JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The mayors of Kansas City and St. Louis say ending an earnings tax in those cities would have potentially devastating consequences on city services.

On Thursday, Republican Sen. Kurt Schaefer touted his proposal to eliminate the 1-percent tax on those who work or live in the cities.

Schaefer is running for state attorney general.

Speaking during a Senate committee hearing, Schaefer said the tax was unconstitutional and could be overturned in court. He also says it stifles economic growth.

Kansas City Mayor Sly James says losing the tax will mean the city will have to cut nearly 1,400 firefighters and police officers. St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay similarly cited concerns that ending the earnings tax would create funding problems.

The bill still needs committee approval to go before the full Senate.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri lawmakers would need to wait a year to lobby under a bill that has initial House approval.

House members gave first approval to the measure Wednesday. Members also voted to beef up the proposal from a full-session ban after officials leave office to a one-year ban that starts after a term ends.

Legislators now can immediately register as lobbyists after leaving office.

Columbia Republican Rep. Caleb Rowden’s bill would apply to elected officials, lawmakers and gubernatorial appointees who need Senate confirmation. It would apply to most of those elected or up for re-election after Jan. 1, 2016.

Columbia Democratic Rep. Stephen Webber, who’s running for state Senate against Rowden, says the measure should create a three-year ban on lobbying and should apply to everyone currently in office.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — An audit of the Kansas Department for Children and Families won’t include an investigation into whether the agency discriminates against same-sex couple.

The Wichita Eagle reports that the Legislative Post Audit Committee deadlocked on the proposed anti-gay discrimination investigation and eventually decided to delay the issue until its April meeting. The audit the panel approved Wednesday will focus on safety and privatization.

Sen. Michael O’Donnell, a Wichita Republican, says the audit will be the “most comprehensive” of the foster care system in the state’s history.

But Rep. Jim Ward called the decision “simply unbelievable.” The Wichita Democrat had proposed an audit of discrimination claims after several couples came forward in recent months. He accused lawmakers of voting to “cover up evidence of discrimination in a major state agency.”

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri cities would face limits on how much revenue from ordinance violations they could keep under a new Senate proposal.

On Wednesday, a suburban St. Louis resident told lawmakers she’s received fines for chipped paint at her home.

Republican Sen. Eric Schmitt says his bill aims to cut down on what he described as abusive practices by some municipalities to bring in money.

A new law sponsored by Schmitt last year lowered the percentage of revenue most cities can keep from traffic fines and fees from 30 percent to 20 percent.

This year’s bill would include money from municipal ordinance violations in that limit. Money collected above the cap would go to schools. The goal is to take away incentives for local governments to overly rely on fines and fees.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri lawmakers would need to wait a year to lobby under a bill that has initial House approval.  House members gave first approval to the measure Wednesday.  Members also voted to beef up the proposal from a full-session ban after officials leave office to a one-year ban that starts after a term ends.

Legislators now can immediately register as lobbyists after leaving office.

Columbia Republican Rep. Caleb Rowden’s bill would apply to elected officials, lawmakers and gubernatorial appointees who need Senate confirmation. It would apply to most of those elected or up for re-election after Jan. 1, 2016.

Columbia Democratic Rep. Stephen Webber, who’s running for state Senate against Rowden, says the measure should create a three-year ban on lobbying and should apply to everyone currently in office.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A new report shows U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran has amassed more than $3.1 million in cash for his re-election effort as 2016 kicks off. The Kansas Republican is running unopposed so far.

His campaign reported on Wednesday it raised about $750, 600 during the fourth quarter last year, with nearly $280,000 of contributions coming from political committees. It spent more than $322,000.

The campaign listed the transactions in a finance report, covering the period from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2015.

For this time in the election cycle, the campaign contends it has the largest cash-on-hand balance of any incumbent U.S. senator for Kansas in recent history. Deputy Campaign Manager Elizabeth Patton says in an email that the support is indicative that Kansans know and trust Moran puts Kansas first.

Missouri’s Republican U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt says he raised nearly $1.25 million during the past three months for his expected re-election campaign. Blunt’s campaign on Wednesday announced it had more than $5 million in cash on hand at the end of the most recent fundraising quarter.

Likely Democratic opponent Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander that day said he raised more than $870,000 in that same period. A release from his campaign notes he had more than $2 million on hand, less than half of what Blunt has to spend on the race.

Candidacy filing for the 2016 elections does not officially open until February.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The NFL is abandoning St. Louis again, and this time, the mayor has no interest in trying to bring pro football back.

League owners voted Tuesday to allow the Rams to move to Los Angeles starting next season. It means that St. Louis is losing a team for the second time in three decades. The Cardinals abandoned St. Louis for Arizona in 1987.

A governor-appointed task force had developed plans for a $1 billion riverfront stadium in St. Louis. The league determined the plan was inadequate, opening the way for the Rams’ move.

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay said Wednesday that he has “no appetite” for seeking another NFL team, based on what he called the dishonest way St. Louis was dealt with over the stadium issue.

MOUNT VERNON, Mo. (AP) — A southwest Missouri woman was sentenced to five years in prison in the death of her 4-year-old son.

The sentencing on Tuesday of Jade Murray of Aurora came after she pleaded guilty last week to second-degree domestic assault. She had originally been charged with second-degree murder in the December 2014 death of Skylar Bradley.

The Joplin Globe reports Murray was accused of hitting her son hard enough to knock him off his bed, causing his back to hit his brother’s bed. The boy died later at a Springfield hospital.

An autopsy determined he had a ruptured spleen and also suffered bruises across his body.