Kansas Lawmakers Back In Session

Kansas legislative leaders are expecting

several busy and contentious days, if not weeks, as lawmakers

prepare for the final segment of the 2012 session.

The House and Senate return Wednesday from a three-week break

with several major issues to resolve, including work on next year’s

budget and redrawing the state’s political boundaries. The new

districts must be completed by May 10 to avoid delays in the June

candidate filing deadline and August primary.

Democratic and Republican leaders said Tuesday the redistricting

work has become highly partisan.

House and Senate negotiators are expected to resume talks on

proposals to reduce the state income tax for individuals and

eliminate the tax for nearly 200,000 businesses. Republican Gov.

Sam Brownback remains committed to seeing tax cuts passed this

session.