By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It looks like the Kansas Legislature is going to try to expedite matters to help themselves socially distance from each other.
"The House and Senate moved up their consideration of the main state budget," said Mark Tallman, Vice President for Advocacy with the Kansas Association of School Boards. The idea is they're going to try to pass a basic operating budget that can keep the state going as soon as possible, likely then, end the regular session early, and then frankly, go from there."
This would be a bit more extended break, but a break is common.
"The Legislature usually ends in early April and comes back at the end of April, early May for a couple weeks of what's called veto session," Tallman said. "They certainly could do that. Of course, we're now entering this world of many things closing and no certain time of maybe when people feel we ought to come back."
Putting off some decisions to the veto session has become common practice in recent years.
"It wouldn't be that unusual to say, we've got some things we want to get done that we'll hold off for a couple of weeks, or I guess, even months."
Also, some lawmakers may want to see what impact the inevitable slowdown in the economy has on state revenues before making decisions beyond a basic budget.