JOHN HANNA, Associated Press
NICHOLAS CLAYTON, Associated Press

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas House members are preparing to finish voting on a bill that would raise taxes to close a budget deficit.

But heading into Thursday’s session, they appeared poised to vote the measure down and increase the likelihood of deep spending cuts.

The House broke off its session at midnight Wednesday in the midst of the tax vote and was to pick up its work at the same point.

The roll will be open under a procedure that was used to call in 10 absent members to vote. The tally stood at 86-29 against the bill, but it’s not yet final.

The measure increases sales, cigarette and business taxes to help raise more than $400 million to balance the budget lawmakers have approved for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

—————–

JOHN HANNA, Associated Press
NICHOLAS CLAYTON, Associated Press

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas House has adjourned in the midst of a vote on a bill raising taxes to close a budget shortfall with the measure failing.

The House ended its session at midnight Wednesday. Its GOP leaders relied on a rule that cuts off business at that hour unless members vote to extend it.

Top Republicans said the House would reconvene Thursday morning at the same point. The roll will be held open so that 10 absent members can vote.

The last unrecorded tally was 86-29 against the bill. It raises sales, cigarette and business taxes to help raise more than $400 million during the fiscal year beginning July 1.

The tax increases are necessary to balance the $15.4 billion budget already approved by lawmakers for the next fiscal year.