TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – Republican Gov. Sam Brownback reaffirmed in his State of the State address Tuesday evening that his goal is to eventually eliminate income taxes. But his plan for further reductions is tied to keeping the state sales tax at its current rate, rather letting it drop in July as previously planned.

Brownback also endorsed proposed constitutional amendments on education funding and the selection of judges for the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court.

Brownback’s speech came just days after a three-member panel of trial judges ruled the state must boost its annual aid to public schools by at least $440 million.

Brownback wants to spend $12 million to help Kansas elementary school students who struggle with reading.

The Governor says 29 percent of Kansas fourth-graders can’t read at a basic level. The governor says promoting elementary school pupils who can’t read is “irresponsible and cruel.”