Kansas Democrats have made funding for public schools a major issue in legislative races, highlighting key differences between them and Republican Governor Sam Brownback.

Democrats are criticizing Brownback and his conservative allies over massive income tax cuts enacted this year, suggesting they’ll create big budget problems. They contend the tax cuts will force the state to dramatically reduce aid to public schools.

Brownback sought to undercut the criticism in a news conference, arguing the tax cuts will spur economic growth that will allow the state to boost school funding.

The back-and-forth showed how Democrats see increased spending on public schools as a much higher priority than tax cuts, while Brownback and his allies place the biggest premium on reducing income taxes to stimulate the economy.