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	<title>Kansas City Chiefs Archives - Show-Me Institute</title>
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	<title>Kansas City Chiefs Archives - Show-Me Institute</title>
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		<title>By the Numbers: What Missouri Might Give the Royals</title>
		<link>https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/by-the-numbers-what-missouri-might-give-the-royals/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 21:40:40 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Corporate Welfare]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://showmeinstitute.org/?p=603157</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Listen to this article Missouri House Speaker Jonathan Patterson suggested to Fox4 news in Kansas City that Missouri’s contribution to a Royals stadium could reach around $700 to $900 million. [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/by-the-numbers-what-missouri-might-give-the-royals/">By the Numbers: What Missouri Might Give the Royals</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
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<p>Missouri House Speaker Jonathan Patterson suggested to Fox4 news in Kansas City that Missouri’s contribution to a Royals stadium could reach <a href="https://fox4kc.com/sports/royals/missouri-could-issue-up-to-900m-in-bonds-for-new-royals-stadium-lawmaker-says/">around $700 to $900 million</a>. Patterson said:</p>
<blockquote><p>“I think if you look at the numbers, and there was an audit in 2023, the teams generate almost $60 million, and so if you take half of that, then it would be $30 million, then times 30 years, it could be that number. I think those are good estimates that you’re working with.”</p></blockquote>
<p>That number is way off.</p>
<p>In 2025, during a special legislative session, the House and Senate passed, and the governor signed, Senate Bill (SB) 3, the <a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/pdf-bill/E1/tat/SB3.pdf">Show-Me Sports Investment Act</a>. While the bill does not specify a bonding formula, it does set limits: that state spending “shall be no greater than . . . baseline year state tax revenues,” that appropriations may “not exceed thirty years” and that “the net bond proceeds . . . shall not exceed fifty percent of the total costs of the project.” In setting those boundaries, the bill also limits revenue to that “derived directly from the facility.”</p>
<p>Patterson’s estimate of stadium revenue is from a 2023 <a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/571a5bfaf699bbe29b52c8b3/t/6671c9f457a27c48a9fe08e9/1718733300855/2023+Audit+w+Economic+Impact.pdf">Jackson County Sports Complex audit</a>, which reports $55 million in tax revenue generated by both teams (the Chiefs and the Royals). But that figure includes all tax revenue collected by state, county, and local jurisdictions. Of that $55 million, only $34,929,233 went to the state—which is what SB 3 covers.</p>
<p>But SB 3 further limits potential support for the Royals to revenue generated only at Kauffman Stadium. Let’s assume half that number, $17 million, is from the Royals’ Kauffman Stadium,* which aligns with <a href="https://thisistopeka.com/2026/04/how-missouri-taxpayers-will-help-fund-a-kansas-city-royals-ballpark-at-crown-center/">estimates provided by Governor Mike Kehoe</a>. If that entire amount were bonded at 6% interest over 30 years, Missouri would be able to give the Royals $234 million.</p>
<p>Another news outlet assumed a <a href="https://thisistopeka.com/2026/04/how-missouri-taxpayers-will-help-fund-a-kansas-city-royals-ballpark-at-crown-center/">4.5% interest rate</a> over 30 years and concluded the state would be able to give the Royals about $274 million.</p>
<p>Either way, it’s a far cry from $900 million.</p>
<p>There is a lot more to learn about this deal, but SB 3 provides real constraints on what can be counted and borrowed against. Based on the legislation, the 2023 Jackson County audit, and different interest rates, Missouri could contribute roughly $234 to $274 million toward a downtown ballpark. That’s a lot, but only a small portion of what many believe to be a nearly $2 billion project.</p>
<p>*Note: Although the Royals play more games at their stadium than the Chiefs, Arrowhead Stadium has a larger capacity and also hosts concerts for musicians such as Taylor Swift.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/by-the-numbers-what-missouri-might-give-the-royals/">By the Numbers: What Missouri Might Give the Royals</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
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		<title>Next Up on Chiefs and Royals Stadium Saga</title>
		<link>https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/next-up-on-chiefs-and-royals-stadium-saga/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 01:04:14 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Corporate Welfare]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://showmeinstitute.org/?p=603066</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Listen to this article Now that the champagne corks have popped at Crown Center over the plans to build a ballpark there, it’s worth considering what comes next for Missouri [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/next-up-on-chiefs-and-royals-stadium-saga/">Next Up on Chiefs and Royals Stadium Saga</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
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<p>Now that the champagne corks have popped at Crown Center over the <a href="https://www.kcur.org/sports/2026-04-22/kansas-city-royals-stadium-location-crown-center">plans to build a ballpark there</a>, it’s worth considering what comes next for Missouri and Kansas.</p>
<p>On the Missouri side, Kansas City <a href="https://clerk.kcmo.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7978487&amp;GUID=681B1310-8C5C-473C-B8B3-3F54F3636E89">ordinance 260339</a>, passed on April 9, instructs the city manager to move ahead on all sorts of things regarding the deal. Section 7 provides for up to $250,000 for, among other things, “professional services, including but not limited to economic advisory services, financial advisory services, bond advisory services, legal services . . .”</p>
<p>That means the city is going to seek professional opinions on the deal’s feasibility. Who the city hires will tell us a lot about how committed it is to protecting taxpayers. As one person told me, “if they hire an architectural firm, we’ll know they’re not serious.”</p>
<p>The city has a history of relying on conflicted organizations to conduct studies, <a href="https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/readers-opinion/guest-commentary/article314401297.html">as it recently did with the World Cup</a>. In 2016, the city paid CDFA—a trade group formed “to promote the common interest of Development Finance Agencies with respect to public policies and programs”—<a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/transparency/untitled-2016-11-16-000000/">to measure the effectiveness of Kansas City’s subsidy culture</a>. The laughable conclusion was “each incentive dollar invested generated $3.83 in additional tax revenue.”</p>
<p>In Kansas, taxpayers are still waiting on two things. First, they don’t know how big the STAR bond district will be. Previous reporting was a 293-square-mile district encompassing Wyandotte County and the western half of Johnson County. But it could be much, much bigger to make the deal pencil out. Once the district is set, the secretary of commerce is empowered to make it larger whenever he would like (<a href="https://www.kansascommerce.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Project-Monitor-2.0-STAR-Bond-Agreement-Execution-Version.pdf">see page 1</a>) to capture more tax revenue.</p>
<p>Second, taxpayers are also waiting on Kansas to determine the base year, which is the year in which the state sales tax revenue is fixed, diverting every additional dollar within the district to the Chiefs’ developments. You might expect the base year to be 2026, when the legislature endorsed the measure, or whenever the project breaks ground. Or perhaps 2025, when the deal was agreed to.</p>
<p>But the deal actually allows the secretary of commerce to set the base year whenever he wants (<a href="https://www.kansascommerce.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Project-Monitor-2.0-STAR-Bond-Agreement-Execution-Version.pdf">see page 22</a>). It could be set at 2015, meaning every state sales tax dollar generated over the amount collected in 2015 would go to the Chiefs.</p>
<p>In a deal this expensive for Kansas, the size of the district and the base year are likely to reignite howls of protest from all quarters.</p>
<p>As elected leaders in Topeka and Kansas City throw themselves self-congratulatory parties, the rest of us are faced with the bar tab. And the hangover.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/next-up-on-chiefs-and-royals-stadium-saga/">Next Up on Chiefs and Royals Stadium Saga</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
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		<title>Kansas Sports Authority Lets Chiefs Play as Home Team, Referee and Rulebook</title>
		<link>https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/kansas-sports-authority-lets-chiefs-play-as-home-team-referee-and-rulebook/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 2026 21:44:34 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Corporate Welfare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Subsidies]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://showmeinstitute.org/?p=602685</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Listen to this article The package of subsidies offered to the Kansas City Chiefs by the Missouri Legislature during last year’s special session was bad. But that bill was not [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/kansas-sports-authority-lets-chiefs-play-as-home-team-referee-and-rulebook/">Kansas Sports Authority Lets Chiefs Play as Home Team, Referee and Rulebook</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
