Highlights of Wednesday’s activities at the Kansas Legislature:

¢ Transportation officials won a key legislative endorsement for a plan to issue $210 million in bonds this spring to prevent already-promised highway projects from being canceled.

¢ The Senate Education Committee reviewed an audit that said the state must increase education spending by at least $400 million this year to meet judicial and constitutional mandates to adequately fund public schools.

Also:

¢ A proposal to exempt new business machinery and equipment from property taxes had bipartisan support, but even some legislators who like the idea worried it could rob cities and counties of revenue.

¢ Legislative leaders met with Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to discuss education funding.

Clock is ticking:

Wednesday was the third calendar day of the session, out of 90 scheduled.