Kansas Legislature Has Full Agenda

Kansas legislators convene the 2012 session
this week with a full agenda of initiatives, ranging from tax cuts
to reforming Medicaid, school finance and state pensions.
In contrast from recent years, legislators return to the
Statehouse on Monday without a looming budget crisis. Revenue
shortfalls that approached $500 million in 2011 have been
eliminated. Legislators and Republican Governor Sam Brownback
expect to have a modest surplus at their disposal.
Brownback is preparing to outline his plan for reforming the
Kansas tax code when he delivers his State of the State address on
Wednesday. He has said in recent months that he wants to make
changes to improve the business climate and get more Kansans into
the work force.
The governor will present his budget to legislators on Thursday.