Rep. Jerry Lunn “pressed a district court judge Monday on whether a court order to force the state to pay more to schools could lead to funding cuts for the court system.” “The exchange occurred during a hearing on the budget for the Kansas judicial branch.” Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/prairie-politics/article14580998.html#...
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Senate passes block grant bill over constituent, judicial concerns
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 t…his body how we’re going to fund schools. If the courts think otherwise, they’re sadly...
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Leave a Comment Senate passes block grant bill, repeals current formula
SB 7 (block grant bill repealing the current school funding formula) passed the Senate 25-14. On roll call the vote was: Yea – (25) (Are they representing you?) Abrams, Arpke, Baumgardner, Bruce, Denning, Donovan, Fitzgerald, Holmes, King, Knox, LaTurner, Lynn, Masterson, Melcher, Olson, Ostmeyer, Petersen, Pilcher-Cook, Powell, Pyle, Smith, Tyson, Wagle, Wilborn, Wolf. Nay – (14) (Thank them)… Bowers, Faust-Goudeau, Francisco, Haley, Hawk, Hensley, Holland, Kelly, Kerschen, Longbine, Love, McGinn, Pettey, Schmidt. Absent and Not Voting O’Donnell...
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Leave a Comment Representative Rooker on myths of the block grant bill
“Myth #1, Certainty: The bill was sold as an attempt to provide consistency and predictability for school districts but completely ignores how (and why) school finance is practically applied. It locks in spending at the current levels and allows for no variation in growth or loss of student population or other demographic changes. It does not account for rising utility costs, insurance costs or any other unforeseen circumstances. It requires that dwindling reserve funds be depleted and locks in spending at levels already found to be unconstitutionally inadequate. Yes, it is certainty for the legislature in the budget...
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