Topeka ? The Legislature’s work on a compromise health care bill has stalled because Democrats continue to champion providing state aid to poor families so that more parents can have insurance.

House and Senate negotiators have agreed on the contents of the bill. The provisions include an expansion of state medical coverage for pregnant women, and greater state coverage for children in working class families and additional funding for clinics providing free or reduced-cost services to the poor.

Other changes would allow Kansans who lose or switch jobs to keep their old health insurance longer and are designed to make sure more Kansans get an income tax deduction for the premiums they pay.

But the Democrats’ two negotiators, Sen. David Haley, of Kansas City, and Rep. Geraldine Flaharty, wouldn’t sign the agreement, viewing the package as not ambitious enough. Their refusal prevented the Legislature from voting on the package Friday, before lawmakers began their annual spring break.

Republicans can get around them, but it requires an additional procedural step that will have to wait until legislators return April 30 to wrap up their business.

“You’ve got a lot of good things in here, but you’ve got a lot missing,” Flaharty told her fellow negotiators.

Republican negotiators were stunned, having resumed meetings Friday in an effort to wrap up work on the bill before the break.

“That’s unbelievable,” said Sen. Susan Wagle, of Wichita, her chamber’s lead negotiator.

The Legislature began the year with a 21-point plan from the Kansas Health Policy Authority to phase in a $330 million increase in spending on health program over five years. Lawmakers created the authority in 2005 to review health issues and manage some social service programs.

Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius endorsed the plan, but legislators never seriously considered the proposed increase in tobacco taxes necessary to help finance it.

Republican majorities in both chambers settled on less ambitious proposals. Their negotiators thought the compromise bill represented a significant step forward, and others agreed.

“I see this as pragmatic,” said Marcia Nielsen, the authority’s executive director. “While I know taking a first step doesn’t always sound like a huge leap for mankind, you can’t make any progress unless we make the first step.”

The compromise package would increase spending on health care programs by about $12 million during the fiscal year beginning July 1.

“I would like to see more,” said Sen. Jim Barnett, an Emporia Republican, a physician who wasn’t a negotiator but has been heavily involved in health care debates. “I don’t think it does enough, but it’s the best we could do.”