Topeka ? After five hours of venting frustration with the Kansas Supreme Court, senators inched closer Wednesday to complying with a July 1 deadline to increase funding for public schools.

Senators tentatively approved a $161 million package as the first special legislative session in more than 15 years got under way. A final vote, which could send the bill to the House, was scheduled for Thursday morning.

But before taking that vote, Republicans planned to meet in a closed session with Attorney General Phil Kline to discuss the ongoing school finance litigation. The Supreme Court issued a ruling June 3 ordering a $143 million increase in funding in a case that was filed in 1999.

Senate leaders had hoped to take final action on the plan Wednesday, but were derailed by conservative Republicans, who forced a protracted debate.

Sen. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler, said it was wrong for legislators to debate a funding increase without first taking steps to make sure schools open in August – regardless of whether the court accepts any package.

“We’re sending a clear message that the court can order a specific remedy,” Huelskamp said.

But Senate Education Committee Chairwoman Jean Schodorf said it is important to address the court’s order first and deal with constitutional issues regarding the separation of powers later.

“We didn’t like the decision, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t have the authority to make the decision. They did,” said Schodorf, R-Wichita.

Sen. Susan Wagle, R-Wichita, told her colleagues they were moving too quickly in trying to have a debate only a few hours into the special session.

“My God, this is even more than they asked for,” Wagle said during a caucus of GOP senators, comparing the plan with the court’s mandate.

The Senate Education Committee met Monday and Tuesday to assemble the $161 million package, which included $27 million in property tax relief. The plan would be funded by existing state revenues, helped by revised fiscal estimates last week that show the state expects to collect $172 million more in taxes through June 30, 2006.

However, to sustain the school package and prevent cuts in other state programs, the Senate Ways and Means Committee has drafted two proposals for expanding gambling.

Meanwhile, in the House, Education Committee Chairwoman Kathe Decker said leaders decided the process would move faster if that chamber waited for the Senate package to advance. She described the plan as “a good starting point.”

“One dollar is too rich for some people,” said Decker, R-Clay Center. “I don’t know if there is consensus yet, but there is a sense of reality that something will be done. It’ll happen.”

Decker said the House was considering a funding increase of about $86 million.

During its regular session, which ended May 20, the Legislature increased public school aid by $142 million, or about 5 percent.

But the Supreme Court said that amount wasn’t sufficient to meet legislators’ constitutional duty to provide a suitable education. Justices said the total increase had to be $285 million, or about 10 percent, pushing total aid past $3 billion annually.

The court also said it could mandate an additional $568 million increase in education funding next year. That increase is based on a 2002 consultant’s study that found Kansas was underspending public schools by more than $850 million.