In The News
"Lawmaker accused of child abuse faces primary challenger who grew up in foster care"
9/16/19, The Wichita Eagle
https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article235138552.html
9/16/19, The Wichita Eagle
https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article235138552.html
"How Kansas can fix its upside-down tax code"
4/15/19
https://realprosperityks.com/how-kansas-can-fix-its-upside-down-tax-code/
4/15/19
https://realprosperityks.com/how-kansas-can-fix-its-upside-down-tax-code/
"State asks Kansas Supreme Court to dismiss Gannon school finance lawsuit; plaintiff districts say new law still falls short"4-15-19
https://kasb.org/nb0415-3/?fbclid=IwAR0R-zf_Uf6GTkJD9u7RM1Laf_RV02OxRwCkGaO4DqJsidmJ8tljsNdixoA
https://kasb.org/nb0415-3/?fbclid=IwAR0R-zf_Uf6GTkJD9u7RM1Laf_RV02OxRwCkGaO4DqJsidmJ8tljsNdixoA
"School funding goes to Kansas Supreme Court. Whatever happens there, school leaders have opportunity, responsibility to ensure more students succeed"
https://kasb.org/blog/school-funding-goes-to-kansas-supreme-court-whatever-happens-there-school-leaders-have-opportunity-responsibility-to-ensure-more-students-succeed/?
https://kasb.org/blog/school-funding-goes-to-kansas-supreme-court-whatever-happens-there-school-leaders-have-opportunity-responsibility-to-ensure-more-students-succeed/?
"You elected them to write new laws. They’re letting corporations do it instead."
An investigation by USA TODAY, The Arizona Republic and the Center for Public Integrity
Rob O'Dell and Nick Penzenstadler, USA TODAY 4/4/19
https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/investigations/2019/04/03/abortion-gun-laws-stand-your-ground-model-bills-conservatives-liberal-corporate-influence-lobbyists/3162173002
An investigation by USA TODAY, The Arizona Republic and the Center for Public Integrity
Rob O'Dell and Nick Penzenstadler, USA TODAY 4/4/19
https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/investigations/2019/04/03/abortion-gun-laws-stand-your-ground-model-bills-conservatives-liberal-corporate-influence-lobbyists/3162173002
"Capitol Update: On education funding, says Rep. Clayton, ‘believe the actions of your politicians, not their words’"
JAY SENTER - APRIL 1, 2019 11:30 AM
https://shawneemissionpost.com/2019/04/01/capitol-update-on-education-funding-says-rep-clayton-believe-the-actions-of-your-politicians-not-their-words-78052?fbclid=IwAR3c-nTHNh29GRZRijmA_OHPmlx6XmNjpvLsNl_wmNEdF37VfMDRyWJ-Bfs
JAY SENTER - APRIL 1, 2019 11:30 AM
https://shawneemissionpost.com/2019/04/01/capitol-update-on-education-funding-says-rep-clayton-believe-the-actions-of-your-politicians-not-their-words-78052?fbclid=IwAR3c-nTHNh29GRZRijmA_OHPmlx6XmNjpvLsNl_wmNEdF37VfMDRyWJ-Bfs
"Capitol Update: Rep. Stogsdill says 2019 session could be labeled ‘The Do-Nothing Legislature’"
JAY SENTER - MARCH 4, 2019 11:50 AM
https://shawneemissionpost.com/2019/03/04/capitol-update-rep-stogsdill-says-2019-session-could-be-labeled-the-do-nothing-legislature-77392?
JAY SENTER - MARCH 4, 2019 11:50 AM
https://shawneemissionpost.com/2019/03/04/capitol-update-rep-stogsdill-says-2019-session-could-be-labeled-the-do-nothing-legislature-77392?
"11 Questions and Answers about Senate Bill 22"2/26/19
https://realprosperityks.com/11-questions-and-answers-about-senate-bill-22/
https://realprosperityks.com/11-questions-and-answers-about-senate-bill-22/
"Kansas Senate GOP blocks governor's school funding proposal"
Feb 26, 2019
http://www.kake.com/story/40031783/kansas-senate-gop-blocks-governors-school-funding-proposal?utm_medium=social&utm
Feb 26, 2019
http://www.kake.com/story/40031783/kansas-senate-gop-blocks-governors-school-funding-proposal?utm_medium=social&utm
"Kansas Senate just passed a reckless tax cut. Is it a sign of more disasters to come?"