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<p>The package of subsidies offered to the Kansas City Chiefs by the Missouri Legislature during last year’s special session <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/testimony-the-show-me-sports-investment-act-and-senate-bill-3-on-property-tax-adjustments/">was bad</a>.</p>
<p>But that bill was not nearly as bad for taxpayers as what is being offered to the team by our neighbors in Kansas. <a href="https://legiscan.com/KS/text/HB2793/2025">House Bill 2793</a>—the Kansas Sports Authority Act—offers the team, well, it seems, everything.</p>
<p>The bill sets up a Sports Authority to administer the site of a new stadium. That in and of itself is not unique. The Truman Sports Complex, in which the Chiefs and Royals currently play, is administered by the <a href="https://www.jcsca.org/">Jackson County Sports Complex Authority</a>. But the power and portfolio of what is being considered in Kansas is breathtaking. Consider the following:</p>
<ul>
<li>The authority board includes “a representative of the professional sports team” using the facility as a voting member. This means the Chiefs would have a vote on such things as negotiating its lease, financing, and operations. Having the team oversee itself is a crazy conflict of interest and uncommon in other similar authorities if not absolutely unique, for obvious reasons.</li>
<li>But the Chiefs aren’t merely one of several votes on the authority. The bill allows additional sports facilities to be placed under the authority if the governing body requests it and the Chiefs also recommend it—giving them an unusual role in expanding the authority’s jurisdiction. This provision may exist because team ownership wants to make sure nobody else can siphon away public funds.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The authority’s powers “shall not be exercised in a way that conflicts with the terms and conditions set forth in the STAR bond agreement dated December 22, 2025.” This means the authority is locked into the already-negotiated agreement with the team, limiting its ability to adjust terms later.</li>
</ul>
<p>The three items hand the Chiefs an incredible amount of power. The bill gives the Chiefs a voting seat on the governing authority, binds that authority to the STAR bond agreement the Chiefs negotiated, and gives the team an effective veto over whether additional sports facilities are added to the authority.</p>
<p>But wait, there’s more!</p>
<ul>
<li>Contractors must use competition only “to the extent reasonable and practicable in the authority’s sole discretion.” This is a significant weakening of competitive bidding requirements, increasing the risk of opaque contracting and favoritism.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The authority is exempt from multiple statutes including the Kansas Civil Service Act and the Kansas Administrative Procedure Act, removing the standard hiring, rulemaking and administrative oversight safeguards that normally apply to public entities spending public funds.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The authority must submit annual reports and testify if legislative committees request it. But this so-called oversight is largely after-the-fact reporting, with no routine legislative approval required for major contracts, bonds or development agreements.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>You read that correctly: the authority may issue special-obligation bonds for stadium construction and infrastructure. Although not legally state debt, political pressure often arises if revenues underperform, creating potential taxpayer exposure. If you doubt this, read up on the fiasco over <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/municipal-policy/untitled-2018-09-17-000000/">Platte County and the Zona Rosa shopping center</a>.</li>
<li>In addition to capturing the increase in sales taxes in the approximately 300-square mile STAR bond district, the authority will be exempt from paying state and local sales and use taxes on purchases of materials, machinery, and services used to construct or equip the facility.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>“Insofar as the provisions of this act are inconsistent with the provisions of any other law, whether general, specific or local, the provisions of this act shall be controlling.” Yeah, that’s in the bill. The authority’s statute is designed to override conflicting state or local laws, potentially weakening local regulatory control.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>And what happens when the stadium is completed and paid for? Nothing. The statute does not include a sunset provision or dissolution trigger. That means the authority could become a permanent quasi-government entity in perpetuity.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>But at least the authority’s power is limited to the stadium, right? Nope. The authority’s purpose includes not just sports facilities and infrastructure used for it, but any “civic, community, athletic, educational, cultural and commercial activities.” “Commercial activities” seems like something that could cover, well, anything.</li>
</ul>
<p>Kansas State Senator Mike Thompson claims that this measure will set up an unaccountable  “<a href="https://myemail.constantcontact.com/The-Kansas-Sports-Authority-Bill--Penalties-Galore-.html?soid=1133663408167&amp;aid=eboUFCxgz6g">shadow government</a>.” That seems like an over-the-top claim, but the provisions of this bill suggest he is at least directionally correct.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/kansas-sports-authority-lets-chiefs-play-as-home-team-referee-and-rulebook/">Kansas Sports Authority Lets Chiefs Play as Home Team, Referee and Rulebook</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
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		<title>Extraordinary Economic Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence—Sports Edition</title>
		<link>https://showmeinstitute.org/article/subsidies/extraordinary-economic-claims-require-extraordinary-evidence-sports-edition/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 26 Jan 2026 20:48:29 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Corporate Welfare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Subsidies]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://showmeinstitute.org/?p=601811</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Three pieces published on Friday tried and failed to find evidence for big claims about the economic impact of sporting events. In a column for The Kansas City Star, I [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/subsidies/extraordinary-economic-claims-require-extraordinary-evidence-sports-edition/">Extraordinary Economic Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence—Sports Edition</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
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										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Three pieces published on Friday tried and failed to find evidence for big claims about the economic impact of sporting events.</p>
<p>In a column for <em>The Kansas City Star</em>, I challenged the <a href="https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/readers-opinion/guest-commentary/article314401297.html">rosy claims</a> of the alleged economic windfall from hosting the World Cup. Every group I contacted indicated they got the number from someone else. When I finally found the organization that generated the number, it did not respond.</p>
<p>That seems to be the standard procedure.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2026/01/23/2026-fifa-world-cup-visitor-visit-kc-projections.html"><em>Kansas City Business Journal</em></a> tried to dig into how Kansas City’s tourism bureau concluded that 650,000 visitors would descend on the region. Thomas Friestad wrote: “Visit KC declined to share its specific methodology for estimating visitors, saying it is proprietary information.”</p>
<p>Blaise Mesa, writing for <em>The Beacon</em>, examined the economic impact claims being made by proponents of <a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2026/01/23/experts-say-kansas-data-is-flawed-on-chiefs-stadium-benefits/">a new Chiefs stadium in Kansas</a>. He ran into the same wall, writing, “The Beacon contacted the firm that calculated economic development data on the stadium, but they didn’t reply to requests for comment.”</p>
<p>It should be a red flag for even the most diehard supporters of these deals that those who promote the claims refuse to answer basic questions.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/subsidies/extraordinary-economic-claims-require-extraordinary-evidence-sports-edition/">Extraordinary Economic Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence—Sports Edition</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
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		<title>Missouri’s Sunshine Law Needs More than Good Intentions</title>
		<link>https://showmeinstitute.org/article/state-and-local-government/missouris-sunshine-law-needs-more-than-good-intentions/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 20 Jan 2026 22:28:30 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[State and Local Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Transparency]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://showmeinstitute.org/?p=601721</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Missouri’s Sunshine Law was a product of the Watergate era, passed in 1973 with a clear message: the public’s business should be done in public. But in the decades since, [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/state-and-local-government/missouris-sunshine-law-needs-more-than-good-intentions/">Missouri’s Sunshine Law Needs More than Good Intentions</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
