Sen. Les Donovan said the amendment would complicate the process as legislators try to reduce taxes without wrecking future state budgets. The Wichita Republican suggested other motives were at play to derail the tax discussions because the property tax provision was already part of the mix.

“We always do this. It is an appropriations bill. It’s just a matter of whether we fund it,” said Kelly, a Topeka Democrat. “We’re not setting tax policy. We’re starting to restore funding. That’s all we’re doing.”

The budget also increases funding for residents with physical and developmental disabilities, adding $5 million to reduce waiting lists for services. The Department of Justice has been investigating complaints that the state hasn’t done enough in recent years to reduce waiting lists for services as state revenues have shrunk and budgets reduced.

Sen. Vicki Schmidt, a Topeka Republican who carried the amendment, said her goal was to respond to constituent concerns about property taxes.

Senators added $45 million a year for four budget years for cities and counties to reduce property taxes. The money restores a revenue-sharing program that began in 1938 but was suspended in 2002 when the state faced financial difficulties.

The effort would ensure that if the tax negotiators are unable to agree on a bill that cities and counties would still receive funding, said Sen. Laura Kelly.

Senators also amended the budget to add $50 million to increase base state aid for schools, plus $27 million to equalize school aid payments among poorer districts. Language authorizing the increases is in another bill already approved by the Senate but pending in the House.

“I find this not only offensive, I find it a very dangerous policy change,” Donovan said. “It’s too bad we’re doing this in this manner. It shouldn’t happen this way.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Senate on Wednesday approved a $14.4 billion state budget for the next fiscal year after adding money for public schools and property tax relief.

The 34-5 vote sends the bill to the House, where a separate spending plan for the fiscal year that starts in July is awaiting debate.

One proposed component of the school-funding plan that was not added to the budget bill would allow school districts to increase the percentage of local property taxes that could be raised to augment state spending. The rate could increase from the present 31 percent to 32 percent in 2012-13 school year and up to 33 percent in the 2013-14 year if approved by school district voters.

The chairman of the Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee objected to the tax-relief money, saying it interfered with work by other legislators to reach a compromise on a sweeping tax bill that includes changes in income tax rates for individuals and businesses.

“We’re bound and determined we don’t want certain people to get credit for good tax policy.”

Photo: John Sciulli / Getty Images

After cramming a city’s worth of menswear offerings into a single MAN Day for the last few seasons, London is planning to give its standout men’s offerings a bit more room to breathe. The first men’s-only London fashion collections (technically three days, rather than a few weeks) will take place June 15 to 17, with opening programs including a launch event hosted by Prince Charles. In addition to the young London designers who have been showing on MAN DAY—like J.W. Anderson, James Long, Topman, Lou Dalton, and Christopher Shannon—the new opportunity has lured several U.K. brands back to their home turf, including Pringle of Scotland and Nicole Farhi, who have been showing in Milan, and Dunhill. E. Tautz, Hardy Amies, and Richard James will show ready-to-wear collections on Savile Row, and Richard Nicoll (pictured) will debut a menswear collection. The full schedule is now available at www.londoncollections.co.uk.
—Matthew Schneier

The perfect accent to a neutral camel coat or olive utiliarian look has got to be leopard. You can point to the influence of the 1950’s in fashion, as well as Mad Men style making you mad for this. The greatest thing about leopard is that it works all the time. It’s very sexy and very dangerous.

By Sasha Charnin Morrison for UsMagazine.com. To read more of the Recessionista blog, click here.

I also love leopard accents and accessories. If you’re going to make one big trend purchase, it could be a leopard bag, a high heel, a flat ballerina, a scarf (like Jessica Alba here) or a printed belt. If you love things that are understated, then go for a small leopard piece. If you’re a catwoman, spring for a faux fur. There is truly something for everyone - just make sure you snap it up before it flies out of the stores!

It’s a great accent to the olive military trend as well. Belt the cardigan  around the waist and mix with a olive green skirt and that’s a great way to merge two hot trends together.

I like this cardigan from Ann Taylor paired with a nice, fitted black dress or a tank top with a pencil skirt. It gives you a very pulled together, elegant and chic look that really won’t ever go out of style. Camel, beige and nude are usually considered neutrals, but somehow this comes along and works with everything too.

It is followed by the 12-song set, which was originally broadcast to two million cinema-goers across America in March 1964, a month after it was recorded.

Rare footage of a Beatles concert lost for 48 years is to be given a limited screening in the United States.

The footage then disappeared, but Screenvision, who are behind the new movie, say the original master tapes have been restored and remastered.

It will then be screened in theatres across America on 17 and 22 May.

The half-hour set - filmed at the Washington Coliseum in 1964 - was the band's first full US gig.

The first part of the film focuses on the rise of Beatlemania in the United States and contains commentary from Berry, Mark Ronson, Aerosmith pair Steven Tyler and Joe Perry and Albert Hammond Jr and Nick Valensi from The Strokes.

The concert, featuring performances of She Loves You and Twist And Shout, forms part of a 92-minute documentary entitled The Beatles: The Lost Concert.

The film, which includes an interview with Chuck Berry, premieres in New York's Ziegfield Theater on 6 May.

By Sasha Charnin Morrison for UsMagazine.com. To read more of the Recessionista blog, click here.

