By KHI News Service, May 08, 2010
TOPEKA — The Legislature worked late again Saturday but stopped before finishing up a budget and companion tax package, necessary work before this year's legislative session can end.
Lawmakers decided to take off for Mother's Day with several other items also still undone, including a transportation plan, a bill that would mean stricter child care regulations and a proposed new nursing home bed tax intended to pull down more federal aid for the industry.
Work on the various remaining bills is scheduled to resume Monday.
The Senate earlier this week approved a budget and tax plan that calls for a 1 cent increase in the state sales tax.
The House on Saturday with a 71-52 vote finalized approval of its budget plan, but did not take up the question of taxes.
The Senate before stopping Saturday night appointed a conference committee to meet next week to start working out differences in the chambers' respective budget plans.
Senate leaders had hoped to conclude the session late Saturday or early Sunday. But House leaders said their members and staff were simply too tired to continue working.
The House didn't finish with its budget bill until about 3:30 a.m. on Saturday and then came back at 1 p.m. to start again.
"Tiredness is not an excuse that plays well with the public but we don't make good public policy at 4 o'clock in the morning," said House Minority Leader Paul Davis, a Lawrence Democrat. "We have run the staff into the ground. They've done amazing work but they've been here night after night after night."
"Unfortunately, we'll be back Monday," said House Speaker Mike O'Neal, R-Hutchinson.
"Our intention all day was to try to finish this session this evening," said Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, R-Independence. "The Senate has now taken every piece of business available to us and have acted on it and have either disposed of it and sent it to the governor or to the House. There is nothing more for us to do at this point and things will be clearer, minds more focused," on Monday.
The House is scheduled to return at 11 a.m. on Monday and the Senate is scheduled to return at 2 p.m.