Government

The Kansas House has given first-round approval to a bill cutting sales and income taxes after rejecting a diversion of highway funds to stabilize the budget.

The bill advanced Wednesday on an 82-37 vote, suggesting it has enough support to pass on final action, which is expected Thursday.

The legislation follows up on personal income tax cuts enacted last year by promising income tax rate reductions each year that overall state revenues grow more than 2 percent.

Also, the bill allows the state sales tax to decline as scheduled in July.

The Kansas House Wednesday rejected a proposal by Democrats aimed at reducing the property taxes paid by Kansans.

The Kansas House has given first-round approval to wide-ranging abortion bill.

Abortion-rights advocates consider the bill on the chamber's Tuesday agenda the biggest threat to abortion services proposed in the 2013 Kansas legislature.

Supporters contend the measure will lessen the state's entanglement with a procedure that many residents find objectionable.

The bill would prevent groups that provide abortions from receiving tax exemptions or credits that go to other nonprofit groups or health care providers. It would also bar women who claim income tax deductions for medical expenses from including the cost of abortion services.

A Kansas House committee has advanced a bill that would overhaul the state's civil service system.