Alva Review-Courier -

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly proposed Thursday that Kansas burn through more than half of its cash reserves to pay off some debt early while taking longer to close a long-term funding gap for the state pension system for teachers and government workers.

Kelly's budget director, Larry Campbell, outlined her proposed spending blueprint during a joint meeting of the House and Senate budget committees. He called it a "plan to restore fiscal responsibility" and later told reporters that it "smooths out the ride" for state government in future years.

"There are critical things tha...