Kansas Legislature’s session this year among longest ever

? Kansas legislators are having one of their longest annual sessions ever this year because they haven’t resolved difficult budget and tax issues.

Lawmakers were convening Friday for the 99th day of their session. That’s nine more days than their leaders traditionally schedule.

Each extra day in session costs the state a total of more than $40,000.

Republicans in the GOP-dominated Legislature are divided over proposals for raising taxes to close a projected $406 million budget shortfall for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

Resolution of budget and tax issues isn’t expected until at least Saturday. That would be the session’s 100th day.

Only five sessions have lasted 100 days or more, according to legislative researchers. The longest session ever was in 2002 at 107 days.