Kansas Senate Republicans held a private meeting last night on tax issues ahead of debate on Gov. Sam Brownback’s plan to move the state toward phasing out individual income taxes.

Senate Majority Leader Terry Bruce of Hutchinson told reporters before closing Tuesday evening’s meeting that GOP senators planned to discuss political strategy. He said they didn’t want Democrats to learn of their possible tactics.

Bruce also described the meeting as a “gripe session.”

The Associated Press lodged a protest.

Today the Senate will debate a bill containing most of the Republican governor’s plan.

The measure follows up on massive income tax cuts enacted last year by further reducing rates over the next four years. To stabilize the budget, it cancels a sales tax decrease scheduled for July.