PANEL Minority Speaker of the House, Rep. Paul Davis KS Senator Pat Pettey KS House Rep. Melissa Rooker MODERATOR Janis McMillen The theme of the 2013 legislative session is, without a doubt, control. Specifically, conservatives are seeking control over all facets of Kansas governance and public service, from our schools to our courts, from women’s bodies to primary elections. Schools and teachers have borne the brunt of legislative efforts to restrict forward progress. Everything from court-ordered mediation on funding to minimizing collective bargaining rights for teachers is on the table at the midpoint of the Session. Not only...
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True Blue Women event on ALEC Tuesday, April 23, 2013
ALEC is one of the main forces behind the problematic “education reform movement”. Here’s an event where you can learn more about this powerful group working behind the scenes to push their agenda in Kansas and other states. The public is welcome.If you think your elected officials are the only ones writing legislation in Kansas and Missouri – you would be wrong! Often it is the American Legislative Exchange Council – better known as ALEC – who is pulling the strings of puppet legislators by providing them templates for many bills. This organization meets with large corporations, trade...
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Leave a Comment Let your checkbook do some talking!
Earlier this month, Brownback signed the bill prohibiting public employees from voluntarily deducting union dues from their paychecks. This is another ALEC bill that found its way into Kansas. Game On talked to teachers in our schools, and we did not hear of any who felt they needed to be protected from voluntary payroll deductions. We did see Kansas Chamber lobbyist Eric Stafford publicly stating, “I need this bill passed so we can get rid of public sector unions.” We also read a letter Susan Wagle submitted to the Wichita Eagle in which she stated, “when Utah –...
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Leave a Comment House votes to relabel local support as state funding
The House has passed a bill (68-50) that amounts to relabeling some local support for public education as “state” support. The Education Conference Committee placed a mandatory 10% LOB provision in SB171. According to KASB, “It would require each district have a local option budget of at least 10 percent, and transfer an amount equal to the 10 percent into the school district general fund as ‘local effort’ to finance a base budget per pupil of $4,264, rather than the current $3,838. Although this will result in a higher base budget, it will not provide any change in...
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