TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Senate is unsure whether it will debate a budget proposal on the 104th day of the legislative session.

Senate Majority Leader Terry Bruce said Thursday the chamber’s leadership is still weighing the two proposals before it.

Bruce had said earlier the Senate would consider a proposal to impose a 5.9 percent across-the-board cut to all government spending except debt payments. He now says the final language of the proposal was still being drafted.

Kansas faces a projected shortfall of about $800 million for the fiscal year beginning July 1. A budget passed Wednesday by the House would cut that roughly in half but would require tax increases to balance. Bruce says Senate leadership had not yet decided whether to consider that measure.

——————-

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Senate is set to debate a budget proposal that would cut roughly $400 million from state agencies, public schools and public safety programs.

Senate Majority Leader Terry Bruce said the chamber will take up the measure Thursday. It would impose a 5.9 percent across-the-board cut to all government spending except debt payments. Bruce said the final language of the proposal was still being drafted Wednesday.

Kansas initially faced a projected shortfall of about $800 million for the fiscal year beginning July 1. A proposed budget passed Wednesday by the House would cut that roughly in half but would require tax increases to balance.

Republican Sen. Ty Masterson leads the Senate Ways and Means Committee and said GOP conservatives would like to see an option with more spending cuts.