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										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Missouri’s Sunshine Law was a product of the Watergate era, passed in 1973 with a clear message: the public’s business should be done in public. But in the decades since, while the language has been modestly updated, the spirit of the law has too often been ignored—and in some cases, actively undermined.</p>
<p>Across Missouri, public officials routinely delay, dodge, or deny access to information that taxpayers are entitled to. They charge outrageous fees, cite vague exemptions, lose track of requests, or hide behind non-disclosure agreements, treating transparency as a nuisance rather than a requirement.</p>
<p>Years ago my colleagues wrote about the <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/transparency/untitled-2019-02-26-000000/">prohibitively high fees</a> municipalities sought just to turn over the most basic financial data—the city checkbook. That’s just the beginning.</p>
<p>Consider Kansas City’s downtown ballpark negotiations. Mayor Quinton Lucas indicated he was willing to share details, <a href="https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/readers-opinion/guest-commentary/article287589415.html">so I took him up on it</a>. I filed an open records request through the city website. Having received no response for almost two weeks (state law requires action be taken within three days), I followed up only to be told that the request had been wrongly assigned and had been sitting idle. A city employee resolved the issue, adding, “Let’s keep our fingers crossed” that it works this time. Two weeks later I was emailed: “All responsive records pertaining to this request are closed records pursuant to Sec 610.021(12) because such records are related to negotiations for a contract prior to its execution.”</p>
<p><em>The Kansas City Star</em> reports that the city is again in negotiations with the Royals to subsidize a downtown park. Elected leaders are apparently eager to make sure the deal is not only kept secret, <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/news/content/ar-AA1TK6Up">but also that it avoids any public vote</a>.</p>
<p>In August 2025, I asked the Kansas City Streetcar Authority for records about the construction costs of its new Main Street extension—reported to be the <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/budget-and-spending/it-cost-what-kc-streetcar-announces-opening-of-new-extension/">most expensive streetcar line in the country</a> at over $100 million per mile. My request was redirected to city staff who told me the matter was under review. I followed up in late October and was told the city would contact me by the end of that week. It’s been almost three months with no update.</p>
<p>In one recent case, a state employee told me the data I needed would take just 20 minutes to find—but only after a formal Sunshine Request was submitted and processed. This person did not know how long that would take. I got the information five days later, and I was grateful. But it underscored a troubling reality: a process meant to promote transparency is now often used to delay it.</p>
<p>Then there are the NDAs. The director of Missouri’s Department of Economic Development <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/transparency/why-is-the-department-of-economic-development-keeping-secrets/">signed one with both the Royals and Chiefs</a>—and indicated in a legislative hearing that she may not be able to answer questions. PortKC even <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/state-and-local-government/responding-to-portkcs-defenders/">requires companies sign an NDA</a> in its application. While sealed bids may serve public interest in competitive contracting, secrecy around subsidies undermines the very idea of public oversight.</p>
<p>Missouri’s Sunshine Law could be a valuable tool, but it needs to be refreshed and its exceptions narrowed. Doing so would not merely combat waste, fraud, and abuse, but would also encourage better public policy.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/state-and-local-government/missouris-sunshine-law-needs-more-than-good-intentions/">Missouri’s Sunshine Law Needs More than Good Intentions</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
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		<title>Is the Chiefs Move to Kansas Really a Done Deal?</title>
		<link>https://showmeinstitute.org/article/budget-and-spending/is-the-chiefs-move-to-kansas-really-a-done-deal/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 08 Jan 2026 02:45:59 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Budget and Spending]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Corporate Welfare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Special Taxing Districts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[State and Local Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Subsidies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tax Credits]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://showme.beanstalkweb.com/article/uncategorized/is-the-chiefs-move-to-kansas-really-a-done-deal/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Patrick Tuohey joined Pete Mundo on Mundo in the Morning on KCMO Talk Radio to question whether the Kansas City Chiefs’ move to Kansas is really a done deal. He [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/budget-and-spending/is-the-chiefs-move-to-kansas-really-a-done-deal/">Is the Chiefs Move to Kansas Really a Done Deal?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><iframe loading="lazy" style="border-radius: 12px;" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/7bbROK6ORTZdQ1FczB3URB?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-testid="embed-iframe"></iframe><br />
Patrick Tuohey joined Pete Mundo on <span style="color: #ff0000;"><a style="color: #ff0000;" href="https://www.kcmotalkradio.com/shows/mundo-in-the-morning-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Mundo in the Morning</em></a></span> on KCMO Talk Radio to question whether the Kansas City Chiefs’ move to Kansas is really a done deal. He explains why unresolved financial details, uncertain STAR bond math, and the lack of taxpayer backing raise doubts about whether the proposed stadium plan can move forward as advertised.</p>
<p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0Q1odFTa0wlGZw0jeUZFw6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Listen on Spotify</a></p>
<p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/show-me-institute-podcast/id1141088545" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Listen on Apple Podcasts </a></p>
<p><a href="https://soundcloud.com/show-me-institute" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Listen on SoundCloud</a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/budget-and-spending/is-the-chiefs-move-to-kansas-really-a-done-deal/">Is the Chiefs Move to Kansas Really a Done Deal?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
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		<title>Kansas’s Coming STAR Bond Tax</title>
		<link>https://showmeinstitute.org/article/taxes/kansass-coming-star-bond-tax/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 08 Jan 2026 01:17:38 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Taxes]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://showme.beanstalkweb.com/article/uncategorized/kansass-coming-star-bond-tax/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Proponents of the effort to use STAR bonds to build a billion-dollar domed stadium for the Chiefs are adamant that no new taxes will be levied to pay for the [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/taxes/kansass-coming-star-bond-tax/">Kansas’s Coming STAR Bond Tax</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
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										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Proponents of the effort to use STAR bonds to build a billion-dollar domed stadium for the Chiefs are adamant that no new taxes will be levied to pay for the project.</p>
<p>In Kansas, Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) bonds are a state-level form of tax-increment financing, similar to taxing districts created by municipalities in Missouri. The state issues bonds to pay for development costs and then repays that debt using only the additional state sales taxes generated inside the project district. The claim is that the project’s shoppers—not general taxpayers—will cover the cost.</p>
<p>The sheer size of the STAR bond being considered for the Chiefs is staggering, and Kansas leaders will likely need to be creative to satisfy the risk being taken by potential bond buyers. I don’t envy them in that task.</p>
<p>The tax question is another issue. The STAR bond will determine the base year of sales tax revenue. You might assume that the base year would be 2025 or 2026, but it could conceivably be 2020 or 2015. But whatever the year, once that dollar figure is determined, everything collected anywhere in the approximately 300-mile district in excess of that dollar figure will be dedicated to pay for the Chiefs’ projects for 30 years. Mind you, the cost of delivering public services will continue to rise due to inflation or, say, due to huge infrastructure projects developed to support the stadium. But the sales tax revenue to pay for those needs is frozen at the base year level.</p>
<p>What then happens?</p>
