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Kansas House GOP leaders outline their own tax proposals

TOPEKA (AP) – Republican leaders in the Kansas House leaders have developed a tax plan that keeps key elements of GOP Gov. Sam Brownback’s income tax proposal but adds a sales tax decrease.

House Speaker Mike O’Neal said Friday that the plan supports the general goals of Brownback’s administration to decrease individual income tax rates and help 191,000 business operators.

The plan also keeps a much-criticized proposal from Brownback to eliminate a tax credit for poor workers and their families while putting more money into social services.

But the House GOP’s plan would decrease the state sales tax from 6.3 percent to 5.7 percent in July 2013, as currently scheduled under Kansas law. And cuts in income tax rates wouldn’t occur unless overall state revenues grow.

Some Kansas legislators say a decision by House Republican leaders to draft their own tax plan shows that Gov. Sam Brownback’s proposed overhaul of the individual income tax code cannot pass.

Sen. Dick Kelsey, a Goddard Republican, said the governor’s plan can’t pass the Senate. He said it has numerous provisions that draw at least a little opposition.

Democratic leaders said those provisions would make it difficult for either chamber to approve Brownback’s plan.

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