Sebelius pushes for Congress to pass a bailout package, help states

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is lobbying Kansas’ congressional delegation for a new stimulus package to help states deal with their financial problems.

Legislative researchers project that Kansas will end its 2009 fiscal year on June 30 with a $141 million budget deficit, and they say if the state’s problems aren’t addressed, the shortfall would grow to $1.02 billion by the end of fiscal 2010.

Sebelius, a Democrat, wrote the state’s Republican-dominated congressional delegation Friday. She said Congress should pass a new stimulus package with additional Medicaid and highway funds. The outgoing Congress could debate a package during a lame-duck session that begins next week.