Kan. House passes sales tax hike, sends it to gov.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - The Kansas House has approved a sales tax increase to bolster the state budget.

The 64-61 vote early Tuesday morning sent the bill to Democratic Gov. Mark Parkinson.

The tax bill already passed the Senate. Parkinson is expected to sign it, having urged lawmakers to raise taxes to protect education funding and government programs.

House members held their voting open more than four hours, and it see-sawed back and forth.

The bill will boost the 5.3 percent sales tax to 6.3 percent on July 1, when the state's new fiscal year begins. The tax increase is expected to raise $314 million during the year.

The new revenue will be needed to balance a $13.6 billion state budget that cleared the Legislature on Monday.