TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Top Republicans in the Kansas Senate have called off a debate on proposals to raise taxes after GOP senators criticized a new plan for closing a projected budget shortfall.

Republican senators ended a marathon debate early Monday morning shortly after GOP leaders outlined a plan to raise $411 million during the fiscal year that begins July 1. That’s just enough to close the budget gap.

The proposal includes pieces of a plan Gov. Sam Brownback outlined Saturday.

But when GOP senators took a break from their debate to review the plan, several were critical, and Majority Leader Terry Bruce said there wasn’t enough of a consensus.

Brownback proposed boosting the sales tax to 6.65 percent from 6.15 percent. The new Senate plan would set the rate at 6.5 percent

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Senate has approved a proposal to cut the state sales tax but rejected a companion measure to repeal exemptions to the tax to raise new revenues.

Senators were debating tax proposals late Sunday night. Lawmakers must close a projected $406 million budget shortfall for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

Some conservative GOP senators wanted to drop the sales tax rate to 5.95 percent from 6.15 percent but repeal numerous exemptions. Their plan would have raised $501 million during the next fiscal year.

Senators separated the proposal and on a voice vote approved the cut in the sales tax rate.

They later voted 30-9 against the rest of the plan.

The plan would have ended exemptions enjoyed by hospitals, blood banks and nonprofit groups like the Boy Scouts.