With GOP split on school cuts, Kansas Senate punts debate

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Top Republican legislators couldn't sell their colleagues Thursday on cuts in education spending as part of a budget-balancing package that also would have included income tax increases opposed by GOP Gov. Sam Brownback.

And the Legislature's GOP majorities appeared split on how much to hike income taxes.

Republican leaders in the state Senate canceled debates on three bills in a budget-balancing package. One measure would have cut aid to public schools by $128 million, or $279 per student, by June 30. Another would have increased personal income taxes to raise $660 million over two years, starting in July. A third would have authorized $100 million or more in internal government borrowing.

The debate was supposed to represent a key test of the Republican-controlled Legislature's appetite for spending cuts, tax increases and defying Brownback. Republican leaders announced the Senate would debate no legislation until members can agree on budget-balancing proposals.

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