A new campaign to repeal the Kansas income tax is being bankrolled in part by a Missouri billionaire and anti-income-tax crusader.

Rex Sinquefield recently contributed to Kansans for No Income Tax, the state's main tax-repeal group, an associate said Tuesday. The amount was not made public.

Political consultants said that if Sinquefield becomes heavily involved in the Kansas income tax debate it could profoundly change the political environment surrounding the issue.

"There's nobody in Kansas that can match his firepower," said Democratic consultant Jim Bergfalk. "It could be incredibly decisive."

Sinquefield, a retired businessman, has been a central figure in Missouri politics for years. He has given tens of millions of dollars to conservative candidates and causes in the state.

But he has never been financially involved in Kansas politics.

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, a Republican, is widely expected to propose modifications to the state's income tax when the Legislature convenes next year. Kansans for No Income Tax, which will pressure lawmakers to support phasing out the tax, went public less than two weeks ago.

Sinquefield was not available for comment Tuesday.

Read the complete story at www.kansas.com