Topeka ? A bipartisan coalition in the House approved a budget Saturday after a grueling marathon debate, but delayed voting on a $314 million sales tax increase to fund the plan.

Supporters of the proposed budget and tax increase expressed optimism that they had the votes to clear the final hurdles, but with a number of other issues still up in the air, legislative leaders decided to return Monday rather than try to wrap up the session early Sunday.

Gov. Mark Parkinson said he was disappointed the Legislature didn’t complete the session, but added, “I understand the amount of work that still lies ahead and the importance of doing it right for the sake of Kansans.”

Legislators have been mired in a fight over how to resolve one of the worst budget shortfalls in state history.

Budget passed

Meanwhile, anti-tax interests went on the attack, saying that the proposed tax increase would burden Kansans and hurt the economic recovery, and that the Legislature should have made more cuts.

“As of today, the Legislature has failed to address the needs and wishes of the business community,” said Kansas Chamber President Kent Beisner. “It has instead catered to the needs of those at the government trough,” he said.

Beisner vowed to politically punish legislators who supported the tax increase, saying, “In the coming weeks, we will be working tirelessly to expose those who voted to impose higher taxes on job creators and families.”

The Senate has approved increasing the state sales tax rate by 1 cent, from 5.3 cents per dollar to 6.3 cents per dollar for three years. Both the House and Senate have approved similar spending plans that will require the new tax revenue, but the House has not voted on taxes yet.

The House budget was approved by a bipartisan coalition after 18 hours of debate that ended at nearly 4 a.m. Saturday. The House then took a short break and returned in the afternoon to give the plan final approval, 71-52.

The coalition of Democrats and Republicans has argued that approximately $1 billion has already been cut from a $6.4 billion state budget during a record tax revenue drop over the past 18 months as Kansas settled into the national recession.

More cuts would be devastating to schools, social services for the elderly and those with disabilities and public safety, coalition members said.

“Maintaining these investments will keep Kansas on the road to economic recovery,” said House Democratic Leader Paul Davis, of Lawrence. “I am extremely proud of the strong bipartisan coalition that put this package together, despite the political risks involved.”

Area legislators voting for the House budget were state Reps. Barbara Ballard, D-Lawrence; Tony Brown, D-Baldwin City; Davis; Ann Mah, D-Topeka; Tom Sloan, R-Lawrence; and Lee Tafanelli, R-Ozawkie. State Rep. Anthony Brown, R-Eudora, voted against the budget.

More issues

Early in the day, some legislators said they were close to wrapping up their business. But as the day continued, too many issues and long debates cropped up.

The Senate approved a measure aimed at increasing seat belt regulations that will draw down approximately $11 million in federal dollars.

The bill will make not wearing a seat belt a primary violation, which means police can pull over a motorist for that violation alone. Currently, seat belt violations are secondary, meaning that police can ticket unbelted motorists only if they are first stopped for another infraction.

Under the legislation, a seat belt infraction will be $5, a significant decrease from the original proposed fine of $60 fine. The fine will increase to $10 next year.

State Sen. Dwayne Umbarger, R-Thayer, said lowering the fine was necessary to get House members to agree to the bill. The measure is now back before the House for consideration.

The Senate also approved and sent to the House a bill calling for the start of licensing of day care centers and setting up regulations for supervising children in day care.

On education

The House debated and gave preliminary approval, on a 63-59 vote, to a change in the school finance formula that was sought by Johnson County legislators to allow school districts greater authority to increase local property taxes. The bill was called “Johnson County candy” by some legislators.

Opponents of the measure said the legislation was a blatant violation of a 2005 Kansas Supreme Court ruling that called for more equitable school financing, and would leave poorer districts behind. Politically, passage of the measure was seen as necessary to generate enough votes to pass the overall tax increase to balance the budget.

On another issue, the Legislature finished work on a bill that would remove many university faculty from having to file a statement of substantial interest. Filling out the disclosure form has been required for any faculty member earning $50,000 per year or more, but the legislation will change that to those making $150,000 per year or more.