As of 6:00 p.m. on Friday, March 14, every entry on the House Education Committee agenda for next week says “Possible action on bills previously heard”. The Senate Education Committee agenda says Monday’s meeting is cancelled, and they will hear from Olathe and Wichita Service Center representatives on Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday say “Meeting scheduled – Agenda to be announced” and Friday says “Meeting on call of the chair”. What surprises await and how much notice will we get? Please try to check in with us while on spring break....
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It is a dangerous time in Kansas
“It is a dangerous time in Kansas. The governor and his legislators, along with special interest groups such as Americans for Prosperity and the Kansas Chamber of Commerce have aligned and consolidated their power in Topeka. Whether it’s the judiciary, individual communities, issues of public interest or matters of individual liberties, this coalition seems bent on forever altering the landscape of Kansas, and those who dare oppose that power block will find their voices legislated into silence. Understandably, it’s not easy for working Kansans to care much about legislation that is complex, boring and specific to one segment...
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Leave a Comment Legislators consider ways to comply with Gannon decision on equity
“GOP leaders and House and Senate budget committee members said lawmakers probably won’t increase overall state spending by the full $129 million that the state Department of Education estimates would cover deficiencies in aid to poor school districts. The state could tap its cash reserves to cover all of the extra costs, but half a dozen key Republican legislators said they oppose such a move or don’t think the GOP-dominated Legislature would approve it. They said alternatives include shifting existing funds for public schools around or cutting other parts of the budget. ‘It’s not likely that we just...
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Leave a Comment Legislature usurping local control and lacking transparency
“Rep. Melissa Rooker, a Fairway Republican, said she was disappointed that earlier work in committee on the policy, which would have required parents to opt-out of sex education, was ignored. She said the committee acted quickly to push the changes out with little discussion and votes lined up. ‘It was very well-orchestrated,’ ‘Rooker said. ‘It was well-planned in advance.’” While sex ed is not one of our issues, we are troubled by what this says about how things are to be handled in the House Education Committee and the lack of transparency. Earlier in the session, there was a...
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