Senate budget negotiators during talks at the Statehouse. (Photo by Stephen Koranda)Senate and House budget negotiators have started the process of hammering-out differences between their two budget bills. The conference committee met for the first time today (MON) to start work on the $14 billion budget. The lead House negotiator, Newton Republican Marc Rhoades ("roads"), says they’re closer to agreement than in some previous years.
Both the House and Senate budget bills would cut spending from last year and are similar to Governor Sam Brownback's budget proposal. But the Senate version includes additional money for social services, public broadcasting and education.