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| With State Finances Shaky, Kansas Governor Prepares to Step Down | |
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| TOPEKA, Kan. — For more than six years, Gov. Sam Brownback has steered Kansas on a hard right turn on one hot-button issue after another: taxes, guns, abortion rights, Medicaid and welfare benefits. | TOPEKA, Kan. — For more than six years, Gov. Sam Brownback has steered Kansas on a hard right turn on one hot-button issue after another: taxes, guns, abortion rights, Medicaid and welfare benefits. |
| He will leave as an unpopular leader of a state in uncertain fiscal health, with more robust conservative policies and governed by a Legislature where many in his own Republican Party have defied him. Polished, persistent and self assured, Mr. Brownback has been seen as a model for the opportunities and perils of governing without compromise from the right on both social and fiscal issues. | He will leave as an unpopular leader of a state in uncertain fiscal health, with more robust conservative policies and governed by a Legislature where many in his own Republican Party have defied him. Polished, persistent and self assured, Mr. Brownback has been seen as a model for the opportunities and perils of governing without compromise from the right on both social and fiscal issues. |
| But after the Trump administration said on Wednesday that Mr. Brownback, 60, would be nominated to serve as an ambassador at large for international religious freedom, his legacy in Kansas may be a cautionary note that even in a conservative state, there are dangers in governing too far to the right. | But after the Trump administration said on Wednesday that Mr. Brownback, 60, would be nominated to serve as an ambassador at large for international religious freedom, his legacy in Kansas may be a cautionary note that even in a conservative state, there are dangers in governing too far to the right. |
| Chapman Rackaway, a longtime observer of Kansas politics, now at the University of West Georgia, said Mr. Brownback’s experience “contradicts the common narrative that there’s no way to go too conservative. He puts the lie to the myth that the default strategy is just to go as conservative as you possibly can in Kansas.’’ | Chapman Rackaway, a longtime observer of Kansas politics, now at the University of West Georgia, said Mr. Brownback’s experience “contradicts the common narrative that there’s no way to go too conservative. He puts the lie to the myth that the default strategy is just to go as conservative as you possibly can in Kansas.’’ |
| Mr. Brownback’s nomination is something of an anticlimactic turn for a figure who once sought to cut a path from the Iowa caucuses to the White House, and then reinvented himself as a tax-slashing activist governor. Viewed last year as a prospect for President Trump’s cabinet, Mr. Brownback will settle instead into a low-profile diplomatic post with no particular political clout. | Mr. Brownback’s nomination is something of an anticlimactic turn for a figure who once sought to cut a path from the Iowa caucuses to the White House, and then reinvented himself as a tax-slashing activist governor. Viewed last year as a prospect for President Trump’s cabinet, Mr. Brownback will settle instead into a low-profile diplomatic post with no particular political clout. |
| In some respects, the position may be a return to an earlier version of Mr. Brownback’s political persona: During his time in the United States Senate, he was known chiefly as an articulate and well-mannered advocate for conservative social issues, like opposing abortion and human cloning, and for speaking out on issues of international human rights. | In some respects, the position may be a return to an earlier version of Mr. Brownback’s political persona: During his time in the United States Senate, he was known chiefly as an articulate and well-mannered advocate for conservative social issues, like opposing abortion and human cloning, and for speaking out on issues of international human rights. |
| Bob Vander Plaats, an evangelical activist in Iowa, said that when Mr. Brownback ran for president in 2008, he was not viewed then as the unbending fiscal warrior he turned out to be as governor. “Not that lowering taxes wasn’t important to us, but he was always seen as a pro-family candidate,” said Mr. Vander Plaats, who backed Mike Huckabee that year instead. | Bob Vander Plaats, an evangelical activist in Iowa, said that when Mr. Brownback ran for president in 2008, he was not viewed then as the unbending fiscal warrior he turned out to be as governor. “Not that lowering taxes wasn’t important to us, but he was always seen as a pro-family candidate,” said Mr. Vander Plaats, who backed Mike Huckabee that year instead. |
| Mr. Brownback leaves office a somewhat diminished figure. Some of his policies have been undone, most notably in June, when the Legislature voted to roll back his signature 2012 tax cuts. In other Republican-dominated states with budget problems, such as Nebraska and Iowa, Kansas has been cited as a cautionary tale. | Mr. Brownback leaves office a somewhat diminished figure. Some of his policies have been undone, most notably in June, when the Legislature voted to roll back his signature 2012 tax cuts. In other Republican-dominated states with budget problems, such as Nebraska and Iowa, Kansas has been cited as a cautionary tale. |