BY THE KANSAS CITY STAR EDITORIAL BOARD
2/7/19
https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article225941245.html?
BY THE KANSAS CITY STAR EDITORIAL BOARD
2/7/19
https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article225941245.html?
"What a difference a small class size made one day in one elementary school"
2/5/19
Rebecca Segal, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Opinion
I got to look every student in the eye as they talked to me and show them through my focused attention how much they mattered and are loved.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2019/02/05/class-sizes-matters-learning-teacher-reflects-column/2763620002/
2/5/19
Rebecca Segal, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Opinion
I got to look every student in the eye as they talked to me and show them through my focused attention how much they mattered and are loved.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2019/02/05/class-sizes-matters-learning-teacher-reflects-column/2763620002/
"This bill could change what Kansas taxpayers owe. Lawmakers don’t really know the cost"
1/31/19, The Wichita Eagle
https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article225334510.html
1/31/19, The Wichita Eagle
https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article225334510.html
"Senate committee advances bill cutting taxes; KASB has serious concerns"
1/31/19
https://kasb.org/nb0131-2/?
1/31/19
https://kasb.org/nb0131-2/?
"Navigating the 2019 session"
1/19/19
http://www.hutchnews.com/news/20190119/navigating-2019-session
1/19/19
http://www.hutchnews.com/news/20190119/navigating-2019-session
"Kansas Senate Democrats probe business savings in windfall tax reform"
1/30/19
http://www.salina.com/news/20190130/kansas-senate-democrats-probe-business-savings-in-windfall-tax-reform
1/30/19
http://www.salina.com/news/20190130/kansas-senate-democrats-probe-business-savings-in-windfall-tax-reform
"Kansas' Worsening Teacher Shortage In Four Graphs"
10/15/18
http://www.kmuw.org/post/kansas-worsening-teacher-shortage-four-graphs?
10/15/18
http://www.kmuw.org/post/kansas-worsening-teacher-shortage-four-graphs?
"Kansas House member accused of abusing boys declines to drop out of race"
9/1/18, Topeka Capitol-Journal
www.cjonline.com/news/20180831/kansas-house-member-accused-of-abusing-boys-declines-to-drop-out-of-race
9/1/18, Topeka Capitol-Journal
www.cjonline.com/news/20180831/kansas-house-member-accused-of-abusing-boys-declines-to-drop-out-of-race
"DCF says investigation found lawmaker was emotionally abusive. He calls allegations false"
8/31/18, The Wichita Eagle
https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article217638450.html
8/31/18, The Wichita Eagle
https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article217638450.html
"Kansas GOP Cuts Ties With Michael Capps After Child Abuse Accusations Surface"
8/31/18, KMUW
http://www.kmuw.org/post/kansas-gop-cuts-ties-michael-capps-after-child-abuse-accusations-surface
8/31/18, KMUW
http://www.kmuw.org/post/kansas-gop-cuts-ties-michael-capps-after-child-abuse-accusations-surface
"DCF says investigation found lawmaker was emotionally abusive. He calls allegations false"
8/31/18, The Wichita Eagle
https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article217638450.html
8/31/18, The Wichita Eagle
https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article217638450.html
"Davis Merritt: This time, do school funding properly"
8/7/17, The Wichita Eagle
https://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article165823257.html
8/7/17, The Wichita Eagle
https://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article165823257.html
"Kansas schools preparing for sweeping changes in state oversight"
8/6/17, Lawrence Journal-World
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2017/aug/06/kansas-schools-preparing-sweeping-changes-state-ov/www2.ljworld.com/news/2017/aug/06/kansas-schools-preparing-sweeping-changes-state-ov/
8/6/17, Lawrence Journal-World
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2017/aug/06/kansas-schools-preparing-sweeping-changes-state-ov/www2.ljworld.com/news/2017/aug/06/kansas-schools-preparing-sweeping-changes-state-ov/
"Kansas’ battle about schools"
8/7/17, The Hutchinson News
http://www.hutchnews.com/news/20170807/kansas-battle-about-schools
