Sen. Terry Bruce
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Majority Leader Terry Bruce says the Kansas Senate might not pass another tax plan after a tight vote advanced a package this weekend.
The Nickerson Republican said Tuesday that he believes the bill to increase sales and cigarette taxes is fair and should be approved by the House. The House postponed a vote on the plan Monday and it wasn’t clear that members would debate it Tuesday.
Bruce said that if the House re-opens negotiations with the Senate over tax issues, he is not sure any modified plan could win Senate approval.
Lawmakers have been unable to agree on raising taxes by about $400 million to prevent a budget deficit. The $15.4 billion budget lawmakers have approved for the fiscal year beginning July 1 does not balance otherwise.