Legislators Continue To Debate Budget

Legislators are returning to the Statehouse

to finish work on the proposed $14 billion Kansas budget for 2013.

Monday is the 93rd day of the session and the 20th day of the

wrap-up session, the longest in the state’s history.

Three House and three Senate negotiators met Saturday but stuck

to minor budget issues.

The budget calls for spending some $6 billion in state tax

dollars and fees in the fiscal year beginning July 1, covering most

government programs.

Negotiators are at odds over how to fund increases in public

schools, including how much to boost spending and the source of

that funding. They also disagree on spending on social services and

money to defend the state in litigation over redistricting maps.