The Kansas Senate Tax Committee has been unable to pass a tax plan. Senators wrangled over several issues as they worked on the bill designed to close the state’s budget gap. The committee chairman, Republican Senator Les Donovan, abruptly stopped work on the proposal, saying the committee was headed down a “dead end.” He expressed frustration after the meeting with the division on the committee.
“Even though they may not be our favorite issue, we should be able to compromise with other people and we don’t have that right now, and that’s too bad,” says Donovan.
The committee spent much of its time debating proposals that were aimed at increasing taxes on rural areas and farmers. Some Johnson County lawmakers on the committee say rural areas aren’t paying their fair share. Some other legislators say that per capita, some rural areas pay more in taxes than highly populated Johnson County.
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(VERSION TWO)
Work in the Kansas Senate Tax Committee continued today (THUR), but panel members weren't able to advance a tax plan. Senators wrangled over several issues as they worked on a tax bill that could close the state’s budget gap. The committee’s chairman, Republican Senator Les Donovan, abruptly stopped work after an hour, saying they were headed down a “dead end.” He expressed frustration after the meeting with the division on the committee.
“If we don’t get something out and get it on the floor of the Senate and get it into conference, we’re going to be here a long time and not get anything done. We must fill up the gap that’s in the state’s finances currently,” says Donovan.
This week was supposed to be the final week of the annual legislative session, but it’s clear that lawmakers won’t wrap up on time. It appears legislators may take the weekend off and return next week with the goal of finishing work before the Memorial Day holiday.