The Brownback Administration says non-essential state workers will have to be furloughed if there isn’t a budget deal by Sunday. State senator Jeff Melcher considers that an empty threat. Melcher says the House has already approved a budget and the Senate isn’t debating a spending plan of its own, so it all basically boils down to how to close the $406 million shortfall, and the blend of sales, income, and alcohol and tobacco taxes to do it.
