TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) â Kansas lawmakers return to Topeka to begin the 2015 session, with a massive state budget shortfall looming over most other issues.
The Republican-dominated Kansas Legislature is expected to spend much of the session debating how to address a projected shortfall of more than $710 million in the current budget and for the fiscal year beginning in July.
The shortfalls resulted from personal income tax cuts enacted last session at the urging of Gov. Sam Brownback. The governor is scheduled to offer a spending plan to address the budget shortfall Friday.
Before the session begins Monday afternoon, Brownback will be inaugurated for his second term and eight statewide elected officials and new lawmakers will be sworn in. The inauguration ceremonies have been moved inside because the forecast includes dangerous wind chills.