House Republicans Look to Place Transportation Projects on the Shelf

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – A plan from Kansas House Republicans would
divert $320 million from transportation projects to replace revenue
lost by a cut in state income taxes.
A Department of Kansas Transportation spokesman says highway,
rail and air projects could be delayed or shelved if the proposal
is approved.
St. Marys Republican Rep. Richard Carlson, chairman of the House
Tax Committee, says financing for the transportation department
would stay the same in fiscal years 2014 and 2015, before climbing
again in 2016.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports (http://bit.ly/wrORyL) the
GOP plan is an alternative to one proposed by Gov. Sam Brownback,
who wants to extend a 0.6 percent increase in statewide sales tax.
The House plan would let the sales tax fall back to 5.7 percent and
replace the revenue with KDOT money.