Governor Sam Brownback’s tax policy has been a large focus of many races this election year, including the race for the 65th District House.

Brownback’s policy has cut income taxes and budget shortfalls are predicted for the next fiscal year.

During a candidate forum Friday morning on 1420 KJCK both candidates for the 65th District House seat were asked if it’s time to reverse the income tax cuts.

“That may be the case,” said Lonnie Clark, Republican candidate. “It depends if you get business in early, new business, create jobs and increase that tax base, no. But if you don’t you have to get revenue some place. It’s very difficult once taxes are cut to try and reinstate them.”

Democratic candidate Tom Brungardt said that Brownback has not done away with income taxes but has setup a line path to zero, and that line path has to be stopped.

“We have to seriously consider returning to the situation as it was prior to the passage of the new tax bill. That’s going to be very difficult, as Lonnie pointed out, it’s going to be very difficult to do,” said Brungardt. “Especially since the Senate won’t change, it’s the same Senate that we’ve had there for the past two years and we won’t get a chance to vote on them for another two years. There is going to have to be a compromise there somehow.”

Both candidates are vying for the position previously held by Representative Allan Rothlisberg, who lost in the August primaries to Clark.