cuts had "threatened the viability of schools and infrastructure" in Kansas.<ref name="theatlantic_tax_experiment_dead_2017"/>

{{Cquote|The Brownback experiment didn't work. We saw that loud and clear.<ref name="theatlantic_tax_experiment_dead_2017"/><br />{{emdash}}Heidi Holliday, executive director of the Kansas Center for Economic Growth 2017}}

====Education====
In April 2014, Brownback signed a controversial school finance bill that eliminated mandatory due process hearings, which were previously required to fire experienced teachers. According to the ''[[Kansas City Star]]'': {{cquote|The bill also allows school districts to hire unlicensed teachers for science and math classes. And it creates a tax break for corporations that donate to private school scholarship funds.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lowry|first=Bryan|title=Brownback signs school finance bill|url=http://www.kansascity.com/2014/04/21/4973115/brownback-to-sign-school-finance.html|publisher=Kansas City Star|access-date=April 22, 2014|archive-date=April 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140423221919/http://www.kansascity.com/2014/04/21/4973115/brownback-to-sign-school-finance.html|url-status=live}}</ref>}} The resulting cuts in funding caused districts to shut down the school year early.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/kansas-school-districts-close-early-after-tax-cut-experiment |title=Kansas school districts to close early after tax cut 'experiment' |last1=Lee |first1=Trymaine |date=April 4, 2015 |publisher=[[MSNBC]]|access-date=April 5, 2015 |archive-date=April 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405064606/http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/kansas-school-districts-close-early-after-tax-cut-experiment |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Economy====
According to the [[Bureau of Economic Analysis]], during the period from 2008 to 2018 (Brownback was governor from 2011 to 2018), Kansas averaged an annual GDP growth rate of 0.9% -- exactly half the national average.<ref name="kc_economy_2019_11_12_kcstar">[https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/article223391695.html "After lagging since recession- is KC's economy heating up,"] ''[[Kansas City Star]],'' retrieved August 28, 2023</ref> During that same period — when national employment increased and wages rose — job growth in Wichita (Kansas' largest city, and hometown of Brownback's principal funders, the [[Koch family]]) dropped 3.2%, and the city's average annual wages stagnated.<ref name="two_cities_latimes">Brown, Corie: [https://enewspaper.latimes.com/infinity/article_share.aspx?guid=3144277f-38ec-4127-a9bb-5fbb1ac85f59 "A tale of 2 cities in the Midwest,"] July 1, 2020, ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''; part of a 5-part series, [https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-07-01/two-midwest-cities-two-local-billionaires-koch-buffett-which-one-can-boost-prosperity "How billionaires Koch and Buffett shape Wichita and Omaha,"] retrieved August 28, 2023</ref>

In 2015, the job growth rate in Kansas was 0.8 percent, among the lowest rate in America with only "10,900 total nonfarm jobs" added that year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bls.gov/web/laus/statewide_otm_oty_change.htm |title=Change in total nonfarm employment by state, over-the-month and over-the-year, seasonally adjusted |publisher=Bls.gov |access-date=February 26, 2017 |archive-date=February 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227233121/https://www.bls.gov/web/laus/statewide_otm_oty_change.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="kansascity_2015">{{citation |url=http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/yael-t-abouhalkah/article47176275.html |author=Yael T. Abouhalkah |title=Kansas has low but misleading unemployment rate under Gov. Sam Brownback |date=November 30, 2015 |access-date=February 26, 2017 |archive-date=February 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227150112/http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/yael-t-abouhalkah/article47176275.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Kansas had a $350 million budget shortfall in February 2017.<ref name="WP_2017_revolt">{{citation |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/02/22/republicans-real-live-experiment-with-kansass-economy-survives-a-revolt-from-their-own-party/ |title=Republicans' 'real-live experiment' with Kansas's economy survives a revolt from their own party |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |author=Max Ehrenfreund |date=February 22, 2017 |access-date=February 25, 2017 |archive-date=February 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224133856/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/02/22/republicans-real-live-experiment-with-kansass-economy-survives-a-revolt-from-their-own-party/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In February 2017, S&P downgraded Kansas' credit rating to AA−.<ref name="NYT_S&P_ratings_2017">{{citation |title=Kansas Lawmakers Uphold Governor's Veto of Tax Increases |author=Alan Blinder |url=https://nyti.ms/2lwNatr |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 22, 2017 |access-date=February 25, 2017 |archive-date=February 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220153324/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/22/us/kansas-governor-sam-brownback-tax-veto.html?smid=pl-share |url-status=live }}</ref>

