Vote On Tax Cuts Expected Wednesday

Kansas legislators have cleared the way for final votes in the House and Senate on a plan for cutting income and sales taxes.

Senate Majority Leader Jay Emler said those votes could come Wednesday.

Two Democratic lawmakers involved in negotiations over the plan refused to sign off on it. The Legislature’s rules mandate unanimous agreement among House and Senate negotiators, but both chambers voted Monday to suspend that requirement.

The plan would reduce individual income tax rates, exempt 191,000 businesses from taxes and lower the sales tax to 5.7 percent from the current 6.3 percent in July 2013.

Gov. Sam Brownback, O’Neal and many fellow Republicans support

the plan, saying it will stimulate economic growth. But some lawmakers, especially Democrats, worry that it will create future budget problems.