Topeka ? The 2002 session isn’t likely to end next week, despite Democrats’ recent unhappiness with how work was progressing.

On a voice vote Wednesday, the Senate adopted a resolution extending the session beyond a recess that starts April 14. The Legislature reconvenes May 1 for a wrap-up session scheduled for three or four days.

“We can go beyond that, but that’s not the plan,” said Senate President Dave Kerr, R-Hutchinson.

Last year’s wrap-up session lasted a record 13 days, extending the session to its 98th day. The 1991 session lasted 103 days, with a 12-day wrap-up.

The House must adopt the resolution for the session to be extended. House members could vote later this week.

The Senate adopted the resolution after Democrats stopped saying they might vote against extending the session and force Gov. Bill Graves to call the Legislature into its first special session since December 1989.

“This is an orderly way to conduct our business,” Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley said of the resolution.

Hensley, D-Topeka, said a major obstacle was removed when the Senate approved a bill redrawing its 40 districts. Graves had vetoed an earlier map and threatened to reject the latest map over lingering objections.

However, the Senate approved the map on a 29-11 vote Tuesday, and Graves backed away from a veto threat.

Likewise, the redistricting vote has led House Democrats to end talk of voting against the resolution. The measure needs 84 of 125 votes in the House.

“We wanted to see progress,” said House Minority Leader Jim Garner, D-Coffeyville. “We’ve seen what we wanted to see.”