TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - The Latest on the Kansas Legislature’s debates over raising taxes to fix the state budget and provide additional money for public schools (all times local):
12:15 a.m. Wednesday
The Kansas Senate has advanced a bill that would phase in an increase in spending on public schools of roughly $230 million over two years.
Senators gave the measure first-round approval just after midnight Tuesday on a voice vote. They planned to take another, final vote later Wednesday morning to determine whether their bill goes to the House.
The House has a rival plan to phase in a $285 million increase in aid to the state’s 286 school districts over two years. Legislative negotiators are likely to draft a final, compromise plan.
Both chambers’ measures are a response to a Kansas Supreme Court ruling in March that the state’s education funding is inadequate. The state now spends about $4 billion a year.
Democrats said neither plan is adequate.
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11:59 p.m.
Kansas legislators have rejected another plan that rolls back most of the past income tax cuts championed by Republican Gov. Sam Brownback to fix the state budget and provide additional funds for public schools.
The House voted 85-37 late Tuesday against a bill that would raise $1.2 billion over two years by increasing income tax rates and ending an exemption for 330,000-plus business owners and farmers.
The House’s action came after the Senate approved the plan on a 26-14 vote.
The plan was similar to one the House rejected last week. The House vote Tuesday could force more negotiations with senators over tax issues.
Kansas faces projected budget shortfalls totaling $887 million through June 2019, and the Kansas Supreme Court ruled in March that education funding is inadequate.
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11:15 p.m.
The Kansas Senate has approved a bill that would increase income taxes to fix the state budget and provide additional funds for public schools.
The vote Tuesday night was 26-14 on a measure that would raise $1.2 billion over two years. It would increase income tax rates and end an exemption for 330,000-plus farmers and business owners.
The Senate’s action sends the measure to the House. Approval there would send the measure to Republican Gov. Sam Brownback.
The revenue-raising plan would roll back most of the income tax cuts enacted in 2012 and 2013 at Brownback’s urging. He vetoed a smaller income tax increase in February.
Kansas faces projected budget shortfalls totaling $887 million through June 2019, and the Kansas Supreme Court ruled in March that education funding is inadequate.
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9:50 p.m.
The Kansas Senate has suspended its debate on an education funding bill so that it can consider a plan for raising income taxes to fix the state budget and provide additional funds for public schools.
Republican legislative leaders hoped both chambers would vote late Tuesday night on a measure that would raise $1.2 billion over two years. It would increase income tax rates and end an exemption for 330,000-plus farmers and business owners.
The Senate must vote on the plan first.
The revenue-raising plan would roll back most of the past income tax cuts enacted in 2012 and 2013 at Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s urging.
Kansas faces projected budget shortfalls totaling $887 million through June 2019, and the Kansas Supreme Court ruled in March that education funding is inadequate.
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7:43 p.m.
Republican legislators in Kansas have blocked a Democratic leader’s attempt to nearly double the size of a plan increasing state spending on public schools.
The Senate was debating a plan Tuesday to phase in an increase of roughly $230 million over two years in response to a Kansas Supreme Court ruling in March that education funding is inadequate.
Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley proposed phasing in a $420 million increase over two years. The Topeka Democrat argued that the smaller plan would not satisfy the court.
But the Senate voted 23-16 against Hensley’s amendment to the bill. Most Republicans voted no.
Senate Majority Leader and Overland Park Republican Jim Denning noted that the court did not say how much funding must increase. It’s now about $4 billion a year.
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6 p.m.
Kansas legislators are taking another run at passing a plan for raising income taxes to fix the state budget and provide additional state funds for public schools.
House and Senate negotiators agreed Tuesday on a plan that 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. It’s similar to a plan the House rejected last week.
The Senate planned to consider the new plan first, possibly Tuesday night.
The newest plan would roll back most of the past income tax cuts enacted in 2012 and 2013 at Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s urging.
Kansas faces projected budget shortfalls totaling $887 million through June 2019, and the Kansas Supreme Court ruled in March that education funding is inadequate.
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4:38 p.m.
The Kansas Senate has rejected a proposal to restrict lobbying of the Legislature by public school districts as it debates a bill that would increase the state’s spending on education.
Republican Sen. Dennis Pyle of Hiawatha offered the proposal as amendment to a bill that would phase in an increase in education funding of about $230 million over two years.
The Senate voted 23-17 against his proposal. It would have prevented school districts or school officials from using state dollars to lobby the Legislature. Pyle said state dollars should be used in the classroom.
Critics said the proposal was an attempt to micromanage school districts.
The plan to boost education funding is a response to a Kansas Supreme Court ruling in March that current spending is inadequate.
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