8/7/17, The Hutchinson News
http://www.hutchnews.com/news/20170807/kansas-battle-about-schools
"GOP appoints Michael Capps to empty Kansas House seat; Democrats push for grand jury probe"
7/21/18, The Wichita Eagle
https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article215297845.html
7/21/18, The Wichita Eagle
https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article215297845.html
"20 GOP lawmakers from Kansas attending ALEC convention"
7/18/17, The Lawrence Journal-World
http://m.ljworld.com/news/2017/jul/18/20-gop-lawmakers-attending-alec-convention/?templates=mobile
7/18/17, The Lawrence Journal-World
http://m.ljworld.com/news/2017/jul/18/20-gop-lawmakers-attending-alec-convention/?templates=mobile
"Kansas justices question new school funding plan"
7/18/17, The Wichita Eagle
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article161954288.html
7/18/17, The Wichita Eagle
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article161954288.html
"Kansas Supreme Court appears skeptical of state’s school finance plan"
7/18/17, Topeka Capitol-Journal
http://cjonline.com/news/state-government/education/2017-07-18/kansas-supreme-court-appears-skeptical-state-s-school
7/18/17, Topeka Capitol-Journal
http://cjonline.com/news/state-government/education/2017-07-18/kansas-supreme-court-appears-skeptical-state-s-school
"School districts call for more funding as state defends spending to Kansas Supreme Court"
7/18/17, The Kansas City Star
http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article162145688.html
7/18/17, The Kansas City Star
http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article162145688.html
"Justices appear skeptical of Kansas school finance plan"
7/18/17, The Lawrence Journal-World
http://m.ljworld.com/news/2017/jul/18/justices-appear-skeptical-school-finance-plan/?templates=mobile
7/18/17, The Lawrence Journal-World
http://m.ljworld.com/news/2017/jul/18/justices-appear-skeptical-school-finance-plan/?templates=mobile
"State asks Kansas Supreme Court to reject challenge to its Gannon argument"
7/17/17, Topeka Capitol-Journal
http://cjonline.com/news/state-government/education/2017-07-17/state-asks-kansas-supreme-court-reject-challenge-its
7/17/17, Topeka Capitol-Journal
http://cjonline.com/news/state-government/education/2017-07-17/state-asks-kansas-supreme-court-reject-challenge-its
"Court showdown could affect your taxes and your schools"
7/15/17, The Wichita Eagle
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article161590228.html
7/15/17, The Wichita Eagle
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article161590228.html
"School finance plaintiffs ask court to strike 'misleading, unsupported statements' from state's brief"
7/13/17, Lawrence Journal-World
http://m.ljworld.com/news/2017/jul/13/school-finance-plaintiffs-ask-court-strike-mislead/?templates=mobile
7/13/17, Lawrence Journal-World
http://m.ljworld.com/news/2017/jul/13/school-finance-plaintiffs-ask-court-strike-mislead/?templates=mobile
"School finance plaintiffs ask court to strike portion of state’s response brief"
7/13/17, Kansas Association of School Boards
https://kasb.org/nb0713-2/
7/13/17, Kansas Association of School Boards
https://kasb.org/nb0713-2/
"Editorial: Why Kansas’ budget crisis isn’t over — even after a big tax increase"
7/13/17, The Kansas City Star
http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article161278463.html
7/13/17, The Kansas City Star
http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article161278463.html
"Attorney for K-12 districts calls for more funding; state argues for dismissal"
6/30/17, Topeka Captol-Journal
http://cjonline.com/news/state-government/education/2017-06-30/attorney-k-12-districts-calls-more-funding-state-argues
6/30/17, Topeka Captol-Journal
http://cjonline.com/news/state-government/education/2017-06-30/attorney-k-12-districts-calls-more-funding-state-argues
"Moody’s: Kansas’ credit outlook stable after repeal of Brownback tax plan"
6/8/17, The Kansas City Star.
https://kansascity.relaymedia.com/amp/news/politics-government/article155202759.html
6/8/17, The Kansas City Star.
https://kansascity.relaymedia.com/amp/news/politics-government/article155202759.html
"Kansas Legislature Restores Taxes; a Credit Positive, Says Moody’s"
Tax-cutting didn't work for the state of Kansas or its governor.
