We remain wary that voucher bills will still find their way into committees and onto chamber floors this session and urge you stay vigilant and continuing to educate yourselve and others on how harmful they are. As 2024 elections approach, also please understand that the reason we don’t have the ESA in Kansas yet is that we have a governor who understands how bad they are, and enough legislators to block a veto override even though there is a Republican supermajority. If we lose some of the pro-public education legislators in 2024, that could change in the 2025 session.
“‘I don’t know that there’s a path this session,’ Senate President Ty Masterson said in a recent interview.
“’We’re not going to spin our wheels unnecessarily. So, we’ll see how far we can get on what we can,’ Masterson said.
“While Masterson said school choice is still a priority, a veto from the governor is hurdle that will be incredibly difficult to overcome.
“’I can’t get to a veto override,’ Masterson said. ‘The governor is clearly against [school] choice. I’m not going to waste our people’s time.’
“Nevertheless, public education advocates have continued to voice their opposition to any bills that would allow tax dollars to subsidize private schools.
“They aren’t ready to let up on the possibility that the Legislature will take up that legislation regardless of leadership’s public comments.”
Published on Facebook on Jan. 17th, 2024.