UPDATE: Kansas legislators have approved a plan for balancing the state budget that gives Republican Gov. Sam Brownback broad discretion to make spending cuts.
The Senate approved the measure on a 22-18 vote just after 3 a.m. early Monday morning. The measure initially was failing, but several GOP senators switched their votes. The House approved the plan earlier Monday morning, 63-59.
#BREAKING: The budget has been declared as passed. 22-18 in favor. #ksleg #ksed
— Nick Sloan (@NickSloanKCK) May 2, 2016
The state faces projected shortfalls totaling more than $290 million in its current budget and in the one for the next fiscal year beginning July 1.
“My fear is it's going to take a decade to repair the damage we've done in the past few years," said Rep. Kathy Wolfe Moore, D-Kansas City.
The plan assumes Brownback follows through on plans to cut higher education spending and delay major highway projects.
Brownback also would have to make up to $92 million in as-yet-unspecified spending cuts during the next fiscal year but would be barred from touching aid to public schools.
“Unfortunately the problems that we have are bigger than what are going to get done by this one bill," said Senator Steve Fitzgerald, Leavenworth (R). "It’s not a revenue problem really, it really is a spending problem because revenue has been increasing. What we really need to do is we need to get ahold of the spending that’s going on that’s increasing all the funds. Spending is increasing faster than revenue. That’s the problem.”
Burroughs: "There are other people we have to take into consideration" in reference to working past midnight. #ksleg pic.twitter.com/gw4LvK8Bhs
— Shannon Halligan (@ShanHalligan) May 2, 2016
"This should be a transparent process," said Kansas Rep. Tom Burroughs, who represents Wyandotte County. "It should be a process the public can observe."
Kansas Rep. Nancy Lusk suggested the late night debate was tied into the monthly revenue report expected to be released Monday.
Speaker wants to force final vote on budget tonight because tomorrow the new monthly revenue are coming out.
— Rep. Nancy Lusk (@NancyLusk) May 2, 2016
This is a developing story.
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