TheRepublic.com - Kansas State Legislature News

Land Institute hires former Kansas ag secretary

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:32:50 -0400

SALINA, Kansas - Former Kansas Agriculture Secretary Josh Svaty has become a vice president of the Land Institute in Salina, which works to promote a new sustainable agriculture system that minimizes environmental damage.

Kan. House speaker names new legislative director

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 05:07:43 -0400

TOPEKA, Kansas - Kansas House Speaker Ray Merrick has hired an attorney in the secretary of state's office as his new legislative director.

Kan. Gov. Brownback signs 2-year budget

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 19:55:39 -0400

TOPEKA, Kansas - Republican Gov. Sam Brownback on Saturday showed his frustration with part of the state budget passed by the GOP-dominated Kansas Legislature by vetoing the entire Department of Corrections allotment for fiscal year 2015.

Man working for third political party in Kansas

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:40:40 -0400

MANHATTAN, Kansas - A Manhattan man who has been both a Democrat and a Republican is working to form a third political party in Kansas to provide moderates a platform in the political process.

Gov. Brownback signs Kansas income tax cut bill

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:12:50 -0400

TOPEKA, Kansas - Proclaiming Kansas "open for business," Gov. Sam Brownback on Thursday signed into law a measure that makes additional income tax cuts over the next five years while generating new revenue through higher sales taxes and other adjustments.

Analysis: Kan. tax plan triggers spending controls

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 12:40:30 -0400

TOPEKA, Kansas - Important but relatively little-noticed provisions in the tax plan approved by Kansas legislators this year embody conservative Republicans' vision for long-term constraints on government spending.

Kan. gov. mulls decision on higher education cuts

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 18:09:36 -0400

TOPEKA, Kansas - Gov. Sam Brownback said Friday that he's reviewing "all options" for lessening cuts in higher education spending approved by Kansas legislators, but his choices appear to be limited.

Western Kan. legislator resigning later this month

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 14:20:11 -0400

TOPEKA, Kansas - A state legislator from western Kansas announced Thursday that he's resigning later this month because he wants to spend more time with his family and can't juggle legislative duties with a growing family business.

Kan. House chairman defends GOP's latest tax bill

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 16:19:19 -0400

TOPEKA, Kansas - The chairman of the Kansas House committee on taxation says it's "misleading" for Democrats to describe newly approved tax legislation as a tax increase.

Recent Kansas editorials

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 08:35:44 -0400

The Garden City Telegram, June 2

Analysis: Kan. GOP pushed tax plan as old business

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 16:49:31 -0400

TOPEKA, Kansas - Gov. Sam Brownback and his Republican allies pushed new revenue-raising proposals through the Kansas Legislature this year by portraying them as unfinished business from the massive personal income tax cuts approved last year.

Kan. lawmakers wrap up business on long 99th day

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 03:41:28 -0400

TOPEKA, Kansas - Kansas legislators have finished their business for the year after stretching the 99th day of their annual session well past midnight.

Republican tax plan clears Kansas Legislature

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 03:11:15 -0400

TOPEKA, Kansas - Kansas legislators gave final approval early Sunday morning to a plan for raising new revenues to prevent future budget shortfalls even as the state further reduces income tax rates.

Kan. legislators approve budgets next 2 years

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 03:02:40 -0400

TOPEKA, Kansas - Kansas legislators have given final approval to a proposed state budget for each of the next two years despite criticism of cuts in spending.

Kan. House defeats bill stalling school standards

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 00:50:26 -0400

TOPEKA, Kansas - Kansas House members rejected a measure late Saturday aimed at delaying or blocking new, multi-state standards for math and reading in public schools.

Kan. governor, GOP leaders promote new tax plan

Sat, 01 Jun 2013 22:20:38 -0400

TOPEKA, Kansas - Republican Gov. Sam Brownback and GOP leaders in the Kansas Legislature are promoting a new tax plan as pro-growth economic policy.

Mo. lawmakers tackle specialty license plates

Sat, 01 Jun 2013 13:29:57 -0400

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri - A Kansas Jayhawk on Show-Me state license plates? Missouri lawmakers resoundingly said "no way." But an Arkansas Razorback? That still might be OK.

Kan. gov. signs bill restricting lobbying on guns

Fri, 31 May 2013 20:35:34 -0400

TOPEKA, Kansas - Gov. Sam Brownback signed legislation Friday to restrict the use of state tax dollars to promote or oppose gun control policies, a measure championed by gun-rights supporters but seen by critics as endangering free-speech rights.

Lawmakers' work on Kansas' $14.5B budget advances

Fri, 31 May 2013 16:33:22 -0400

TOPEKA, Kansas - There's progress in Topeka toward passing state budgets of $14.5 billion for the next two fiscal years.

Kan. revenue secretary makes pitch to House GOP

Fri, 31 May 2013 13:38:29 -0400

TOPEKA, Kansas - Kansas Revenue Secretary Nick Jordan is trying to lessen resistance among House Republicans to raising new revenues by adjusting the state sales tax.

Kan. Democrat: Chances for tax plan slipping away

Fri, 31 May 2013 13:19:43 -0400

TOPEKA, Kansas - A Democratic state senator involved in Kansas legislators' tax negotiations says chances that Republicans can pass tax legislation this year are diminishing.

Kan. lawmakers backing off some higher ed cuts

Thu, 30 May 2013 17:01:16 -0400

TOPEKA, Kansas - Kansas legislators may be rethinking proposed cuts in higher education spending as they try to finish work on budget issues.

Kan. gov. optimistic despite stalled tax debate

Wed, 29 May 2013 15:34:05 -0400

TOPEKA, Kansas - Gov. Sam Brownback believes Kansas lawmakers are making progress in resolving tax issues even though the House and Senate have suspended negotiations for now.

Kansas officials break ground on NBAF project

Tue, 28 May 2013 16:25:17 -0400

MANHATTAN, Kansas - Kansas and federal officials said Tuesday they were pleased with a congressional budget committee's funding recommendation for a new $1.2 billion biodefense lab in Manhattan slated to conduct research on dangerous animal diseases.

Some kan. lawmakers forfeit OT

Sun, 26 May 2013 15:42:55 -0400

TOPEKA, Kansas - Some Kansas lawmakers have have decided to turn down additional pay as the Legislature heads past its 90-day session limit.