The Latest: Kansas Senate approves budget-balancing measure

The measure eliminates a projected deficit of nearly $200 million in the state's $16.1 billion spending blueprint for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

A proposal to make it harder for the state to sell or turn over the operation of its two mental hospitals to private companies has been approved by the Kansas Senate.

The Kansas Senate has approved a proposal to prevent Republican Gov. Sam Brownback from balancing the budget through June 2017 by reducing or delaying payments to the state's public pension system.

Senators approved the measure on a voice vote Thursday evening as an amendment to a bill eliminating a projected budget deficit of nearly $200 million for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

The bill plan initially would have allowed the governor to delay up to $100 million worth of contributions to the public pension system to bolster the budget.

The Kansas Senate has rejected an attempt by its top Democrat to delay a debate on a bill that balances the next state budget.

Minority Leader Anthony Hensley of Topeka said the debate Thursday should be postponed in response to a Kansas Supreme Court ruling invalidating a state law that distributes aid to public school districts.

The Senate's plan would give the governor greater authority than the House bill to delay the state's contributions to its public pension system.