Insider: Jackson County 'Freedom 5' Confront Use Tax FAIL Consequences

Our blog community is blessed to talk to a great many insiders and we rely on their insight to separate our discussion from so much local online clickbait and misinformed ranting.

Accordingly . . . Sent to www.TonysKansasCity.com . . . Agree or disagree . . . 

INSIDERS SHARE EPIC PERSPECTIVE ON THE AFTERMATH OF THE JACKSON COUNTY USE TAX FAIL!!!

Without any more ado . . . Here's the word . . . 

Elections (failed) will have real consequences for the Freedom 5

The new "Freedom 5" legislators did something that most political insiders would have thought nearly impossible a week ago:  They handed embattled exec Frank White a very significant and very rare political win, and have also allowed him to bizarrely re-position himself as a "good government" leader.  Make no mistake, White and his handlers were quickly making the rounds Wednesday morning, both privately and publicly, with these talking points crowing about this major misstep by the Freedom 5 legislators.  The 5 had, very unwisely, thought they could flex their muscle and override team Frank and push this tax (read pork) by the voters.

The short term result:  Frank gets a much needed political bump back to some relevancy, and the legislature is rightly chastened for their arrogant tone-deafness.  By ignoring the clear fallout from the ongoing property tax fiasco at the county, the 5 have allowed themselves to become the focal point of the tsunami of angst simmering among the voters.  However, in the interim, business at the county will proceed in its usual dysfunctional fashion and nothing radically changes.  In public.  For now.  (Side bar:  The legislature ought to fire whatever employee/handler(s) told them this was a good idea)

The longer term and more juicy result:  Team Frank and others in the chattering class are ALREADY whispering about who among the 5 is most vulnerable for defeat in the next cycle.  Conversations are already centering on two of the newbies, who shall remain nameless for now (but they won't for long).  Possible opponents for these two were already being quietly approached several months ago, but Tuesday's very public spanking has given this issue some new legs.  The final fallout from Tuesday's embarrassment may not come until the next election cycle.  But, if the coalition from Eastern Jack and the downtown types (with the continued assistance and gentle prodding of team Frank) stays active on this topic, several new and current legislators will be dusting off their resumes after the next general election.

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