Blog

“I heard these words many times from former Kansas Gov. Robert F. Bennett: ‘It doesn’t matter what the school funding formula is if you don’t fund the formula.’ “Although school funding has been an ongoing issue, in Bennett’s time there was never, ever talk about ignoring the highest court in the state. “That much, unfortunately, has changed dramatically.” Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/steve-rose/article64099172.html...

“The time is now for Brownback to get real, disavow his pride and govern with common sense. Under his leadership, Kansas isn’t headed in the right direction. “This plea comes from a newspaper that endorsed Brownback’s re-election bid for governor in 2014. At that point, The Topeka Capital-Journal concluded it was too soon to declare that Brownback’s economic plan wouldn’t work. “Not anymore. Evidence is abundantly clear…Instead, a massive decline in revenue makes it impossible to compose a stable budget. Public schools lack necessary funding. The state highway system has been robbed of funds to fix shortfalls. Public...

“What will be next?”… “It seems impossible to many Kansans that the governor and legislative leaders can’t recognize that the course they are on is damaging to the state and its residents. Even more unbelievable is that they can see that damage but are unwilling to do anything about it. Their refusal to consider any adjustment to large income tax cuts passed in 2012 lends credence to the suggestion of some observers that the current financial situation might be exactly what the governor and other leaders who favor smaller government planned all along. It’s hard to cut spending,...

“But the cause of the lawsuits is the Legislature’s failure to meet its constitutional obligation to suitably fund K-12 education. As a result, here is what happens: Districts sue; the courts rule in the districts’ favor; the Legislature agrees to fully fund education; it reneges on that promise; the cycle repeats. Want to avoid more litigation? Honor the funding commitments.” Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/now-consider-this/article63913287.html....