Topeka ? Running for governor, Sen. Jim Barnett outlined Thursday a four-year, $400 million increase in K-12 spending that would attempt to satisfy a Kansas Supreme Court order without raising taxes or expanding gambling.

Barnett, R-Emporia, called his plan ambitious, designed to satisfy the state’s needs and stimulate the economy without breaking the state’s bank account. He planned to introduce the plan Thursday in the Senate Education Committee.

“We need someone with ambition and leadership. That’s what’s been lacking with our current governor,” said Barnett, one of six Republicans seeking the party’s nomination to challenge Democrat Gov. Kathleen Sebelius in November.

The plan calls for a $125 million increase in fiscal year 2007, beginning July 1, which includes $75 million in increases already required by state law. Spending would grow by $75 million in fiscal 2008 and $100 million each in fiscal years 2009 and 2010. The cumulative spending is more than $1.02 billion.

“This plan is affordable,” Barnett said.

Barnett’s plan is the first to emerge in the Legislature since the session began and since the release of a study from the Legislative Division of Post Audit. That report said Kansas needs to increase spending by between $400 million and $470 million annually.

House and Senate committees are reviewing the audit, but they’ve not started drafting legislation. Thursday was the 25th day of the 90-day session.

Sebelius spokeswoman Nicole Corcoran declined to comment on the specifics of Barnett’s proposal or its chances of passage.

“Just because something is introduced doesn’t mean that’s what it will look like when it makes it through both chambers,” she said.

Sebelius has been meeting regularly with legislative leaders, Corcoran said, to build the framework for a multiyear funding package that would not require tax increases. Details will be announced in coming weeks.

“I’m not sure on the time frame, but they agree that they need a package sooner rather than later,” Corcoran said.

School finance is a major issue again this year as legislators try to comply with a Kansas Supreme Court order requiring the state to spend more money to meet its constitutional obligations. Legislators last year increased spending by $290 million, pushing school funding over $3 billion.

But the court considered that a down payment and said it would order an additional $562 million this year.