TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - The Latest on the Kansas Legislature’s debate over raising taxes to fix the state budget and provide additional funds for public schools (all times local):
9:50 p.m.
Kansas legislators have voted to override Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s veto of a bill that would repeal or roll back past income tax cuts he has championed.
The House voted 88-31 Tuesday night to overturn Brownback’s veto of a bill that will increase income taxes to fix the state budget and provide additional funds for public schools. Supporters had four votes more than the two-thirds majority necessary to override a veto.
The Senate earlier voted 27-13 to override, exactly a two-thirds majority.
The tax increase is expected to raise $1.2 billion over two years by increasing income tax rates and ending an exemption for 330,000-plus farmers and business owners.
Kansas faces projected budget shortfalls totaling $889 million through June 2019 and the state Supreme Court ruled in March that education funding is inadequate.
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8:10 p.m.
The Republican-controlled Kansas Senate has voted to override GOP Gov. Sam Brownback’s veto of a bill that would increase income taxes to fix the state budget and provide additional funds for public schools.
The vote Tuesday evening in the Senate was 27-13, exactly the two-thirds majority necessary to overturn the conservative governor’s action.
The Senate’s action sends the bill to the House for a vote. If supporters of the plan muster a two-thirds majority there, the tax increases would take effect in July.
The bill would have raised $1.2 billion over two years by repealing or rolling back past income tax cuts championed by Brownback.
Kansas faces projected budget shortfalls totaling $889 million through June 2019 and the state Supreme Court ruled in March that education funding is inadequate.
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3:55 p.m.
Republican Gov. Sam Brownback has fulfilled his promise to veto an income tax increase approved by Kansas legislators to fix the state budget and provide additional funds for public schools.
The governor announced his action Tuesday afternoon on Twitter. Legislators are expected to try to override his veto, and their votes could come as early as Tuesday night.
The bill would have repealed or rolled back past income tax cuts championed by Brownback as pro-growth policies and undone a political legacy that’s brought him national attention. The bill would have increased income tax rates and end an exemption for 330,000 plus farmers and business owners.
Kansas faces projected budget shortfalls totaling $889 million through June 2019 and the state Supreme Court ruled in March that education funding is inadequate.
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2:23 p.m.
Kansas legislators have delivered a bill that would increase income taxes to Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s office so that he can quickly fulfill his promise to veto it.
Brownback pledged early Tuesday morning to veto the measure immediately after lawmakers approved it. It would raise $1.2 billion over two years by increasing income tax rates and ending an exemption for 330,000 plus farmers and business owners.
The bill repeals or rolls back past income tax cuts Brownback has championed as pro-growth policies.
Legislators expect to attempt to override his veto as early as Tuesday evening, with a vote in the Senate first.
Kansas faces projected budget shortfalls totaling $889 million through June 2019 and the state Supreme Court ruled in March that education funding is inadequate.
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1:55 a.m.
Republican Gov. Sam Brownback is promising to veto an income tax increase approved by Kansas lawmakers to fix the state budget and meet a court mandate on school funding.
The GOP-controlled Legislature approved a bill early Tuesday morning that would raise $1.2 billion over two years by repealing or rolling back past income tax cuts championed by Brownback.
Also sent Monday night to Brownback was another bill that would phase in a $293 million increase in spending on public schools over two years. The state Supreme Court ruled in March that education funding is inadequate.
The tax bill is meant to cover the higher spending on schools and close projected budget shortfalls totaling $889 million through June 2019. But Brownback said immediately after its passage that it had “many deficiencies.”
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