Topeka — House Democrats Wednesday tried to restore budget cuts to Kansas University and other regents schools, but Republicans defeated the proposal, saying it was simply a shell game.
During debate on the state budget, Democrats tried to divert to the regents about $6 million from $10 million that is being held to pay American Management Systems, a contractor that has been overhauling the state's tax collection system the past several years.
The AMS contract has long been a sore spot for many lawmakers, who complain the company has not done a good job and was partly to blame for a breakdown at the Kansas Department of Revenue in handling 1999 tax returns.
Under the contract, the state has paid AMS about $50 million and will owe it more depending on how much more tax revenue is collected. Estimates have reached $10 million.
Instead of holding that $10 million, Democrats said Wednesday the state should use part of it to restore cuts Gov. Bill Graves made to KU and other public universities. The contract is not going to be paid off until 2002, and there is bound to be some give-and-take between the state and AMS over how much is finally owed, Democrats argued.
"Make them (AMS) come back and prove they are entitled to the money," Rep. Doug Spangler, D-Kansas City, said.
But Rep. Ward Loyd, R-Garden City, said it would be irresponsible to spend that money since the state knows it must pay AMS.
The amendment to use the money to restore cuts to the regents schools was defeated, 58-64, with all 64 votes against it cast by Republicans.
State Rep. Tom Sloan, R-Lawrence, voted against the amendment, saying the $10 million has been committed to AMS. Lawrence Democratic Reps. Barbara Ballard and Troy Findley voted in favor of the amendment.
"It would be like robbing Peter to pay Paul, and then we still have to pay Peter," Sloan said.
No comments
Commenting is turned off for this story.