The Kansas House and Senate have approved a 14 billion dollar budget for the coming fiscal year. The 69-55 vote came early this (FRI) morning. It followed the 28-11 vote in the Senate late last night (THUR). The package would erase a nearly 500 million dollar budget shortfall, and create a 50 million dollar reserve. Democrats say the spending cuts will hurt schools, the elderly and Kansans who rely on social services. Paul Davis, of Lawrence, is the top Democrat in the House. He wanted a smaller reserve fund, in exchange for fewer spending cuts.
GOP conservatives in the House criticized the bill, saying it still spends more than Kansas can afford. John Rubin is a Shawnee Republican. He told the House that he was elected to cut state spending.
The budget plan is now on the desk of Governor Sam Brownback, who will likely line item veto some spending measures.