<p>In Missouri <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/blog/budget-and-spending/the-tif-tax/">we got the answer in 2016</a>. Due to Kansas City’s profligate subsidy culture, property tax revenue, which libraries depend on, was flat. And so the Mid-Continent Library system sought an increase in property taxes. In doing so, the library observed:</p>
<blockquote><p>[T]ax incentives and abatements by local government have impacted the revenue that would generally result from the growth of the Library’s tax base. The Library’s budget has been essentially flat for the past 8 years.</p></blockquote>
<p>Advocates of subsidies often argue that they are free, because they are paid for with funds that wouldn’t exist anyway. This is exactly the argument Kansas Governor Laura Kelly makes ad nauseam. But as we learned in Missouri, that just isn’t true.</p>
<p>Kansans might not see tax increases going to the Chiefs’ project, but they are very likely to see tax increases because of the Chiefs’ project.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/taxes/kansass-coming-star-bond-tax/">Kansas’s Coming STAR Bond Tax</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
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		<title>How Kansas STAR Bonds Work for Stadium Projects</title>
		<link>https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/how-kansas-star-bonds-work-for-stadium-projects/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 03 Jan 2026 20:31:18 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Budget and Spending]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Corporate Welfare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Special Taxing Districts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[State and Local Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Subsidies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tax Credits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Taxes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Welfare]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://showme.beanstalkweb.com/article/uncategorized/how-kansas-star-bonds-work-for-stadium-projects/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Guest hosting Mundo in the Morning on KCMO Talk Radio, Patrick Tuohey speaks with Thomas Friestad of the Kansas City Business Journal about how Kansas STAR bonds work and what [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/how-kansas-star-bonds-work-for-stadium-projects/">How Kansas STAR Bonds Work for Stadium Projects</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
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										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><iframe data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/55gN84jSBSBZLo3OTXTTvT?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe><br />
Guest hosting <a href="https://www.kcmotalkradio.com/shows/mundo-in-the-morning-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Mundo in the Morning</em></a> on <a href="https://www.kcmotalkradio.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KCMO Talk Radio</a>, Patrick Tuohey speaks with <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/bio/41450/Thomas+Friestad" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Thomas Friestad</a> of the Kansas City Business Journal about how Kansas STAR bonds work and what they mean for a proposed Kansas City Chiefs stadium.</p>
<p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0Q1odFTa0wlGZw0jeUZFw6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Listen on Spotify</a></p>
<p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/show-me-institute-podcast/id1141088545" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Listen on Apple Podcasts </a></p>
<p><a href="https://soundcloud.com/show-me-institute" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Listen on SoundCloud</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/how-kansas-star-bonds-work-for-stadium-projects/">How Kansas STAR Bonds Work for Stadium Projects</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
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		<title>Listen: True Cost of Chiefs Stadium Subsidies with Neil deMause</title>
		<link>https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/listen-true-cost-of-chiefs-stadium-subsidies-with-neil-demause/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 02 Jan 2026 20:28:03 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Corporate Welfare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Special Taxing Districts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[State and Local Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Subsidies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tax Credits]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://showme.beanstalkweb.com/article/uncategorized/listen-true-cost-of-chiefs-stadium-subsidies-with-neil-demause/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>&#160; Guest hosting Mundo in the Morning on KCMO Talk Radio, Patrick Tuohey speaks with Neil deMause, editor of FieldofSchemes.com and coauthor of Field of Schemes: How the Great Stadium [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/listen-true-cost-of-chiefs-stadium-subsidies-with-neil-demause/">Listen: True Cost of Chiefs Stadium Subsidies with Neil deMause</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
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										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><iframe data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/2U02RQB0kgdCkccw9etbJl?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe><br />
&nbsp;</p>
<p>Guest hosting <span style="color: #ff0000;"><a style="color: #ff0000;" href="https://www.kcmotalkradio.com/"><em>Mundo in the Morning</em></a></span> on KCMO Talk Radio, Patrick Tuohey speaks with Neil deMause, editor of <span style="color: #ff0000;"><a style="color: #ff0000;" href="https://www.fieldofschemes.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FieldofSchemes.com</a></span> and coauthor of <span style="color: #ff0000;"><a style="color: #ff0000;" href="https://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/bison-books/9780803260160/field-of-schemes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Field of Schemes: How the Great Stadium Swindle Turns Public Money Into Private Profit</em></a></span>. DeMause draws on decades of research examining billions in public subsidies for pro sports facilities, explaining why stadium deals rarely deliver economic benefits and how proposed subsidies for a Kansas City Chiefs stadium fit a familiar national pattern.</p>
<p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0Q1odFTa0wlGZw0jeUZFw6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Listen on Spotify</a></p>
<p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/show-me-institute-podcast/id1141088545" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Listen on Apple Podcasts </a></p>
<p><a href="https://soundcloud.com/show-me-institute" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Listen on SoundCloud</a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/listen-true-cost-of-chiefs-stadium-subsidies-with-neil-demause/">Listen: True Cost of Chiefs Stadium Subsidies with Neil deMause</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
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		<title>Does the Math Work on Kansas STAR Bonds for the Chiefs Stadium?</title>
		<link>https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/does-the-math-work-on-kansas-star-bonds-for-the-chiefs-stadium/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 2025 20:48:31 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Corporate Welfare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Special Taxing Districts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[State and Local Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Subsidies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tax Credits]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://showme.beanstalkweb.com/article/uncategorized/does-the-math-work-on-kansas-star-bonds-for-the-chiefs-stadium/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>﻿ Guest hosting Mundo in the Morning on KCMO Talk Radio 95.7 FM and 710 AM on December 30, 2025, Patrick Tuohey of the Show-Me Institute breaks down the math [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/does-the-math-work-on-kansas-star-bonds-for-the-chiefs-stadium/">Does the Math Work on Kansas STAR Bonds for the Chiefs Stadium?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><iframe loading="lazy" style="border-radius: 12px;" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/2mPskVlhtZIpBFco62n6VK?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-testid="embed-iframe"><span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start">﻿</span></iframe><br />
Guest hosting <span style="color: #ff0000;"><a style="color: #ff0000;" href="http://www.kcmotalkradio.com/shows/mundo-in…the-morning-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Mundo in the Morning</em> </a></span>on KCMO Talk Radio 95.7 FM and 710 AM on December 30, 2025, Patrick Tuohey of the Show-Me Institute breaks down the math behind Kansas STAR bonds proposed for a Kansas City Chiefs stadium, explaining why the revenue projections may not add up and why taxpayers could be more exposed than advertised.</p>
<p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0Q1odFTa0wlGZw0jeUZFw6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Listen on Spotify</a></p>
<p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/show-me-institute-podcast/id1141088545" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Listen on Apple Podcasts </a></p>
<p><a href="https://soundcloud.com/show-me-institute" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Listen on SoundCloud</a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/does-the-math-work-on-kansas-star-bonds-for-the-chiefs-stadium/">Does the Math Work on Kansas STAR Bonds for the Chiefs Stadium?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
