Government

Kansas lawmakers just returned to the Statehouse on Wednesday, but already it looks like a disagreement on taxes could push the session past lawmakers' 80-day deadline.

House and Senate Republicans disagree on whether to extend a temporary sales tax increase. It's set to expire on July 1, and House leaders want to let it end as planned. Republican leaders in both chambers want to lower income tax rates, and Senators say keeping the sales tax elevated allows the state to lower income tax rates more quickly.

More than 1,000 advocates for the developmentally disabled are rallying at the Kansas Statehouse to urge officials to maintain the current system for providing services.

The Kansas House's top Democrat says he doubts supporters of changing the process for selecting state Supreme Court justices can muster enough support to get a measure passed.

The chairmen of the Kansas House and Senate Judiciary committees say they're still pursuing changes in how state Supreme Court justices are selected.

Senator Jeff King of Independence and Representative Lance Kinzer of Olathe said Tuesday that they're working on a compromise for changing the state constitution to alter the selection system.

The Senate has approved the measure, which would change the to have the governor appoint the justices, subject to Senate confirmation.

Gov. Sam Brownback is continuing his statewide tour aimed at building support for protecting cuts to the Kansas higher education system.