Budget negotiators have wrapped up a week of talks, leaving many lawmakers disappointed with the lack of progress. A conference committee is working to resolve differences between House and Senate budget plans. Carolyn McGinn, a Sedgwick Republican, is the lead Senate negotiator. After agreeing on many smaller issues, McGinn says they aren’t seeing progress on a handful of high-profile issues.
The lead House negotiator, Newton Republican Marc Rhoades, says he believes the House has been offering more concessions than the Senate. The issues yet undecided include education funding, money for public broadcasting and an increase in state employee health insurance costs. Conference committee members will resume their talks Monday morning.