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		<title>What Should St. Louis County Do about Its Budget Shortfall?</title>
		<link>https://showmeinstitute.org/article/budget-and-spending/what-should-st-louis-county-do-about-its-budget-shortfall/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Dec 2025 03:05:55 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Budget and Spending]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[State and Local Government]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://showme.beanstalkweb.com/article/uncategorized/what-should-st-louis-county-do-about-its-budget-shortfall/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>The two largest counties in Missouri are both having difficulties. Over in Jackson County, the assessment system is still a mess, the county executive was just recalled by the voters, [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/budget-and-spending/what-should-st-louis-county-do-about-its-budget-shortfall/">What Should St. Louis County Do about Its Budget Shortfall?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
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										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The two largest counties in Missouri are both having difficulties. Over in Jackson County, the <a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/property-tax/judge-rules-in-favor-of-state-tax-commission-in-jackson-county-in-property-assessment-lawsuit">assessment system is still a mess</a>, the <a href="https://www.kcur.org/politics-elections-and-government/2025-09-30/jackson-county-unseats-executive-frank-white-jr-in-historic-election-what-happens-now">county executive was just recalled</a> by the voters, and the <a href="https://www.kctv5.com/2025/06/10/missouris-incentives-chiefs-royals-remain-state-near-finish-line-special-legislative-session/">Chiefs and Royals are being coy</a> about their future plans, which may involve leaving the county (or state).</p>
<p>In St. Louis County, parts of the county are <a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/article_b47876ea-1126-4d2f-919e-b9d87248cfe9.html">still recovering from the tornado,</a> the county executive <a href="https://www.stlmag.com/news/sam-page-criminal-charges-bailey/">is under indictment</a> (everyone is innocent until proven guilty), and county government’s 2026 budget forecast says there is <a href="https://fox2now.com/news/missouri/stl-county-faces-80m-budget-deficit/">an $80 million budget shortfall</a>. The last part is the focus of this post.</p>
<p>Every government budget can be cut, and in every government budget there is enough waste and fat to be trimmed to make a difference. That said, cutting government spending is hard (I wish it weren’t). County governments in Missouri are not bloated bureaucracies wasting money hand over foot. They tend to operate fairly efficiently, at least by government standards. So, while making cuts should be the highest priority for the budget shortfall, I doubt that there is $80 million in waste and fraud to be trimmed. Some tough choices are going to have to be made. So, beyond cutting all the waste that it can, what should St. Louis County do?</p>
<p>First, if you are in a hole, stop digging. St. Louis County <a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/government-politics/article_99b58d79-efae-4532-8326-977ff867ead0.html">continues to inexplicably grant tax abatements and other subsidies</a> that never live up to their promises. If these subsidies worked—and by “worked” I mean generated long-term revenues that outweighted the short-term costs—then St. Louis County wouldn’t be in this predicament in the first place. St. Louis County needs to stop giving away taxpayer money as part of a delusion that government planning grows the economy. And yes, this includes getting rid of the senior property tax freeze among other subsidies.</p>
<p>Privatization and outsourcing some services are always an important option for local governments. St. Louis County’s options here are limited, in that the county doesn’t operate any public utilities and <a href="https://stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-departments/public-health/environmental-services/trash-districts/hauler-contact-information/">it already provides</a> many <a href="https://fox2now.com/news/missouri/golfers-could-be-returning-to-quail-creek-in-south-st-louis-county/">services via outsourcing</a>. (This is, of course, all a good thing.) The biggest mistake county government has made in recent years is the <a href="https://apamo.org/county-contract/">debacle with the animal shelter</a>. The county should <a href="https://www.stlpr.org/economy-business/2024-08-22/st-louis-county-takes-back-control-of-animal-shelter">never have taken the animal shelter back in-house.</a> St. Louis County officials should <a href="https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/business-journal/sam-page-st-louis-county-animal-shelter-upgrades-using-rams-settlement-money/63-ed676801-8365-48aa-a517-8e1ed46d4820">admit their mistake</a> and once again outsource management of the animal shelter.</p>
<p>One of the reasons St. Louis County is in this situation is that it has <a href="https://www.stltoday.com/opinion/column/article_44fde062-f333-4021-9018-c8c8040c0f8e.html">gone over a decade without a qualified county auditor</a> catching mistakes and making suggestions for fiscal improvements. Hopefully, the recently hired county auditor can change that.</p>
<p>Now let’s talk about the revenue side. Nobody likes tax increases, but sometimes they are necessary. If the county were to consider raising taxes, what taxes should it either institute or increase?</p>
<p>St. Louis County voters have <a href="https://spectrumlocalnews.com/mo/st-louis/news/2022/04/06/election-results--use-tax-voted-down-in-st--louis-county-and-most-cities">rejected a use tax</a> several times, most recently in April, 2022. A use tax (which is a sales tax on online purchases) is probably the <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/blog/taxes/use-taxes-on-the-ballot-in-missouri-this-november/">best tax option</a> for the county from a revenue perspective. Two other options could be imposing a small county gas tax to help fund roads or a modest property tax increase. Both of these would be politically complicated.</p>
<p>Beyond all of this, cuts will have to be made. Those may be cuts to services people like, such as the police department or highway projects. But elected officials are there to make hard choices.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/budget-and-spending/what-should-st-louis-county-do-about-its-budget-shortfall/">What Should St. Louis County Do about Its Budget Shortfall?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
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		<title>Why Is the Department of Economic Development Keeping Secrets?</title>
		<link>https://showmeinstitute.org/article/transparency/why-is-the-department-of-economic-development-keeping-secrets/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 21 Jun 2025 00:30:37 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[State and Local Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Transparency]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://showmeinstitute.local/why-is-the-department-of-economic-development-keeping-secrets/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>At a Missouri House hearing on the stadium bill, Michelle Hattaway, Director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development, opened her testimony with a startling admission: “I am currently in [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/transparency/why-is-the-department-of-economic-development-keeping-secrets/">Why Is the Department of Economic Development Keeping Secrets?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>At a Missouri House hearing on the stadium bill, Michelle Hattaway, Director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development, opened her testimony with a startling admission: “I am currently in negotiations with the Chiefs and the Royals. I am under a non-disclosure agreement with both teams, so I will do my best to answer your questions.”</p>
<p>Startling to me, anyway. None of the legislators on the committee seemed bothered.</p>
<p>Is there any public benefit to this secrecy?</p>
<p>There can be when vendors are bidding competitively for a state contract—say, road construction. Protecting proprietary financial or technical details in that context may encourage better bids and serve the public interest.</p>
<p>But stadium subsidies are different—there’s no obvious reason why secrecy is necessary or helpful. When public officials negotiate deals to hand out taxpayer money, the public deserves transparency. Teams may want discretion. State representatives may want to negotiate without tipping off competing states. But neither, in my opinion, is a good enough reason to give it to them.</p>
<p>Yet secrecy has become the norm. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas <a href="https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/readers-opinion/guest-commentary/article287589415.html">won’t release the city’s proposal</a> for a downtown stadium to the Royals—even though <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/blog/subsidies/details-of-the-negotiations-between-the-royals-and-clay-county/">Clay County released its proposal</a>. The city also kept its 2017 <a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/article179805781.html">Amazon HQ2 bid under wraps</a>, while many <a href="https://goodjobsfirst.org/20-amazon-hq2-finalist-cities-17-have-now-released-least-partial-information-their-bids/">other cities disclosed theirs</a>.</p>