I just found a very similar match to her pair from Dots.com for — you might want to sit down — $20! That’s a far cry from the $160 price tag of the beloved J Brand.

The cut is also a nice switch from a skinny silhouette, if you’re tired of those. However, If you’re looking to elongate, this isn’t the cut for you. The style is best for long-legged beauties.

The detail and the fit of these are just as slimming as January’s jeans. And they can be worn like hers — with a fitted tank or black boatneck top, a classic bag and a mid heel pump or flat.

I loved the way that January Jones looked in her J Brand Gigi chopped flares in September — so cool and luxe.

Steve Madden, $150

By Sasha Charnin Morrison for UsMagazine.com. To read more of the Recessionista blog, click here

- Handmade to order

- Leather sole

I really love Jessica Simpson when she’s casual and wears a high platform clog. These shoes are a replica of the satin and leather Miu Miu clog shoes which retail for $490. These Steve Madden clogs are pretty similar and come in at $150. I like the height — and for a short girl, I need it. I love the comfort factor too, the foot bed is nice and wide and comfy and you won’t know you’re traisping around in a 5 incher.

This super attractive platform heel is handcrafted and comes in natural toned, leg-lengthening leather. The Melrow’s simple design makes this shoe ‘the one’ for dresses and jeans.

I know some of you are going to go medieval on me for this price of a shoe at $150 but you know, some shoes which are seasonless and timeless (this looks like a hippie shoe from the 1970s — hello, 30 plus years ago) are worth the extra $$$. This is a groovy shoe and Steve Madden can be your one big purchase as clog-like shoes are the rage right now.

I love the way Jessica mixes the neutral suede color of the shoe with a blue toenail polish for those of you who always try different colors of blue like the Essie Lapis of Luxury blue or the Turquoise & caicos green. It looks really fresh.

- Leather upper

- 5 inch heel

- 1 inch platform

Buy your flat sandals for $10-15. You can wear them now with rompers and summer dresses and later for pre-fall with jeans and then add a pair of grey tights and you’re still going to look current. Clogs will be with us for a while because they work really well with denim — which doesn’t seem to be going out of style. And if you’re not nuts for denim with eveyrthing, a maxi dress could work here as well as a cute floral sundress.

PRODUCT DETAILS

Buy it here.

Photos: Mark Sullivan / WireImage

The silhouettes we’ve been seeing on the runways and at our pre-fall appointments have been long, long, long. But no matter—at last night’s People’s Choice Awards, the celebrities (and their stylists) spoke, and they said “short.” Thigh-grazing frocks were the look of the evening, from Leighton Meester’s flower-embroidered Vionnet to Taylor Swift’s J. Mendel (the same dress recently seen on Natalie Portman on the cover of Vogue). And in what could be an argument for dressing for the award you want to win, Kristen Stewart looked as glittering as a gold trophy in her Reem Acra minidress—and beat Angelina Jolie to walk off with the Favorite Movie Actress prize.

Milan fashion week is over, and the fashion set has moved on to Paris, where the shows resume tomorrow. At last night’s amfAR Milano gala—a sort of closing ceremony to the week—we asked a few key insiders to name their favorite shows and moments of the Milan week. So, everybody: What’d you like?

“Jil Sander for the bold punches of color with a modernist slant, and Dolce & Gabbana for the purity.” —Giovanna Battaglia (above)

“I love how Gucci makes me feel. Frida [Giannini] is a designer who knows a woman’s body well. It’s an honor to wear Gucci during Milan fashion week.” —Chanel Iman

“Roberto Cavalli, because of the whimsical touches he adds to his clothes.” —Cheyenne Jackson

—reporting by Courtney Smith

Photo: Tommy Ton

The East Village Studded Clutch, available at Lulus.com, is so modern with the studs, and I am going bananas for the bone color. The wallet is made of fabulous faux leather, and as you unzip it, there are five credit card slots, and a zippered pocket with two wallet compartments on either side. Rock on!

OMG, I cannot believe this is just $26!

Purchase information: Buy it here.

Check out what other bags Hollywood is toting!

Hannah Deely, our accessories editor, was Web surfing recently and found the sickest wallet ever created! It’s to die for!

“We wanted to show how beautiful the pieces look in real life, not just under studio lights,” said Jodie Snyder, one half of the design duo behind Dannijo jewelry, at their Fall ‘12 presentation/dinner last night.

Their latest collection, Deco Gatsby, was modeled by a host of the designers’ friends, including Man Repeller’s Leandra Medine and Becka Diamond. “I love their statement cuffs—it’s like this necklace was made for me,” gushed Vena Cava designer Lisa Mayock; one piece was named in her honor.

The gathering at Kingswood was a welcome change from fashion week’s more formal presentations, with the sibling designers mingling around the room to check on their guests. “It was actually Lisa’s idea,” admitted Jodie of the seated dinner. “Vena Cava did a similar event for their last collection and it felt so much more intimate than a show.”

The jewelry, featuring vintage mosaics, oxidized glass, and mixed crystals, spans a spectrum of styles, and as with previous collections, the designer’s eye could be seen in each piece. “Danielle and I can have quite different aesthetics, but they always coordinate in some way,” said Jodie, motioning toward a spectacular turquoise necklace. “But look at all those crystals—that one’s mostly mine!” she laughed.
—Stephanie McDermott

Photo: David X Prutting / BFAnyc.com