Despite Kansas' major role in the aerospace,<ref name="brookings">Muro, Mark and Bruce Katz: [https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/0921_clusters_muro_katz.pdf "The New 'Cluster Moment': How Regional Innovation Clusters Can Foster the Next Economy,"] September 2010, Metropolitan Policy Program, [[Brookings Institution]], retrieved August 28, 2023</ref><ref name="clusters_wichita_hbs_edu">[[Michael Porter|Porter, Michael]] ([[Harvard University]]):  [https://www.hbs.edu/ris/Publication%20Files/COI_Wichita_e7a9940a-4caf-42e0-bc2d-1dc23e153a57.pdf ''Clusters of Innovation Initiative: Wichita,''] circa 2012 (undated), [[Council on Competitiveness]], retrieved August 28, 2023</ref><ref name="aerospace_engineers_bls_gov">[http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes172011.htm#st "Geographic profile for Aerospace Engineers,"] in "17-2011 Aerospace Engineers," "Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022," '' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics,'' [[Bureau of Labor Statistics]], retrieved August 28, 2023</ref> telecommunications<ref name="top10telecom_2017_mbaskool">[https://www.mbaskool.com/business-lists/top-brands/17225-top-10-telecom-companies-in-usa-2017.html "Top 10 Telecom Companies in USA 2017,"], MBASkool.com, retrieved August 28, 2023; (includes Kansas-headquartered Sprint, and largely-Kansas-based CenturyLink)</ref><ref name="fred_kc_stlouisfed_org">[https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/SMU20928125051700001SA "All Employees: Information: Telecommunications in Kansas City, KS,"] July 2023, FRED Economic Data, [[Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis]], retrieved August 28, 2023</ref> and GPS technology<ref name="gps_report_grandviewresearch">[https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/gps-market "Report Overview,"] Report ID: GVR-2-68038-473-4, ''Global Positioning Systems Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Deployment, By Application (Aviation, Marine, Surveying, Location-Based Services, Road), And Segment Forecasts, 2018 - 2025,'' Grand View Research, retrieved August 28, 2023 (which cites Kansas-based Garmin, Ltd. among the industry leaders)</ref> industries,<ref name="overview_2018_kansascommerce">{{cite web |url = http://www.kansascommerce.com/index.aspx?nid=483#A |title = Kansas Department of Commerce—Official Website—Economic Overview Charts |publisher = Kansascommerce.com |access-date = April 4, 2018 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171215091244/http://www.kansascommerce.com/index.aspx?NID=483#A |archive-date = December 15, 2017}}</ref> a 2019 report from the KC Tech Council reported that Kansas growth in tech jobs ranked next-to-last in the nation — losing 220 tech jobs between 2017 and 2018 (Brownback's final year as governor), according to the [[Computing Technology Industry Association]] — while over 40 other states grew tech employment.<ref name="kc_economy_2019_11_12_kcstar" /> Despite slowing the rates of decline following the [[Great Recession]], 59% of telecommunications jobs in the Kansas City telecommunications industry<ref name="fred_kc_stlouisfed_org" /> — and 600 jobs in Wichita's (aerospace-dominated<ref name="brookings" /><ref name="clusters_wichita_hbs_edu" />) manufacturing industry<ref name="fred_wichita_mfg_stlouisfed_org">[https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/SMU20928125051700001SA "All Employees: Manufacturing in Wichita, KS (MSA),"] (WICH620MFG), July 2023, FRED Economic Data, [[Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis]], retrieved August 28, 2023</ref> — were lost during the Brownback administration.

By the last year of the Brownback administration, 2018, Kansas had the second-highest [[Chapter 12|farm-bankruptcy]] rate increase in the nation (after New York) — a decade-high rate for the state.<ref name="farm_bankruptcies_2018_fb_org">[https://www.fb.org/market-intel/farm-bankruptcies-in-2018-the-truth-is-out-there "Farm Bankruptcies in 2018 – The Truth is Out There,"] February 12, 2019, [[Farm Bureau Federation]], retrieved August 29, 2023</ref>