<p>Judging by the lawmakers’ lack of reaction, non-disclosure agreements are now standard operating procedure. They shouldn’t be. Even if elected officials are fine being left in the dark, the public shouldn’t be.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/transparency/why-is-the-department-of-economic-development-keeping-secrets/">Why Is the Department of Economic Development Keeping Secrets?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
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		<title>Testimony of Patrick Tuohey Before the Missouri House Economic Development Committee June 10, 2025</title>
		<link>https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/testimony-of-patrick-tuohey-before-the-missouri-house-economic-development-committee-june-10-2025/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 11 Jun 2025 20:43:07 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Budget and Spending]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business Climate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Corporate Welfare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Municipal Policy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Special Taxing Districts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[State and Local Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Subsidies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tax Credits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Transparency]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Welfare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Workforce]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://showmeinstitute.local/testimony-of-patrick-tuohey-before-the-missouri-house-economic-development-committee-june-10-2025/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>On June 10, 2025, Patrick Tuohey, senior fellow at the Show-Me Institute, testified before the Missouri House Economic Development Committee during a special session focused on proposed stadium subsidies for [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/testimony-of-patrick-tuohey-before-the-missouri-house-economic-development-committee-june-10-2025/">Testimony of Patrick Tuohey Before the Missouri House Economic Development Committee June 10, 2025</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Testimony of Patrick Tuohey Before the Missouri House Economic Development Committee June 10, 2025" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GUAFABJUccM?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p><span class="yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" dir="auto">On June 10, 2025, Patrick Tuohey, senior fellow at the Show-Me Institute, testified before the Missouri House Economic Development Committee during a special session focused on proposed stadium subsidies for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals. In his testimony, Tuohey argued that the proposed funding package is based on a false sense of urgency, fueled by non-competitive offers from Kansas and a misleading June 30 deadline. He questioned the economic value of the proposed subsidies, highlighted concerns about taxpayer risk, and warned against allowing professional sports teams to play local governments against each other. </span></p>
<p><span class="yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" dir="auto">Read his submitted testimony here: </span><span class="yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" dir="auto"><a class="yt-core-attributed-string__link yt-core-attributed-string__link--call-to-action-color" tabindex="0" href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbEpOc19wUUNod3NjMGJzUzVJWFFlWjkzUkhYUXxBQ3Jtc0trbGZaNHh5S3dZSXpTNEV2UFUxVXYwSzBMRzRoZk1zQWxaVXJyVEtKTHoycDA1VHVzcnNuUGhrTVl3ejhqNUNtV1dkUFdvbzdrUTdwOHk1ckR4Yk1FcGtIWEgxNWF0N0tSc0RkeU5KTkZSdWRQd0Q4bw&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F4kXtdII&amp;v=GUAFABJUccM" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://bit.ly/4kXtdII</a></span></p>
<p><span class="yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" dir="auto">See the recording of the full hearing here: </span><span class="yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" dir="auto"><a class="yt-core-attributed-string__link yt-core-attributed-string__link--call-to-action-color" tabindex="0" href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbWgwTkFQMGpkLWtEbVo5Q0F1RUJSR3g0MUh3d3xBQ3Jtc0tucUNmcC1zNkc1R2k4ZmhEalJ5eWdoLUxlbFVUZWNReHh5TndMVXpDZXJRVzEtRUYxSi13ZGZ4OXotNkRCaDBOTkRxVTUwSUFNZFhIR0U1WUNOVUFhZHZ6NGxiZTBiRnVVWHhMZF9wcjk0dzcxWXJyRQ&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fhouse.mo.gov%2FMediaCenter.aspx&amp;v=GUAFABJUccM" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://house.mo.gov/MediaCenter.aspx</a></span></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/testimony-of-patrick-tuohey-before-the-missouri-house-economic-development-committee-june-10-2025/">Testimony of Patrick Tuohey Before the Missouri House Economic Development Committee June 10, 2025</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
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		<title>The Miseducation of Kansas City Councilman Wes Rogers</title>
		<link>https://showmeinstitute.org/article/municipal-policy/the-miseducation-of-kansas-city-councilman-wes-rogers/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Jun 2025 23:37:25 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Municipal Policy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[State and Local Government]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://showmeinstitute.local/the-miseducation-of-kansas-city-councilman-wes-rogers/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>At the June 3, 2025, hearing before the Missouri Senate Fiscal Oversight Committee about Senate Bill (SB) 3, The Show-Me Sports Investment Act, all the usual suspects took a moment [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/municipal-policy/the-miseducation-of-kansas-city-councilman-wes-rogers/">The Miseducation of Kansas City Councilman Wes Rogers</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>At the June 3, 2025, hearing before the Missouri Senate Fiscal Oversight Committee about Senate Bill (SB) 3, <a href="https://senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=E1&amp;BillID=18267440">The Show-Me Sports Investment Act</a>, all the usual suspects took a moment to dust off their talking points about why taxpayers should subsidize the construction or renovation of stadia for the wealthy Kansas City Chiefs and Royals.</p>
<p>There wasn’t anything new in the testimony. It included romantic nostalgia for bygone players and the pride we have in our teams, claims about all the economic impacts that these subsidies will drive, and, of course, fears that the teams will leave if we don’t give them what they want.</p>
<p>Toward the end of the supporters’ testimony, Wes Rogers, a Kansas City councilmember and former state legislator, rose to speak in favor. His remarks included the following:</p>
<blockquote><p>I make my living selling and leasing commercial dishwashers to restaurants. Already, no matter where the Royals and Chiefs go, Kansas is kicking our butt. I install more dishwashers in the state of Kansas than I do in the state of Missouri, period. And there&#8217;s a whole bunch of reasons for that I&#8217;m happy to talk about later. But I promise you this, if we put this stadium or the Chiefs stadium in Kansas, my guys are going to be to Kansas more than they are to Missouri and that&#8217;s going to continue. And so we can say this doesn&#8217;t have an economic impact. I know it does because I&#8217;m paying 20 guys to go to Kansas instead of Missouri to work and that number is going to increase.</p></blockquote>
<p>This is odd testimony in favor of subsidies as a source of economic development because the Chiefs and Royals already have stadia in Missouri. Yet (despite this?) he argues “Kansas is kicking our butt,” and he is seeing more business on the Kansas side. Redirecting taxpayer dollars toward new or refurbished facilities won’t change that.</p>
<p>I suspect Rogers knows that the real reasons for Kansas outperforming Missouri are the “whole bunch of reasons” he alludes to. For example, the high tax rate and low level of services Kansas City provides—in large part because of taxpayer-funded subsidies, such as those for sports teams, being such a huge drain on city coffers.</p>
<p>Earlier in his testimony, Rogers offered, “I&#8217;m actually reading economic studies about baseball, which I&#8217;ve never done before.” This is good news, but if the statement above is a reflection of his grasp of the material so far, he needs to do more reading—and rereading.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/municipal-policy/the-miseducation-of-kansas-city-councilman-wes-rogers/">The Miseducation of Kansas City Councilman Wes Rogers</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
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		<title>Missouri&#8217;s Special Session and Giveaways to Billionaires with Patrick Tuohey</title>