| Still, his expected successor, Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer, a plastic surgeon from suburban Kansas City, has been a close supporter of Mr. Brownback’s policies and is viewed as unlikely to reverse course. And allies, like State Senator Ty Masterson, a Republican, praised the governor’s accomplishments, saying Kansas had gone from “an abortion state to a strong anti-abortion state, and from a high-income-tax to a low-income-tax state.” | Still, his expected successor, Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer, a plastic surgeon from suburban Kansas City, has been a close supporter of Mr. Brownback’s policies and is viewed as unlikely to reverse course. And allies, like State Senator Ty Masterson, a Republican, praised the governor’s accomplishments, saying Kansas had gone from “an abortion state to a strong anti-abortion state, and from a high-income-tax to a low-income-tax state.” |
| “It is true our state government had some hard spending choices to make with the slower tax revenue growth, but our people had more money in their pockets, until this year, when the new Legislature overrode his veto and gave that hard choice back to our constituents,” Mr. Masterson said. | “It is true our state government had some hard spending choices to make with the slower tax revenue growth, but our people had more money in their pockets, until this year, when the new Legislature overrode his veto and gave that hard choice back to our constituents,” Mr. Masterson said. |
| Others, including many Republicans, saw less to praise. State Representative Stephanie Clayton, a moderate Republican from Overland Park, said she was “excited” about Mr. Brownback’s likely departure and called it “an opportunity for Kansas to have a fresh start, for us to return to dignity in governing.” | Others, including many Republicans, saw less to praise. State Representative Stephanie Clayton, a moderate Republican from Overland Park, said she was “excited” about Mr. Brownback’s likely departure and called it “an opportunity for Kansas to have a fresh start, for us to return to dignity in governing.” |
| Ms. Clayton said the governor’s tenure had been marked by division within the Republican caucus and political hostility toward moderates like her. | Ms. Clayton said the governor’s tenure had been marked by division within the Republican caucus and political hostility toward moderates like her. |
| But Ms. Clayton said she did not doubt that Mr. Brownback was genuine in his conservative beliefs, including his signature tax cuts, which he defended to the very end. | But Ms. Clayton said she did not doubt that Mr. Brownback was genuine in his conservative beliefs, including his signature tax cuts, which he defended to the very end. |
| “The man was not insincere. He believes what he does,” Ms. Clayton said. “He wasn’t just doing it for political benefit.” | “The man was not insincere. He believes what he does,” Ms. Clayton said. “He wasn’t just doing it for political benefit.” |
| Melika Willoughby, a spokeswoman for Mr. Brownback, said he remained governor of Kansas, but declined further comment until a news conference on Thursday afternoon. | Melika Willoughby, a spokeswoman for Mr. Brownback, said he remained governor of Kansas, but declined further comment until a news conference on Thursday afternoon. |
| Mr. Brownback, a convert to Roman Catholicism, appeared to relish his new role promoting religious freedom. | Mr. Brownback, a convert to Roman Catholicism, appeared to relish his new role promoting religious freedom. |
| “I’m doing this job because of my interest and passion in the field,” Mr. Brownback told World Magazine, a Christian publication. “I am pleased with what I’ve gotten done as governor of this state.” | “I’m doing this job because of my interest and passion in the field,” Mr. Brownback told World Magazine, a Christian publication. “I am pleased with what I’ve gotten done as governor of this state.” |
| On the Christian right, his nomination was applauded. “In his time in the United States Senate, religious liberty was one of his top priorities, not only for Christians but for religious minorities around the world,” said Gary Bauer, a prominent Christian activist. | On the Christian right, his nomination was applauded. “In his time in the United States Senate, religious liberty was one of his top priorities, not only for Christians but for religious minorities around the world,” said Gary Bauer, a prominent Christian activist. |
| Aaron Estabrook, executive director of the Save Kansas Coalition, which has criticized Mr. Brownback and advocated political moderation, said he was “relieved” to know the governor was moving on. | Aaron Estabrook, executive director of the Save Kansas Coalition, which has criticized Mr. Brownback and advocated political moderation, said he was “relieved” to know the governor was moving on. |
| Mr. Estabrook said he thought that Governor Brownback entered office expecting to begin a presidential campaign based on a tax-slashing conservative model and that he refused to change course when the results he anticipated did not materialize. | Mr. Estabrook said he thought that Governor Brownback entered office expecting to begin a presidential campaign based on a tax-slashing conservative model and that he refused to change course when the results he anticipated did not materialize. |
| “I think good leaders acknowledge mistakes, and they adjust,” Mr. Estabrook said, “and he just never did that.” | “I think good leaders acknowledge mistakes, and they adjust,” Mr. Estabrook said, “and he just never did that.” |