Kansas House forwards economic stimulus plan

An economic stimulus and disaster relief package designed to focus help for businesses won House approval Monday.

One bill would rewrite corporate income tax laws by eliminating what some legislators see as loopholes for out-of-state corporations but lowering taxes for other firms; the state’s top corporate income tax rate would drop to 6.85 percent from 7.35 percent. Another bill would revise sales tax laws, with much of the relief going to nonprofit groups.

Together, the bills would phase in $58 million worth of corporate tax reductions over five years and provide another $33 million in relief over the next three years to businesses in disaster-stricken areas.

Both measures went to the Senate.