Lawmakers Return To Work On Budget

Kansas lawmakers are returning to the
Statehouse to resume work on a budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
The House and Senate have both passed versions of a $14 billion
budget, which includes about $6 billion in state revenue.
Negotiators are trying to iron out differences, including how deep
to reduce aid to public schools and a 1.19 percent cut to most
state agencies.
Budget committees are meeting Wednesday to review the proposals
and other spending issues after taking a three-week recess for most
of April.
The 2012 budget takes effect July 1. The cuts are necessary to
close a projected a budget shortfall that at one point in the
session approached $500 million.