Topeka ? A proposal by anti-tax groups to limit state spending to the inflation rate is not realistic because of commitments already made to education and health care, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius said Friday.

Sebelius also said there are more confrontations on the way with President Bush over health insurance for low-income children.

Concerning the state budget, Sebelius criticized a proposal to limit growth in spending in the next state budget to the inflation rate plus population growth.

The proposal has been touted in an advertising campaign by Americans for Prosperity, the Kansas Taxpayer Network and National Federation of Independent Business.

“Out-of-control state spending is leading to a fiscal crisis in the state of Kansas, and we want to help inform the public of the consequences of overspending tax dollars,” said AFP-Kansas State Director Alan Cobb.

But Sebelius said the majority of increases in state spending have been because of court-ordered increases in school finance and escalating health care costs associated with Medicaid.

She said that backing off the commitment to public schools was “highly unlikely” and that neither she nor the Legislature would reduce services to needy Kansans.

On the federal front, Sebelius said that after meeting with congressional Democratic leaders this week, it appears there will be a continued standoff with Bush over funding of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.

SCHIP provides low-cost health coverage to the children of families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to purchase private insurance. The program covers 6.6 million children nationally, including 35,000 in Kansas.

Congress has approved a $35 billion increase in SCHIP over five years, which Bush vetoed.

Sebelius said congressional Democrats will continue to fight Bush over the issue but expect their best shot of overriding a veto is next fall.

“At that point, I am hopeful that Congress will step up and override because absent that, we will have to cut kids off of health insurance all across this country,” Sebelius said.