TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas legislative committee has broached the idea of reversing part of a big break for business owners and farmers to help close a budget shortfall. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee had a hearing Thursday on a bill to revive the state's tax on passive business income, including income from rental property. The measure would raise $65 million for the fiscal year beginning July 1. Legislators must close a projected shortfall of nearly $600 million in the budget for the next fiscal year. Lawmakers cut personal income taxes in 2012 and 2013 to stimulate the economy. One policy exempted 281,000 business owners and 53,000 farmers. Some lawmakers now argue that the policy went further than intended. But business groups criticized the bill.
