TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - The Latest on the Kansas Legislature’s decision to increase income taxes to fix the state budget and provide extra money for public schools. (all times local):
11:50 a.m.
Republican Gov. Sam Brownback says the income tax increases legislators enacted over his veto will be bad for the long-term health of the state’s economy.
The governor said during a news conference Wednesday that he believes the increases will slow job growth and discourage companies from moving to Kansas.
Legislators repudiated past income tax cuts championed by Brownback in passing a measure that is expected to raise $1.2 billion over two years. It increases income tax rates and ends an exemption for more than 330,000 farmers and business owners.
Brownback said the debate became too much about him.
The governor refused to take questions after making his statement.
Kansas faces projected budget shortfalls totaling $889 million, and the state Supreme Court ruled in March that its education funding is inadequate.
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9:22 a.m.
Kansas legislators have repudiated the tax-cutting experiment that brought Republican Gov. Sam Brownback national attention.
The state House voted Tuesday night to overturn Brownback’s veto of a plan that reverses many of the income tax reductions he championed. The legislation aims to fix the state budget and provide additional funds for public schools.
Kansas faces projected budget shortfalls totaling $889 million through June 2019. The state Supreme Court ruled in March that education funding is inadequate.
The plan 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.
Supporters had four votes more in the House than the two-thirds majority necessary to override a veto. The Senate earlier voted for an override, with exactly a two-thirds majority.
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