Voting against an extension of the legislative session would be a childish way for lawmakers to register their displeasure.

There is some concern among leaders in the Kansas Legislature that there will not be sufficient votes to extend the legislative session if lawmakers have not completed their essential work.

The only plausible rationale for ending the session before the state budget is approved is to make a statement. Regardless of who is doing the talking, Republicans or Democrats, forcing a special session of the legislature is a childish and stupid way to make a point.

There seems to be almost no chance that a state budget will be passed by the scheduled end of the session on April 13. That is not unusual. In many years, legislators take first adjournment and return later for a “veto” session. Although it originally was a opportunity to override a governor’s veto on any late legislation, the veto session has turned into a work session during which compromises on many important issues, usually including the state budget, are hammered out.

What is unusual about this session is the level of animosity and political posturing and the influence it is having on the progress of key legislation, such as the budget and congressional and legislative redistricting. Redistricting is complete for Kansas House districts, and the House has passed a congressional map. However, both the state Senate map and the congressional map are stalled in the Senate. Unfortunately, just about every other issue in the Senate is stalled along with it because of the political nature of the debate.

There is talk in both Houses that the contentious atmosphere between Republicans and Democrats and the stubborn adherence to a no-tax stand by conservative legislators might make it impossible to find enough votes either to pass a budget or to extend the session so the work can continue. It’s not possible for the state to move forward without a budget for the next fiscal year, so a special session would be inevitable.

The governor could call a special session, or two-thirds of the Legislature can petition for one. There have only been two special sessions in Kansas since 1967, but if legislators adjourn without passing a budget, there will be another one this year.

Forcing a special session rather than extending the regular session serves no purpose and creates some procedural problems. No bills could be carried over, so any bill considered in the special session would have to be reintroduced. Not only would that create administrative hassles, but many smaller, but still important, bills left hanging on April 13 probably would fall by the wayside.

A possible positive side to this situation is that many House-Senate conference committees reportedly are working hard to complete work on bills before the April 13 deadline. The most obvious negative aspect is that our state Legislature is so mired in political and ideological bickering that there seems to be no end in sight on the budget and other key issues.

There is, however, an end in sight to the session. It can be an orderly end that includes the completion of a reasonable budget in a reasonably extended session, or it can be a chaotic end completed with a forced special session. Any legislators considering showing their displeasure by voting against an extended session should grow up and get to work.