Kansas Senate Rejects Cuts In Sales, Income Taxes

The Kansas Senate has narrowly rejected a bill cutting sales and income taxes, repudiating Gov. Sam Brownback’s approach on the year’s signature issue.

The vote was 20-20, with a bipartisan coalition opposing the measure.

As it emerged from a three-hour debate Tuesday, the tax legislation was dramatically different from the Republican governor’s proposal to overhaul the income tax code. Senators added a sales tax cut and junked much of Brownback’s plan.

But on Wednesday, the potential cost of the bill, $829 million a year by 2014, scared off some senators.

Senators then approved, 38-2, a bill providing $180 million to cities and counties over the next four years to hold down their property taxes.

Revenue Secretary Nick Jordan called senators’ actions disappointing but said the debate will continue.