TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) – The Kansas House has approved a $4.8 billion budget proposal that likely sets the Legislature on the path to final negotiations over spending. The Senate recently approved its own budget and will conference with the House soon to craft a final plan.
Democratic Representative Henry Helgerson objected to letting that small group of lawmakers make most of the budget decisions. “You are losing your rights here in this body – the rights that are constitutionally given to you to look (after) and manage the budget,” he said.
The House plan includes some of Democratic Governor Laura Kelly’s recommendations that the Senate rejected, like adding $500 million to the state’s rainy day fund. But the plan doesn’t include school funding. Lawmakers moved that into a separate bill and paired it with some school policy changes.
