By Brian R. Hook
January 22, 2010

(KansasReporter) TOPEKA, Kan. – Furloughs for the Kansas Legislature are off the table until late in the legislative session, at the earliest, state Senate President Stephen Morris said.

“We talked about it,” Morris said. “It is just not going to work out.”

GOP leaders announced the furlough days and other proposed cost-cutting moves for lawmakers last week Monday during the opening day ceremonies.

The original plan was to furlough legislators without pay for the first three Fridays of the session. The Republican leaders also proposed a 5 percent pay cut for legislators.

A number of legislators had concerns about the furloughs and they were delayed near the end of last week. Michael White, chief of staff for the Senate President, told KansasReporter that the furloughs had been postponed and discussions were continuing.

Morris on Friday morning during a press briefing, however, said the prospects for furloughs were not good. But he added that the idea might be revisited later in the legislative session.