Block grant bill passes, legislators warn courts

Our legislature is refusing to listen to us, accusing us of being misinformed and threatening to change the courts if they dare to uphold the constitution rather than make our children pay the price for tax cuts that aren’t working.

“If the courts want to insist on this course of action, it could well cause a constitutional crisis in this state,” said state Rep. John Rubin, a Shawnee Republican who supported the block grant bill.

“’We certainly have the right to legislate in this body how we’re going to fund schools. If the courts think otherwise, they’re sadly mistaken.’…

“’What the Legislature and the governor don’t want to do is come up with any formula that focuses on the actual costs (of education) because that will involve a substantial increase,’ said Alan Rupe, the lawyer representing the school districts in the education finance case…

“’The more they get political,’ said Republican Rep. Scott Schwab of Olathe, ‘the more votes we get for judicial selection.’…

“’The block grant bill represents the governor’s unconstitutional, intentional and futile attempt to avoid the clear directives of the Supreme Court and the trial panel,’ said Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley of Topeka. ‘By passing this bill, we are standing witness to the unconstitutional disassembling of public education in the state of Kansas.’”

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/news/government-politics/article14677361.html

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