Topeka ? The Kansas House on Thursday gave preliminary approval to a bill that would authorize $110 million in bonds to build research facilities at three public universities, including Kansas University, but debate over the measure showed the deep divisions in the Legislature on the state’s overall budget problems.

The measure was advanced on a voice vote and will be given final consideration today.

The legislation would help fund construction of a biomedical center at KU, a food-safety lab at Kansas State and aviation facility at Wichita State.

Under the proposal, the state would pay off $50 million of the bonds, and the universities would be responsible to pay off the rest.

Higher education officials have said the schools’ payments would come from increased research activity.

Kansas Board of Regents Chairman Clay Blair praised the House action.

“This is a great start for Kansas. The urgency has been to capture the low interest rate that prevails in Kansas,” Blair said.

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Kenny Wilk, R-Lansing, called the initiative an economic-stimulus measure.

But several lawmakers voiced concern, saying that though they supported the research effort, the measure could lead to tax increases, higher tuition or cuts in other areas of higher education.

Rep. Andrew Howell, R-Fort Scott, said lawmakers shouldn’t vote on the measure until it gets a full report on the depths of the revenue picture.

Budget experts will meet today and are expected to report a worsening state revenue picture beyond the already-anticipated $426 million shortfall.

But Howell’s attempt to send the bill back to a legislative committee was defeated 32-87.

Rep. Rocky Nichols, D-Topeka, complained that the Legislature was putting in motion a new initiative without having fulfilled its promise to provide $45 million to higher education in the final installment of Senate Bill 345, a reform bill passed in 1999.

“We should not leave Senate Bill 345 behind,” Nichols said.

But Nichols’ amendment to delay issuance of the bonds until Senate Bill 345 funding was restored was defeated 51-69.

Other lawmakers said they were concerned that the cost of the research proposal would squeeze out other areas of higher-education funding and lead to tuition increases.

House Democratic Leader Jim Garner of Coffeyville, a Kansas University graduate, noted that his alma mater was considering doubling tuition over a five-year period.

Though the House refused to delay moving the bill, lawmakers did approve two amendments.

One requiring that laborers be paid the local prevailing wage on the projects, was adopted 62-58. The other, adopted 60-53, would pay for the state’s portion of the bonds out of lottery revenue that is currently used for economic development projects.