Kansas governor to outline plan to close budget deficit

Governor Brownback during Tuesday's State of the State address — Governor Brownback during Tuesday’s State of the State address

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The latest on Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback’s plan to close the state’s projected budget deficit (all times local):

4 a.m.

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback is preparing to release the details of his plan for balancing the next state budget.

Brownback budget director Shawn Sullivan was outlining the governor’s proposals Wednesday morning during a joint meeting of the House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means committees.

The state has a projected deficit of $190 million in its $15.8 billion budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

The Republican governor didn’t mention the shortfall in his State of the State address Tuesday evening and faced criticism from Democrats for the omission. But top Republicans in the GOP-dominated Legislature said they’ve known a budget-balancing plan was coming.