State Budget Talks Continue

Kansas legislators are resuming budget talks with two contentious education spending issues to tackle.

House and Senate negotiators were meeting Friday to resolve the chambers’ differences on legislation spending about $14.5 billion in each of the next two fiscal years.

The House has approved a 4 percent spending cut for higher education. The Senate approved a 2 percent cut but is now suggesting that the reduction be limited to 1 percent. Republican Gov. Sam Brownback has been pushing for no cuts.

Negotiators also are considering a proposal to block the use of state funds to implement common standards for math and reading in public schools. Kansas is among more than 40 states that have adopted what are known as the Common Core Standards.