====Health care====
In August 2011, over the objections of Republican Kansas Insurance Commissioner [[Sandy Praeger]],<ref name="this_is_whats_the_matter_2014_09_29_new_republic" /> Brownback announced he was declining a $31.5 million grant from the [[United States Department of Health and Human Services|U.S. Department of Health and Human Services]] to set up an insurance exchange as part of the federal health care reform law.<ref>{{cite web|title=Brownback: Send back $31.5M federal grant|work=The Capital-Journal|date=August 9, 2011|url=http://cjonline.com/news/2011-08-09/brownback-send-back-315m-federal-grant|access-date=October 24, 2014|archive-date=October 31, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031214757/http://cjonline.com/news/2011-08-09/brownback-send-back-315m-federal-grant|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2011, Brownback had directed the state's insurance commissioner to slow the implementation timeline for the exchange development. Upon announcing the refusal of the budgeted grant money for the state, his office stated: {{cquote|There is much uncertainty surrounding the ability of the federal government to meet its already budgeted future spending obligations. Every state should be preparing for fewer federal resources, not more. To deal with that reality Kansas needs to maintain maximum flexibility. That requires freeing Kansas from the strings attached to the Early Innovator Grant.<ref name="Politico.Com"/>}} The move was unanimously supported by the delegates of the state party central committee at its August 2011 meeting, but a ''[[New York Times]]'' editorial criticized Brownback for turning down the grant which could have helped ease the state's own budget: {{cquote|Instead of letting Kansas design its own model program for an online computer exchange to help people choose among health insurance providers, Mr. Brownback's rebuff increases the likelihood that the state must design one at its own expense or see federal officials create an exchange, as required under the new law.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/15/opinion/gov-brownbacks-selective-budget-worries.html |date=August 14, 2011 |title=Gov. Brownback's Selective Budget Worries |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=February 12, 2017 |archive-date=June 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624105333/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/15/opinion/gov-brownbacks-selective-budget-worries.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="this_is_whats_the_matter_2014_09_29_new_republic" />}}

Brownback also signed into law the Health Care Freedom Act, based on model legislation published by the [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] (ALEC).<ref name=ljworld>{{cite news|url=http://www2.ljworld.com/weblogs/capitol-report/2013/dec/17/brownback-says-perception-of-alec-influe/|title=Brownback says perception of ALEC influence is 'overblown'|newspaper=[[Lawrence Journal-World]]|date=December 17, 2013|first=Scott|last=Rothschild|access-date=October 21, 2014|archive-date=December 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217083515/http://www2.ljworld.com/weblogs/capitol-report/2013/dec/17/brownback-says-perception-of-alec-influe/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Pilkington">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/20/obamacare-alec-republican-legislators|title=Obamacare faces new threat at state level from corporate interest group Alec|date=November 20, 2013|work=[[The Guardian]]|first=Ed|last=Pilkington|access-date=December 16, 2016|archive-date=February 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223045752/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/20/obamacare-alec-republican-legislators|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Abortion====
[[File:Sam Brownback by Gage Skidmore.jpg|thumb|Sam Brownback speaking at the 2015 [[Conservative Political Action Conference]] (CPAC) in [[National Harbor, Maryland]] on February 27, 2015]]
Brownback signed three [[anti-abortion]] bills in 2011. In April 2011, he signed a bill banning abortion after 21 weeks, and a bill requiring that a doctor get a parent's notarized signature before providing an abortion to a minor.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-abortion-kansas/kansas-governor-sam-brownback-signs-bills-restricting-abortion-idUSTRE73B7XL20110412|title=Kansas Governor Sam Brownback signs bills restricting abortion|date=April 12, 2011|access-date=January 23, 2018|newspaper=[[Reuters]]|last1=Murphy|first1=Kevin}}</ref> In May 2011, Brownback approved a bill prohibiting insurance companies from offering abortion coverage as part of general health plans unless the procedure is necessary to save a woman's life. The law also prohibits any health-insurance exchange in Kansas established under the federal Affordable Care Act from offering coverage for abortions other than to save a woman's life.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www2.ljworld.com/news/2011/may/26/brownback-criticized-signing-abortion-bill-opponen/|title=Brownback criticized for signing abortion bill that opponents say will hurt women who get impregnated after being raped|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724201825/https://www2.ljworld.com/news/2011/may/26/brownback-criticized-signing-abortion-bill-opponen/|url-status=live}}</ref>

