Topeka ? On Monday, House Republican leaders delayed debating their chamber’s latest school finance plan as opposition to it mounted.

House Democratic Leader Dennis McKinney of Greensburg said the three-year, $401 million plan had numerous “spit-in-the-eye” provisions that would be rejected by the Kansas Supreme Court.

The Court has ordered increased public school funding.

For one thing, he said, the measure would require the court to dismiss the school funding lawsuit before the second and third year of the funding would kick in.

It also would allow some teachers to seek merit pay by giving up their rights of due process under current contracts.

Also, the new proposal is less than the three-year, $633 million and three-year, $466 million plans that had gained majorities in the House and Senate.

“I don’t think it gets us to where our research says we need to be to address particularly the problems of children of poverty,” McKinney said.

The House is expected to consider the measure today. Rep. Kathe Decker, R-Clay Center, said the delay was caused by legislators who wanted to get their amendments drafted.

Meanwhile, the House approved the catch-all, year-ending budget bill that now goes to a House-Senate conference committee for negotiations.

The House budget plan was approved 64-58 with all Democrats and a number of Republicans opposed, including Rep. Tom Sloan, R-Lawrence.

Democrats were angered because the bill would pay for a $2.3 million livestock barn at the State Fairgrounds, but it failed to provide additional funds that had been sought by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

The additional funds were aimed to insure children and provide child care assistance for low-income working women.

Sloan said it was irresponsible to adopt the appropriations bill without having a better idea of how much would be needed in the final school finance bill.

But House Speaker Doug Mays, R-Topeka, said he voted for the measure because it was important to keep the process moving during the wrap-up session.

“It’s not the end product, and we have to move the process forward,” Mays said.