Kansas Senate advances state budget deficit plan

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

By John Hanna

Associated Press Writer

TOPEKA -- The Kansas Senate advances a budget-balancing bill after backing off some cuts in social services and public school funding.

Senators gave the measure first-round approval on a voice vote Wednesday night. Another vote will determine if the bill goes to the House.

The bill makes adjustments of $335 million in the state budget for the fiscal year that ends June 30. Lower-than-expected revenues have state officials scrambling to close an expected deficit.

Leaders of the Senate's Republican majority wanted to rely heavily on spending cuts to eliminate the shortfall.

But during Wednesday's lengthy debate, the Senate voted 25-15 to go with smaller cuts and use accounting changes and refinancing state bonds to help close the gap.

Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius threatened to veto the cuts favored by Republican leaders, calling them ''draconian.'' Most of the Senate's bill emerged from negotiations among Democrats and rank-and-file Republicans, particularly conservatives.