A top Republican in the Kansas Senate says he made a mistake in supporting Gov. Sam Brownback’s 2012 income tax cuts and will not seek re-election because of the state’s political climate.

Sen. Vice President Jeff King of Independence was the only member of Senate leadership to vote this week against a budget that will require Brownback to make more cuts in order to balance.

King played a major role in reforming the state’s pension system during the governor’s first term. He strongly objected to the Legislature’s decision to delay a $96 million payment to the pension fund to help fix the current budget.

He says blindly following the status quo is not governing, but rather political cowardice that can’t be rewarded.