We are painfully familiar with the Kansas Policy Institute, their deceptive use of data, their coziness with many legislators who receive their data unquestioningly, and their insistence that they be treated as education funding and policy experts though their main staffers have no education experience and are paid by a Koch-backed organization to lobby for a low-tax, free-market ideology. We hope WSU really didn’t postpone the forum on the block grant just because KPI complained. The comments following this article are worth a read for those of you unfamiliar with them. Read them here: http://www.kansas.com/news/local/education/article19838694.html We note that the...
Read more
Leave a Comment Blog
Legislators hear from angry constituents, blame “misinformation”
Legislators apparently heard from angry constituents when they were home on break. Keep it up! Though Sen. Masterson thinks people are just misinformed. “‘From my perspective, I was hearing just a tremendous amount of misinformation. I sense a very misinformed public, and so I understand their angst but when confronted with the actual numbers and facts, they seem surprised,’ Masterson said. School funding came up often, Masterson said.” Read more here: http://cjonline.com/news/2015-04-29/lawmakers-return-topeka-after-hearing-concerned-angry-citizens...
Read more
Leave a Comment Midyear cuts difficult to manage
“The cut from the state has come so late, the majority of our expenditures had already taken place, been decided, well before it was imposed,” [Riverton Superintendent Todd Berry] said. “Within the current year, it’s very difficult to go back and find places where you can cut.” Read more here: http://m.joplinglobe.com/news/local_news/kansas-school-districts-making-decisions-based-on-funding-losses/article_52d7a5af-5ada-5d6c-90f1-96e8eb1320a9.html?mode=jqm...
Read more
Leave a Comment Legislature not representing constituents can be held accountable
“Perhaps they didn’t really look into the candidates’ positions on certain issues, or maybe the candidates misrepresented or avoided direct statements about their views…Whatever the reason, voters now should be able to hold their representatives accountable. They can see how legislators voted on some issues and ask them directly where they stand on issues that have failed to advance in the Legislature. Constituents can try to influence action on remaining legislation in this session and base their votes in the next election on candidates stands on specific issues.” Read more here: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2015/apr/29/editorial-whose-views/?opinion...
Read more
Leave a Comment