A joint House-Senate conference committ ee is poised to approve a revised version of the tax bill recently sent to the Governor by the House of Representatives. An Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) analysis of the agreed-upon tax bill shows that it would reduce state tax collections by about $680 million a year, and increase taxes on the poorest 20 percent of Kansans.

The Kansas Legislature’s approval of a tax-reduction bill that will plunge the state general fund into the red beginning in 2014 could critically damage public education in Kansas. If Gov. Sam Brownback signs H.B. 2117 into law, local school districts will need to start planning immediately for huge reductions in state aid.

This isn’t just a challenge for local school boards and school faculty. This is a challenge for our entire community.

Gov. Sam Brownback loaded up the 2012 Legislature with bold proposals on taxes, school finance, Medicaid, water and state employee pensions, all on top of lawmakers’ mandatory budget and reapportionment duties.

“Our season is short, the needs are great and people, particularly our children, are depending on us,” he told lawmakers in his State of the State address in January.

Yet the state of the GOP-controlled state government as of Friday, which was supposed to be the last day of the 90-day legislative session, was utter failure.

President Obama today announced that he now supports same-sex marriage, reversing his longstanding opposition amid growing pressure from the Democratic base and even his own vice president.

In an interview with ABC News’ Robin Roberts, the president described his thought process as an “evolution” that led him to this place, based on conversations with his own staff members, openly gay and lesbian service members, and conversations with his wife and own daughters.