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The University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The first copy is paid through the student activity fee. Additional copies of The Kansan are 50 cents. Subscriptions can be purchased at the Kansan business office, 201A Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS
The University Daily Kansan (ISSN 0746-0967) is published semimonthly during the school year except fall break, spring break and exams and weekly during the summer session excluding holidays. Annual subscriptions by mail are $250 plus tax. Send address changes to The University Daily Kansan, 20S1A Dole Human Development
Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045
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Legislators avoid furloughing state workers
BY KELLY CORDINGLEY
@KELLYCORDINGLEY
The Kansas legislature passed a bill preventing furloughs in the nick of time Saturday night, and the Senate passed its tax plan and the House's budget plan on Sunday night, making it possible to end the session on day 109 when the House reconvenes.
On Saturday, the legislature passed Senate Bill 11, a bill that deemed all state employees "essential," and prevented thousands of state workers, including University employees, from being forced to take time off without pay.
The budget bill passed last week by the House passed the Senate Sunday night 23-11. Sunday evening, the Senate passed a tax plan 21-17.
The new tax bill the House will take up today increases the sales tax to 6.55 percent, but it would drop the sales tax on food to 4.96 percent starting July 2016. The sales tax would now apply to things such as utility bills and prescription medications. Also, while it freezes the
income tax rates, it moved the deadline for income tax up, thus making it an increase in income taxes. It also doesn't tax the income of the 338,000 businesses in Kansas.
"It's a bunch of different things, but the most significant thing is it would repeal all sales tax exemptions in 2018, every entity would have to reapply for their exemption," Sen. Laura Kelly (D-Topeka) said. "That's huge. That's one to watch. If that goes through, I think Kansas businesses will move to get away from what is a chaotic and inconsistent tax environment, and it would make it difficult for businesses to trust Kansas."
Today marks day 109 of what usually is a 90-day session. This session is now the longest in history, surpassing 2002's session which lasted 107 days. Sen. David Haley (D-Kansas City) said he's never seen a session like this.
"I don't see where the middle ground is yet, and I don't know if anyone else does," Haley said. "This
SEE FURLOUGH PAGE 04
Gov. Sam Brownback signs the "Uber" bill into effect, bringing Uber back into Kansas immediately.
May 22
Costs: $602,000 Chancellor Bernadette Gray- Little releases a statement about the possible furloughs, and emphasizes every employee at the University is essential. The Democratic caucus holds a press conference to announce a bill that would prevent furloughs for all state employees. June 3 Day 104
Costs: $688,000. HR sends out emails informing University employees whether they're classified as "essential." June 5 Day 106
June 5 Day 106
May 16 Day 90
May 16 Day 90 This should have been the last day of the session. All support staff is sent home, saving the Kansas legislature roughly $17,000 a day.
Costs: $774,000 This session has now made history as the longest session of the Kansas legislature. June 7 Day 108
June 7 Day 108
May 29 Day 99
Costs: $387,000
Provost Jeffrey Vitter
sends out an email to
all University employees
warning of possible
furloughs.
Every additional day the legislature is in session costs taxpayers roughly $43,000.
June 4 Day 105 Costs:$645,000 The House passes a budget without the Senate having a tax plan to pay for it. University department heads are required to submit a list of essential personnel to Human Resources by noon.
June 6 Day 107
Costs: $731,000.
Ties with 2002 for the longest session in state history. The House and Senate vote on Senate Bill 11 to deem all state workers "essential." It is sent to Brownback to sign, which he does.
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