6/8/17
http://www.barrons.com/articles/kansas-legislature-restores-taxes-a-credit-positive-says-moodys-1496940868
Tax-cutting didn't work for the state of Kansas or its governor.
6/8/17
http://www.barrons.com/articles/kansas-legislature-restores-taxes-a-credit-positive-says-moodys-1496940868
"Kansas School Funding Bill Expands Tax Credits For Private Tuition Program"
6/8/17, KMUW
http://kmuw.org/post/kansas-school-funding-bill-expands-tax-credits-private-tuition-program
6/8/17, KMUW
http://kmuw.org/post/kansas-school-funding-bill-expands-tax-credits-private-tuition-program
"Lawmakers came to bury Brownback's tax experiment"
6/8/17, The Cowley Courier Traveler.
http://www.ctnewsonline.com/opinion/article_34146ab8-4c9b-11e7-b34d-9fc3991d19da.html
6/8/17, The Cowley Courier Traveler.
http://www.ctnewsonline.com/opinion/article_34146ab8-4c9b-11e7-b34d-9fc3991d19da.html
"KS Supreme Court to give school finance bill high priority on the docket"
6/9/17
http://www.wibw.com/content/news/KS-Supreme-Court-to-give-school-finance-bill-high-priority-on-the-docket-427486463.html
6/9/17
http://www.wibw.com/content/news/KS-Supreme-Court-to-give-school-finance-bill-high-priority-on-the-docket-427486463.html
"Steve Kraske: Massive Kansas tax cuts were the result of Gov. Sam Brownback’s lie"
6/8/17, The Kansas City Star.
http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/steve-kraske/article155148679.html
6/8/17, The Kansas City Star.
http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/steve-kraske/article155148679.html
"Kansas House passes budget bill; negotiations with Senate begin"
6/8/17, Topeka Capitol-Journal.
http://cjonline.com/news/state-government/local/2017-06-08/kansas-house-passes-budget-bill-negotiations-senate-begin
6/8/17, Topeka Capitol-Journal.
http://cjonline.com/news/state-government/local/2017-06-08/kansas-house-passes-budget-bill-negotiations-senate-begin
"The path to lawmakers rolling back Brownback’s signature policy"
6/7/17, The Wichita Eagle.
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article154984854.html
6/7/17, The Wichita Eagle.
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article154984854.html
"More work: Even with needed tax reform, plenty of challenges remain"
6/7/17, Garden City Telegram.
http://www.gctelegram.com/opinion/more-work-even-with-needed-tax-reform-plenty-of-challenges/article_0d7e9208-9ad1-5d18-a041-9e3cd0e10be4.html
6/7/17, Garden City Telegram.
http://www.gctelegram.com/opinion/more-work-even-with-needed-tax-reform-plenty-of-challenges/article_0d7e9208-9ad1-5d18-a041-9e3cd0e10be4.html
"How you could be affected by Kansas’ new tax increases"
6/6/17, The Wichita Eagle.
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article154724599.html
6/6/17, The Wichita Eagle.
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article154724599.html
"Republican Candidate In 85th District Faces Residency Challenge"
6/4/18, Butler County Watchdog
http://www.bucokswatchdog.com/?tag=michael-capps
6/4/18, Butler County Watchdog
http://www.bucokswatchdog.com/?tag=michael-capps
"Kansas lawmakers face major tasks on taxes, schools when they return in May"
4/8/17, The Wichita Eagle.
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article143546479.html
4/8/17, The Wichita Eagle.
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article143546479.html
"At Long Last, Kansas Lawmakers Get A Look At A School Funding Formula"
KCUR.ORG website
kcur.org/post/long-last-kansas-lawmakers-get-look-school-funding-formula#stream/0
KCUR.ORG website
kcur.org/post/long-last-kansas-lawmakers-get-look-school-funding-formula#stream/0
"Legislature may hire former senator who led effort to de-fund courts to consult on school finance"
3/31/17, The Lawrence Journal-World
http://m.ljworld.com/news/2017/mar/31/legislature-may-hire-former-senator-consult-school/?templates=mobile
3/31/17, The Lawrence Journal-World
http://m.ljworld.com/news/2017/mar/31/legislature-may-hire-former-senator-consult-school/?templates=mobile
"Kansas Senate president says she’ll propose across-the-board spending cut"
3/15/17, The Wichita Eagle.
