Senator Morris Upset With Sebelius’ Veto On Economic Development Budget

The Kansas Senate’s top Republican wants to keep an economic development agency from being folded into the state Department of Commerce.

Senate President Steve Morris said Tuesday that he’s disappointed that Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius vetoed the entire budget of the Kansas Technology Enterprise Corp.

The state created Kansas Technology Enterprise in 1987 to nurture emerging high-technology businesses, using Lottery profits to finance its operations.

Sebelius contends the agency isn’t as effective as it could be and that folding its programs into the Department of Commerce would save money.

On Monday, she struck $12.1 million in spending for the agency from a state budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

But Morris, a Hugoton Republican, says it has been effective as a stand-alone agency.