Kansas governor hopeful Cindy Holscher opposes taxpayer-funded Chiefs stadium deal

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) - Kansas state Sen. Cindy Holscher, a Democrat running for governor, isn’t mincing words: She opposes the proposed deal to build a new Kansas City Chiefs stadium using taxpayer money.

Holscher, a longtime Chiefs fan, says she believes the plan is unfair to Kansans and could harm the state’s finances.

“I love the Kansas City Chiefs - always have, always will,” Holscher wrote in a recent Kansas City Star op-ed. “But I think elected officials should tell it like it is: The new stadium plan is a raw deal for Kansans.”

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Holscher argues while many families are struggling with the cost of living, state leaders should focus on lowering costs, not subsidizing wealthy team owners.

“They’re delivering a massive giveaway to billionaires and asking us to foot the bill,” she said.

Holscher compares the current Kansas stadium proposal to former Gov. Sam Brownback’s tax experiment, which slashed taxes with the promise that economic growth would make up for lost revenue. Those promises fell short, and Kansas faced deep budget problems, including cuts to schools and state services.

“Like the failed Sam Brownback tax experiment before it, this stadium deal, as is, makes big promises of nebulous economic growth, but risks blowing open our state budget,” Holscher said.

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Holscher argues Kansas can learn from other states asked to help pay for new stadiums. In many of those cases, she shared the economic benefits did not live up to the projections.

“Kansas isn’t the first state asked to pay for a stadium by billionaire owners. We can learn from what’s happened in other places,” Holscher continued. “The pattern is clear: Consultants promise massive economic growth from the new project and swear up and down it’ll generate enough revenue to justify the costs.”

Holscher said those promises sound familiar.

“More than anything else, the stadium deal reminds me of the disastrous Brownback tax experiment,” she wrote. “Gov. Brownback had study after study promising sweeping cuts would pay for themselves and create enough economic activity to fill the budget deficit. Well, all the studies in the world didn’t amount to jack when they almost bankrupted the state and forced drastic cuts to our schools and other services.”

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Holscher’s stance sets up a clear contrast with supporters of the stadium plan, who argue it would bring jobs, development, and higher tax revenues. Holscher did not reject the Chiefs or economic growth, but argues public money must benefit the public it serves.