Representative Richard Carlson (R-St. Mary's) during tax talks last week. (Photo by Stephen Koranda)
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers have hit a new snag in their negotiations on tax issues. House Republican negotiators Wednesday rejected a proposal from GOP senators to impose a lower sales tax on groceries than on other consumer goods. The negotiators weren't sure when they'd resume talks. The latest plan from Republican senators would set the sales tax on groceries at 5.7 percent in July while taxing other items at 6.25 percent. The current 6.3 percent tax is scheduled by law to fall to 5.7 percent in July. Republican Governor Sam Brownback and GOP senators want to cancel most or all of the scheduled decline to raise revenue so that the state can cut income taxes. House Republicans have proposed dropping the sales tax to 6 percent.
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the following is a story from earlier on Wednesday, before negotiations stalled again:
After several days of inaction, legislative negotiating committees working on tax and budget agreements met late yesterday (TUES). But as Jim McLean of the KHI News Service reports, a lot of ground remains to be covered before lawmakers can adjourn the session and go home.