Kan. Senate Democrats To Propose Tax Hikes

Kansas Senate Democrats say they are preparing a tax proposal that will include raising the income tax to help balance the state budget.Kan. Senate Democrats To Propose Tax Hikes

Minority Leader Anthony Hensley says Friday that the plan will also include raising the state sales tax. Gov. Mark Parkinson offered that idea during his state of the state address in January.

Legislators have reviewed and debated various sales tax proposals this session, including repealing some exemptions. But no measure has earned enough votes.

Senate Republican leaders have gone on record saying they would support raising taxes to close a projected $364 million hole in the state budget for 2011.

Hensley says if Democrats are willing to vote for a sales tax that Republicans have to at least consider raising income taxes.