Topeka ? Senate budget writers today pared back Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ plan to spend $2 million to produce a new state brand and image.

Instead, the Senate Ways and Means Committee recommended taking $750,000 from the image effort and applying it to community-based transition services for convicted criminals.

Sebelius had proposed a reduction in funding for the inmate services, according to budget lawmakers.

“I can’t in good conscience,” spend money on developing a state image while shortchanging the state prison system, Senate President Dave Kerr, R-Hutchinson, said.

Kerr said many of the people who would have not received transition services under Sebelius’ proposal are sexual offenders. “You dump them out at prison gates … and we are clearly putting Kansas citizens at risk,” he said.

For more on this story, pick up a copy of Friday’s Journal-World.