Kansas lawmakers return to tax cut debate; maps scrutinized

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers were set to end a spring break on Monday with more room to cut taxes and boost state spending than they had even a few weeks ago but not knowing whether they'll be debating political redistricting again.

The Republican-controlled Legislature was set to reconvene after a three-week hiatus to wrap up its business for the year, though state court cases involving the new political boundaries drawn by GOP lawmakers create some uncertainty over how long they'll be in session. They have yet to finalize a more than $22 billion budget for the 12 months that begin July 1, and Republican leaders and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly are at odds over how to cut taxes now that the state is flush with cash.

New congressional districts inspired three lawsuits and a state court judge in Wyandotte County was set to rule on them Monday, with an appeal to the Kansas Supreme Court expected whatever he decides. The state Supreme Court also is required to review legislative district lines by early June.

A new fiscal forecast for state government issued last week was even more optimistic than a rosy one state officials and university economists issued in November, projecting an extra $760 million in tax collections over the next 15 months. But the forecasters also warned that the highest inflation in the U.S. since the early 1980s is fueling much of that.

Republican legislators are poised to cut income, sales and property taxes by a total of $1.5 billion over three years. The bulk of those cuts are in two measures that are ready for final votes in the House and Senate.

Kelly recently intensified her campaign to eliminate the state's 6.5% sales tax on groceries, which is one of the nation's highest. Last week, she revived a proposal that GOP lawmakers have ignored that would...