“When the clock struck midnight Wednesday, Kansas House members left without locking in votes on a tax plan meant to prevent massive budget cuts to education and other state services.
“’This is the last train out of here,’ House Speaker Ray Merrick, R-Stilwell, had told House Republicans earlier, before debate on a tax plan designed to fix the state’s $400 million budget deficit. ‘There’s not another bill coming. This is it.’
“But not all of his party was ready to board that train.
“The main tax increase bill, HB 2109, failed to gain enough support when lawmakers first cast their votes. The initial count was 44-71, with 10 lawmakers absent. House leaders ordered ‘a call of the House,’ a procedure that requires the Kansas Highway Patrol to attempt to find missing lawmakers.
“House members settled in to wait, with bill supporters hoping additional votes would either arrive or lawmakers would change their votes.
“House Majority Leader Jene Vickrey, R-Louisburg, pleaded with members to cast their votes in favor of the bill, saying that “none of us can comprehend what is going to happen to our citizens” if lawmakers do not pass a tax plan to stave off budget cuts.
“It didn’t work. The House kept shedding votes and by midnight the tally was 29-86.”
Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article23685964.html#storylink=cpy