		<link>https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/missouris-special-session-and-giveaways-to-billionaires-with-patrick-tuohey/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 30 May 2025 01:43:43 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Budget and Spending]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business Climate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Corporate Welfare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Municipal Policy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[State and Local Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Subsidies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tax Credits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Taxes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Transparency]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Welfare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Workforce]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://showmeinstitute.local/missouris-special-session-and-giveaways-to-billionaires-with-patrick-tuohey/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>In this episode, Susan Pendergrass speaks with Patrick Tuohey, senior fellow at the Show-Me Institute, about Missouri’s upcoming special legislative session, slated to begin on June 2, and the debate [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/missouris-special-session-and-giveaways-to-billionaires-with-patrick-tuohey/">Missouri&#8217;s Special Session and Giveaways to Billionaires with Patrick Tuohey</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><iframe title="Spotify Embed: Missouri&amp;apos;s Special Session and Giveaways to Billionaire Sports Team Owners with Patrick Tuohey" style="border-radius: 12px" width="100%" height="152" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/0DP10AVtmLg1qI47D1Vv6a?si=2N0xM9LYRHuCbIobbW3ThA&amp;utm_source=oembed"></iframe></p>
<p>In this episode, Susan Pendergrass speaks with <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/author/patrick-tuohey/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Patrick Tuohey,</a> senior fellow at the Show-Me Institute, about Missouri’s upcoming special legislative session, slated to begin on June 2, and the debate over taxpayer subsidies for stadiums. They discuss why stadium subsidies often fail to deliver promised economic benefits, how billionaire sports team owners leverage public funds for private gain, and the potential impact of a $50 million annual giveaway to the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals. Tuohey explains the flawed logic behind the argument that Missouri must compete with Kansas in a “race to the bottom” and argues that the state should instead focus on core services like public safety, education, and infrastructure. They also cover the broader implications of using taxpayer dollars to benefit wealthy team owners, the political dynamics driving these proposals, and what citizens and lawmakers should consider as the special session begins.</p>
<p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0Q1odFTa0wlGZw0jeUZFw6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Listen on Spotify</a></p>
<p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/show-me-institute-podcast/id1141088545" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Listen on Apple Podcasts </a></p>
<p><a href="https://soundcloud.com/show-me-institute" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Listen on SoundCloud</a></p>
<p><a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/attachment/transcript-missouris-special-session-and-giveaways-to-billionaires-with-patrick-tuohey/" rel="attachment wp-att-586579">Download a Transcript of the Episode</a></p>
<p><strong>Timestamps: </strong></p>
<p>00:00 Introduction to the Special Session<br />
01:59 Stadium Subsidies: The Chiefs and Royals<br />
05:35 Economic Impact of Stadium Subsidies<br />
09:43 Political Dynamics of the Special Session<br />
12:34 Public Sentiment and Legislative Challenges<br />
16:29 Conclusion and Future Implications</p>
<p>Produced by Show-Me Opportunity</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/missouris-special-session-and-giveaways-to-billionaires-with-patrick-tuohey/">Missouri&#8217;s Special Session and Giveaways to Billionaires with Patrick Tuohey</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
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		<title>Do the Election Results Change the Border War?</title>
		<link>https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/do-the-election-results-change-the-border-war/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 09 Aug 2024 19:34:55 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Budget and Spending]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Corporate Welfare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Privatization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Regulation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Special Taxing Districts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[State and Local Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Subsidies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tax Credits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Taxes]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://showmeinstitute.local/do-the-election-results-change-the-border-war/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>On August 7, Patrick Tuohey joined Mundo in the Morning on KCMO to discuss the recent Missouri elections and whether they have any impact on the Kansas-Missouri border war over [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/do-the-election-results-change-the-border-war/">Do the Election Results Change the Border War?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Do the Election Results Change the Border War?" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aYu7c-D8kZk?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p><span class="yt-core-attributed-string yt-core-attributed-string--white-space-pre-wrap" dir="auto" role="text"><span class="yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" dir="auto">On August 7, Patrick Tuohey joined <a href="https://www.kcmotalkradio.com/shows/mundo-in-the-morning/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mundo in the Morning</a> on KCMO to discuss the recent Missouri elections and whether they have any impact on the Kansas-Missouri border war over stadium subsidies for the Chiefs and Royals.</span></span></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/do-the-election-results-change-the-border-war/">Do the Election Results Change the Border War?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
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		<title>The Chiefs and Royals Restart the Border War with Patrick Tuohey</title>
		<link>https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/the-chiefs-and-royals-restart-the-border-war-with-patrick-tuohey/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jul 2024 17:57:07 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Budget and Spending]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business Climate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Corporate Welfare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Municipal Policy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Special Taxing Districts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[State and Local Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Subsidies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tax Credits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Taxes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://showmeinstitute.local/the-chiefs-and-royals-restart-the-border-war-with-patrick-tuohey/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>In this episode, Susan Pendergrass speaks with Patrick Tuohey, Senior Fellow at the Show-Me Institute, about the Missouri-Kansas border war over economic development incentives. They discuss how the Kansas City [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/the-chiefs-and-royals-restart-the-border-war-with-patrick-tuohey/">The Chiefs and Royals Restart the Border War with Patrick Tuohey</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="The Chiefs and Royals Restart the Border War with Patrick Tuohey" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JjS7zo053fU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>In this episode, Susan Pendergrass speaks with <strong><a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/author/patrick-tuohey/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Patrick Tuohey</a></strong>, Senior Fellow at the Show-Me Institute, about the Missouri-Kansas border war over economic development incentives. They discuss how the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals reignited the subsidies battle between the states, the history of the feud, the effects on local economies, and more.</p>
<p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Ida6Foaw816HLGmy1BVve?si=2LTkY5-wQS2ONg0hMRQw6g" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Listen on Spotify</a></p>
<p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/show-me-institute-podcast/id1141088545" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Listen on Apple Podcasts </a></p>
<p><a href="https://soundcloud.com/show-me-institute" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Listen on SoundCloud</a></p>
<p>Produced by Show-Me Opportunity</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/the-chiefs-and-royals-restart-the-border-war-with-patrick-tuohey/">The Chiefs and Royals Restart the Border War with Patrick Tuohey</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
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		<title>Sacre Bleu! Sporting Events and Stadia Don’t Drive Economic Development</title>
		<link>https://showmeinstitute.org/article/subsidies/sacre-bleu-sporting-events-and-stadia-dont-drive-economic-development/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 17 Jul 2024 01:40:46 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Corporate Welfare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Subsidies]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://showmeinstitute.local/sacre-bleu-sporting-events-and-stadia-dont-drive-economic-development/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>The Telegraph reminds us that big sports events usually fail to meet the promises made regarding their impact on economic development. The Paris Olympics, set to open in less than [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/subsidies/sacre-bleu-sporting-events-and-stadia-dont-drive-economic-development/">Sacre Bleu! Sporting Events and Stadia Don’t Drive Economic Development</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/ar-BB1pWL9N"><em>Telegraph</em></a> reminds us that big sports events usually fail to meet the promises made regarding their impact on economic development. The Paris Olympics, set to open in less than two weeks, was supposed to be a grand event to boost tourism, revive the city, and kick-start France&#8217;s sluggish economy.</p>
