TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - A national tax policy expert gave his take Tuesday on what's at stake in tax reform.

Jonathan Williams is with the American Legislative Exchange Council. He spoke at a luncheon sponsored by the Kansas Policy Institute, Americans for Prosperity and the Kansas Chamber of Commerce.

Williams also testified before legislative tax committees Tuesday.

KPI President Dave Trabert said the group shares Williams' view that good tax policy must be simple and neutral, meaning it doesn't give relief to some at the expense of others.

It's also vital in sparking economic growth. Trabert says states with low tax burdens have seen greater growth than those with higher tax burdens. Kansas, he says, has seen losses in private sector jobs since 1998.

Trabert says health care and pension expenses could have Kansas facing a $5 billion deficit over the next 11 years, if the economy doesn't grow faster.

"It's not a theoretical what should we do and get a little bit better with job growth, it's how do we avoid going off an economic cliff?" he said.