Kansans could see more road work under a 10-year transportation plan given preliminary approval Monday by the state Senate.
About half of Democratic Governor Laura Kelly’s $10 billion plan would go to repairing highways and bridges.
Republican Senator Richard Hilderbrand says it can be done without raising taxes if lawmakers stop using state highway money for other programs. His amendment to forbid that practice was voted down.
“We can have the best plan there is, but if we do not have our funding secure, we cannot implement that plan,” he said.
Lawmakers routinely used highway dollars for other state services after the 2008 recession and tax cuts passed by Republican Sam Brownback when he was governor.
Kelly has slowed those transfers and pledged to stop them by 2023. The senate still has to take final action on the plan.
Daniel Caudill is a Statehouse intern for the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter@byDanielCaudill. The Kansas News Service is a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio focused on the health and well-being of Kansans, their communities and civic life.
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