Topeka (WIBW/AP) - A debate in the Kansas House on tax policy
was delayed almost as quickly as it got started Tuesday.

House Majority Leader Ray Merrick said he set the debate so Democrats who favored tax increases could have their day.

However, after a series of amendments to restore tax exemptions
for churches and utility bills, legislators voted 64-57 to delay the debate until May 3. The bill that remains only eliminates the tax exemption on coin-operated laundry facilities.

Supporters of the motion say legislators need to know what the next official state revenue estimate is and how much spending is proposed in the 2011 Kansas budget. The budget is still being written by a House committee.

Others say it would be helpful to know now how much money is available as the bill is being written. Otherwise, that budget is
going to include deep cuts.

Merrick, however, said it was an attempt by Democrats to hide their support for large tax increases and avoid the committee process.

:A debate was scheduled...in order to fully vet the 2010 tax structure in the state,” Merrick said in a statement. “The state, like hard working Kansans, should live within its means. Regardless of the economic times, this debate is an important step in first determining what taxpayer revenue is available to us before we spend it. This is indicative of the larger problem that these members fail to grasp. The state does not have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem.”

House Speaker Mike O'Neal agreed.

“Make no mistake, (this) procedural vote to delay debate and a vote on tax policy proves that Democrats and some Republicans intend to conceal their support for tax increases on Kansans until the final hours of the legislative session in the hope that Kansans won’t notice or in the hopes of convincing their constituents that they had no choice," O’Neal said.

O'Neal and Merrick said House Republicans are working on what they called a responsible spending measure.

Gov. Mark Parkinson said they've been saying that all session and he'd like to see it.

"The Speaker and others in leadership continue to say that we can cut our way out of this," Parkinson wrote in his blog. "My response all along has been: show me where we can cut. If they can show me any cuts that we can responsibly make, I’ll consider them - but they have to be responsible cuts....It’s not enough anymore for the Speaker and others to just say we can cut. Show us the cuts."