KS Legislature Approves Budget

The Kansas House has approved a proposed state budget for each of the next two years, but Senate leaders aren’t sure the plan can pass their chamber.

The House’s vote Saturday was 63-51. The measure emerged from negotiations between the two chambers on spending for the two fiscal years beginning in July.

Senators expected to vote Saturday night.

The bill sets a budget of $14.5 billion for the next fiscal year, an increase of 1.5 percent. However, the budget for the fiscal year beginning in July 2014 would be $14.2 billion.

Some lawmakers objected to cuts for prisons and higher education. Also, some legislators want to delay having long-term, in-home services for the developmentally disabled administered by private health insurance companies, as other medical services for the needy are now.