A Kansas budget passed with Brownback's approval in 2011 blocked [[Planned Parenthood]] of Kansas and Mid-Missouri from receiving family planning funds from the state. The funding amounted to about $330,000 a year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kansascity.com/2011/08/18/3085231/planned-parenthood-may-push-to.html|title=Planned Parenthood may push to get funds from Kansas|access-date=January 23, 2018}}</ref> A judge has blocked the budget provision, ordered Kansas to begin funding the organization again, and agreed with Planned Parenthood that it was being unfairly targeted.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kansascity.com/2011/08/18/3085231/planned-parenthood-may-push-to.html|title=Judge blocks de-funding of Planned Parenthood in Kansas|access-date=January 23, 2018}}</ref> In response, the state filed an appeal seeking to overturn the judge's decision.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jurist.org/paperchase/2011/08/kansas-appeals-order-to-block-law-defunding-planned-parenthood.php|title=JURIST - Kansas appeals order to block law defunding Planned Parenthood|website=jurist.org|access-date=January 23, 2018|archive-date=October 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006162553/http://www.jurist.org/paperchase/2011/08/kansas-appeals-order-to-block-law-defunding-planned-parenthood.php|url-status=live}}</ref> Brownback has defended anti-abortion laws in Kansas, including the Planned Parenthood defunding. "You can't know for sure what all comes out of that afterwards, but it was the will of the Legislature and the people of the state of Kansas", Brownback said.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2011/aug/18/judge-refuses-stay-pending-appeal-order-preventing/?kansas_legislature |title=Judge refuses to stay, pending appeal, order preventing Kansas from diverting funds from Planned Parenthood |website=LJWorld.com |access-date=January 23, 2018 |archive-date=July 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728041530/http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2011/aug/18/judge-refuses-stay-pending-appeal-order-preventing/?kansas_legislature |url-status=live }}</ref>

In May 2012, Brownback signed the Health Care Rights of Conscience Act, which "will allow pharmacists to refuse to provide drugs they believe might cause an abortion".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.kansascity.com/2012/05/15/3611028/kansas-gov-brownback-signs-act.html#storylink=cpy |access-date=May 27, 2012 |title=Kansas Gov. Brownback signs act allowing pharmacists to refuse to dispense abortion drugs |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523184728/http://www.kansascity.com/2012/05/15/3611028/kansas-gov-brownback-signs-act.html#storylink=cpy |archive-date=May 23, 2012 }}</ref>

In April 2013, Brownback signed a bill that blocked tax breaks for abortion providers, banned sex-selection abortions and declared that life begins at fertilization. The law notes that any rights conferred by it are subject to limits set forth in applicable U.S. Supreme Court decisions.<ref name="kansascity.com"/>

On April 7, 2015, Brownback signed The Unborn Child Protection From Dismemberment Abortion Act, which bans the most common technique used for second-trimester abortions. Kansas became the first state to ban the procedure.<ref>[http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2015_16/measures/documents/sb95_01_0000.pdf Senate bill no: 95] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416115750/http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2015_16/measures/documents/sb95_01_0000.pdf |date=April 16, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/08/us/kansas-bans-common-second-trimester-abortion-procedure.html|title=Kansas Limits Abortion Method, Opening a New Line of Attack|first1=Erik|last1=Eckholm|first2=Frances|last2=Robles|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=April 7, 2015|access-date=January 23, 2018|archive-date=February 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216041007/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/08/us/kansas-bans-common-second-trimester-abortion-procedure.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Prayer rally====
Brownback attended Texas governor [[Rick Perry]]'s prayer event in August 2011. Aside from Gov. Perry himself, Brownback was the only U.S. governor who attended.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://midwestdemocracyproject.org/blogs/entries/brownback-attends-rick-perry-prayer-event-texas/|title=Brownback attends Rick Perry prayer event in Texas &#124; Midwest Democracy Project|date=November 20, 2011|access-date=June 19, 2018|archive-date=November 20, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111120180517/http://midwestdemocracyproject.org/blogs/entries/brownback-attends-rick-perry-prayer-event-texas/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/60801.html|title=Brownback joins Perry on stage|website=[[Politico]]|access-date=January 23, 2018|archive-date=June 26, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130626101031/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/60801.html|url-status=live}}</ref> About 22,000 people attended the rally, and Brownback and Perry were the only elected officials to speak.<ref>[http://articles.kwch.com/2011-08-06/governor-brownback_29860202 Prayer event draws crowd, controversy & Governor Brownback] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127154623/http://articles.kwch.com/2011-08-06/governor-brownback_29860202 |date=January 27, 2012 }}</ref> Brownback's participation in the rally resulted in some controversy, and editorials published in ''[[The Winfield Daily Courier]]'' and ''[[The Kansas City Star]]'' expressed disappointment.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.winfieldcourier.com/articles/2011/08/04/opinion/a_little_extra/doc4e3b4fb2b3a6d929370100.txt |access-date=August 11, 2011 |title=Stay home, Sam |archive-date=August 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822072555/https://www.ctnewsonline.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.kansascity.com/2011/08/07/3056883/commentary-sam-brownbacks-prayer.html |date=August 7, 2011 |access-date=August 12, 2011 |title=Commentary: Sam Brownback's prayer day vacation }}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>