The Kansas House has approved a bill that would erase a shortfall in the next state budget, and the Senate is preparing to debate its own budget-balancing plan.
The House vote on its bill Thursday was 68-56. It came after Democratic Rep. Jim Ward of Wichita sought unsuccessfully to delay action because of a Kansas Supreme Court ruling on education funding.
Lawmakers must eliminate a projected deficit of nearly $200 million in the state's $16.1 billion budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
The Senate was debating its plan later Thursday.
The Senate's plan would give the governor greater authority than the House bill to delay the state's contributions to its public pension system.
After both chambers pass their bills, they'll appoint negotiators to draft a final plan.