2 Kansas state senators offering bipartisan plan to balance state budget

Kansas state senators offering budget proposal

TOPEKA, Kan. — Two Kansas state senators have come up with a bipartisan initiative to balance the state budget.

Democrat Laura Kelly of Topeka and Republican John Vratil of Leawood scheduled a news conference Tuesday afternoon in the Senate chamber to outline their plan. They declined to discuss details beforehand.

Kelly and Vratil both serve on the Senate Ways and Means Committee, which handles budget legislation.

Kansas lawmakers begin their annual session Jan. 11 expecting to face the challenge of closing a budget shortfall of up to $400 million in the next fiscal year.