Kansas governor’s budget has fellow Republicans in revolt
The term-limited conservative Republican governor released budget proposals that were supposed to flesh out his plan to phase in a
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"I'm not sure what the logic is behind it," said state Sen.
Brownback's proposed
Lawmakers must come up with more money for schools after the
"I support the rule of law, and I will not stand to see schools closed because of inaction on our part," Brownback said in a statement late Wednesday, touching on fears that the court could shut down schools if lawmakers defy it.
If Brownback hoped to quiet the discontent within his party, he failed.
"This proposal marks a drastic departure from fiscal restraint," she said.
The governor's proposed budget also includes extra spending to continue pay raises granted in the fall for officers in the state's stressed prison system, cover gaps in funding for state mental hospitals and raise reimbursements for hospitals and nursing homes providing services to the poor and elderly.
"Thankfully the economy is stronger than it has been," Brownback said.
Brownback must leave office in
And top Republican legislators were angry because Brownback strongly criticized last year's tax increase, which rolled back past income tax cuts he'd championed in 2012 and 2013 following persistent budget woes. He accused them of using the new revenues to finance unnecessary spending.
House Majority Leader
Senate Majority Leader
Brownback's administration worked on its budget proposals for weeks, allowing hints to leak to lawmakers early.
Republican legislative leaders already had shown their displeasure with Brownback by blocking a plan to build a new prison in the
Brownback called such moves "political gamesmanship."
"It is neither constructive nor wise to hold hostage other critical initiatives," he said.
Legislators already are reviewing projections from their staff showing that even with last year's tax increase and no extra money for schools, budget problems could arise in 2020 and 2021.
Even
"There's a mean-spiritedness to this because he's putting the Legislature in a tough position by making these recommendations for all of this spending, which we can't afford," said state Sen.
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