<p>The reality is starkly different, and we shouldn’t be surprised. Historically, the economic benefits of hosting the Olympics have been dubious, and Paris is proving no exception. Despite the €7.5 billion investment, tourism has slumped, with travelers avoiding the city due to expected overcrowding. The author of the <em>Telegraph </em>piece writes:</p>
<blockquote><p>Judging by the experience of other cities, many of those supposed benefits never materialise and the host is stuck with a series of expensive developments that no one can find a use for. To take just one example, the London Stadium, constructed for the 2012 games, makes a decent ground for West Ham, but it is hard to understand why taxpayer’s cash was needed to build it.</p></blockquote>
<p>I share this in the hopes that seeing the failed promises of big sporting events overseas will make the argument at home more palatable. These investments just don’t pan out for taxpayers, be they for the Olympic Games, the Royals, Chiefs, or Cardinals. And yes, as my colleague <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/blog/municipal-policy/will-they-push-george-brett-around-in-a-wheelchair/">David Stokes wrote 14 years ago</a>, “there is a big difference between hosting an event for which you have to build facilities, like the Olympics, and hosting an event for which you already have the requisite facilities for other purposes.” But the impact, or rather the lack thereof, remains.</p>
<p>Given these challenges, the author suggests a permanent home for the games. Perhaps Greece. Establishing a permanent venue could drastically reduce costs, simplify organization, and minimize corruption.</p>
<p>That may be a viable solution for the Olympics, but for those of us stateside, the lesson needs to be learned. These events, be they Olympics or political conventions, don’t drive meaningful economic activity. They aren’t worth expending public funds on.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/subsidies/sacre-bleu-sporting-events-and-stadia-dont-drive-economic-development/">Sacre Bleu! Sporting Events and Stadia Don’t Drive Economic Development</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
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		<title>The Border War Is Bad Because It Hurts Us</title>
		<link>https://showmeinstitute.org/article/subsidies/the-border-war-is-bad-because-it-hurts-us/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:17:06 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Corporate Welfare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Subsidies]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://showmeinstitute.local/the-border-war-is-bad-because-it-hurts-us/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>The day after the Kansas Legislature voted to use sales tax and revenue (STAR) bonds to lure the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals across the border to the Sunflower State, [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/subsidies/the-border-war-is-bad-because-it-hurts-us/">The Border War Is Bad Because It Hurts Us</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
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										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The day after the Kansas Legislature voted to use sales tax and revenue (STAR) bonds to lure the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals across the border to the Sunflower State, Kansas City, Missouri’s mayor <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/quinton-lucas-kcmo-mayor-6-20-24/id1386936932?i=1000659660244">took to the radio to threaten retaliation</a>. He hinted that Kansas City, Missouri could lure Kansas manufacturing plants, corporate headquarters, or even the Sporting KC soccer club into Missouri.</p>
<p>Governor Parson said that Missouri would “do everything we can” to keep the teams in Missouri.</p>
<p>This is dangerous. The reason state and municipal leaders welcomed a truce in the economic Border War was not because of the damage it inflicted on others—it was because of the damage it inflicted on their own cities and states. When signing the 2019 truce, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly <a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/laura-kelly-reaching-across-the-aisle-to-end-the-kansas-missouri-border-war/">noted</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p>In the past decade, folks in Kansas and Missouri had to watch and wonder why economic development forces in each state spent huge sums — together, some $330 million — to pull businesses a few miles across the border, and only to create an illusion of success with practically no economic gain.</p></blockquote>
<p>Parson agreed, <a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/article233725152.html">saying,</a> “Sometimes common sense does prevail. Because you don’t have to be a scientist to figure out [the Border War] was a bad deal for both states.”</p>
<p>Just because Governor Kelly is violating her own executive order does not mean it is in anyone else’s benefit to re-arm and ride to the sounds of guns.</p>
<p>The only ones who benefit from such skirmishes are the corporations that pit the two states and their various municipalities against each other. A prime example was Applebee’s, which crossed State Line Road repeatedly, adding no economic benefit to either side, but racking up sweet taxpayer-funded incentives for itself each time.</p>
<p>All that Kansas did the other day was provide the Chiefs and Royals leverage to play the states against each other—potentially increasing the costs to taxpayers in both states. Should the Missouri side present a package that is competitive, the teams will very likely go back to Kansas and ask it to increase its offer. This is how negotiations work. Will Kansas, now that it has gotten its developers, municipal leaders, and residents excited by the prospect of hosting the two teams, be able to say no? Or will it sweeten the deal, just a little bit, to meet this “<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article289362315.html">once in a lifetime</a>” opportunity?</p>
<p>Anyone can see how this quickly becomes a race to the bottom.</p>
<p>Many Kansans are happy to have Jackson County foot the bill—and the hassle—of dealing with the Hunts and the Shermans. Conversely, there are plenty of Missourians who wouldn’t be bothered if Kansas decided to pick up the tab—and the bond risk—of hosting those teams and all their demands of taxpayers. But responding in kind to Governor Kelly’s gambit is not good for Missouri.</p>
<p>The only way to grow an economy is for government at all levels to be good at the basics. Maintain your infrastructure, keep the public safe, protect property rights, and do so as effectively and efficiently as possible. Missouri leaders ought to keep that in mind.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/subsidies/the-border-war-is-bad-because-it-hurts-us/">The Border War Is Bad Because It Hurts Us</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
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		<title>Open Letter to Governors Parson and Kelly Regarding Stadium Subsidies</title>
		<link>https://showmeinstitute.org/article/subsidies/open-letter-to-governors-parson-and-kelly-regarding-stadium-subsidies/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 18 Jun 2024 01:20:57 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Corporate Welfare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Subsidies]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://showmeinstitute.local/open-letter-to-governors-parson-and-kelly-regarding-stadium-subsidies/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Researchers at the Show-Me Institute have argued for years that economic development subsidies do little more than drain public funds while providing no real benefit to taxpayers. As the Kansas [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/subsidies/open-letter-to-governors-parson-and-kelly-regarding-stadium-subsidies/">Open Letter to Governors Parson and Kelly Regarding Stadium Subsidies</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
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										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="xmsonormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">Researchers at the Show-Me Institute have argued for years that economic development subsidies do little more than drain public funds while providing no real benefit to taxpayers. As the Kansas legislature considers offering tax incentives to the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals to build their stadia in Kansas, we join with the Kansas Policy Institute in urging Missouri Governor Parson and Kansas Governor Kelly to remain committed to the Border War truce (click <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Open-letter-to-Govs-Parson-and-Kelly-re-MO-KS-Border-War-v2.pdf"><strong>here</strong></a> to read our open letter to governors Parson and Kelly). In fact, the truce should be expanded by the states’ respective legislatures and further reinforced by local governments in the region.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/article/subsidies/open-letter-to-governors-parson-and-kelly-regarding-stadium-subsidies/">Open Letter to Governors Parson and Kelly Regarding Stadium Subsidies</a> appeared first on <a href="https://showmeinstitute.org">Show-Me Institute</a>.</p>
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