It was an unusual day at the Kansas Statehouse Thursday, as Republicans from the House and Senate gathered to smooth out differences between the two chambers on tax and budget issues. Some lawmakers said it had been at least seven years since Republicans from the two chambers met as a group to discuss policy.
“It’s fun as we go out to our dinners and take potshots at each other almost as if we’re competitors," said Ty Masterson, a Republican from Andover who heads the Kansas Senate budget committee. "But in reality, we’re all part of the same team, we are the legislative branch.”