We’re sharing the content of a newsletter from Rep. Patton on the judicial selection constitutional amendment. We agree with his statement. Keeping politics and corruption out of our Kansas courts Dear Friends: Today, the Legislature debated a controversial Constitutional amendment that would have dismantled the Kansas system of judicial selection and replaced it with the same system being used by President Obama with our federal courts. Like many of you, I haven’t liked some of the recent decisions handed down by our state courts. They go against my long-held personal beliefs. Of course, in our system of government,...
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Bill to amend Kansas constitution judicial selection provisions fails to get 2/3 majority in House
On February 3rd, the House voted on the bill to change how Supreme Court Justices are appointed in Kansas. The bill had a simple majority which means it went up for final action on February 4th. Between those days, leadership was expected to twist the arms of 15 “no” votes so that they get the 2/3 majority needed to pass it out of the House. This bill is a power grab, a move to make our Supreme Court subject to political will, and a means of retaliation for school funding decisions favoring Kansas public schools. Our courts are...
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Leave a Comment Expansion of tax credit scholarship subject of controversy
“But Ford, the outgoing superintendent of Topeka public schools, said in her testimony said the legislation would further deplete state funds and make it difficult to fairly evaluate student progress in private and public schools. “Ford also cited the concept of separation of church and state, noting the program takes potential revenue to the state and potentially diverts it to religious schooling. “’Federal, state and local leaders are elected to ensure that there are standards and measures in place to ensure accountability for expenditure of public funds. This bill simply subverts the public oversight and accountability requirements that...
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Leave a Comment Playing games with our government
“Attorney General Derek Schmidt briefed the House Judiciary Committee and the Republican House caucus on the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the infamous 2000 Carr brothers murder case in Wichita – in which the top court affirmed the brothers’ death sentences and overturned a previous ruling from the Kansas Supreme Court. The horrible events surrounding the murders of four innocent people already have been politicized in a way that is revolting. But this week, it has been used again to inflame lawmakers’ emotions in the hope that they will support a bill that will come to a...
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