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Kansas House Grounds Aviation Tax Credit Bill

Frank Morris
/
KCUR
Workers at the Beechcraft plant in Wichita.

Legislation aimed at helping the Kansas aviation industry has been grounded in Topeka.

The bill would have provided generous tax credits to engineering graduates who go to work in the Kansas aviation industry, as well as the companies that hire them.

Backed by the Wichita Chamber of Commerce as a way to reverse almost a decade of aviation job losses, it appeared to have some momentum.

Then members of the House Commerce, Labor and Economic Development Committee expanded it to include other types of workers and industries. That significantly increased the cost of the bill and made it a much tougher sell to lawmakers struggling to balance the state budget.

So, the committee tabled it, meaning it’s likely dead for the session.

Jim McLean is managing director of KMUW's Kansas News Service, a collaboration of KMUW, Kansas Public Radio and KCUR covering health, education and politics in Kansas. Follow him on Twitter @jmcleanks.