Kansas House Adopts 2011 Budget

A second attempt at cutting the 2011 Kansas budget clears the House, but it is uncertain if the measure will see debate in the Senate.

The House approved a bill Wednesday that would give the state about $35 million in reserves on June 30. Many of the cuts are those that the House and Senate previously approved in their own spending cuts bill, but were unable to settle on during negotiations.

The bill also would ratify the cuts and shifting of dollars imposed Friday by Republican Gov. Sam Brownback. His actions would make use of new federal dollars to replace a cut in public schools to get the state to the break-even point in June.

However, Democrats argue Brownback’s actions were legally premature.