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article138613248.html
3/15/17, The Wichita Eagle.
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article138613248.html
"Action Alert - Urge senators to oppose cut to schools"
3/15/17, Kansas Association of School Boards
http://kasb.org/wcm/_NB/17/NB315e.aspx
3/15/17, Kansas Association of School Boards
http://kasb.org/wcm/_NB/17/NB315e.aspx
"Proposed amendment would limit state revenue and spending"
3/15/17, Kansas Association of School Boards
http://kasb.org/wcm/_NB/17/NB315d.aspx
3/15/17, Kansas Association of School Boards
http://kasb.org/wcm/_NB/17/NB315d.aspx
"Shawnee Mission superintendent pushes changes to Kansas school finance system"
3/15/17, The Kansas City Star.
http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article138784163.html
3/15/17, The Kansas City Star.
http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article138784163.html
"State board of education members hopeful communication with Kansas lawmakers is improving"
3/15/17, The Topeka Capital-Journal.
http://cjonline.com/news/state-government/education/2017-03-15/state-board-education-members-hopeful-communication
3/15/17, The Topeka Capital-Journal.
http://cjonline.com/news/state-government/education/2017-03-15/state-board-education-members-hopeful-communication
"Schools, state primed for Supreme Court showdown over Brownback block grants", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 11/4/15.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article42972861.html
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article42972861.html
"Kansas won’t know for weeks how much tax amnesty raised", as posted on The Lawrence Journal-World website on 10/28/15l
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2015/oct/28/kansas-wont-know-weeks-how-much-tax-amnesty-raised/
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2015/oct/28/kansas-wont-know-weeks-how-much-tax-amnesty-raised/
"Kansas revenue falls short of estimates by $15 million in October", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 11/2/15.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article42284178.html
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article42284178.html
"Chairman of House Appropriations Committee predicts $100M in budget adjustments necessary", as posted on The Lawrence Journal-World website on 11/3/15.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2015/nov/03/chairman-says-more-allotments-likely/
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2015/nov/03/chairman-says-more-allotments-likely/
"Kansas Board of Education to examine school laws, bonds. Districs will lose more than $51 million", as posted on The Topeka Capital-Journal website on 4/6/15.
"Districts will lose $51 million they expected to receive for the current school year under the plan."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://cjonline.com/news/2015-04-06/kansas-board-education-examine-school-laws-bonds
"Districts will lose $51 million they expected to receive for the current school year under the plan."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://cjonline.com/news/2015-04-06/kansas-board-education-examine-school-laws-bonds
"Pro-business lobby groups wielding big influence in Legislature, Democrats say", as posted on the Lawrence Journal-World website on 4/5/15.
"In case after case, many Statehouse observers have noted, the fate of major pieces of legislation this year has depended on one thing: the support or opposition it receives from a small number of pro-business lobby groups led by the Kansas Chamber, Americans for Prosperity, and the conservative think tank Kansas Policy Institute."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2015/apr/05/pro-business-lobby-groups-wielding-big-influence-l/
"In case after case, many Statehouse observers have noted, the fate of major pieces of legislation this year has depended on one thing: the support or opposition it receives from a small number of pro-business lobby groups led by the Kansas Chamber, Americans for Prosperity, and the conservative think tank Kansas Policy Institute."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2015/apr/05/pro-business-lobby-groups-wielding-big-influence-l/
"John Allison: The future sits in our classrooms", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 4/4/15.
"Rhetoric has been thick the past few months surrounding the topic of school funding. Despite comments about a supposedly broken formula and a block-grant measure that disconnects school funding from actual costs, what you do not hear about are the 486,000 young people who depend on Kansas’ public education system to prepare them to reach high standards and be college- and career-ready upon graduation."
"We embrace all students, be they from homes of affluence or poverty, with gifted ability or learning difficulties, with proficiency in the English language or limited English skills, regardless of the unique supports they may require."
"The reality is that it does cost more to educate students who face many of these challenges. Their academic experiences have been supported by a research-based formula that directly connects dollars to the actual costs of serving students. In the rush to change the formula because of the significant state revenue shortfall, Kansans have lost a method of funding public education that ensures both adequacy and equity for every child."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article17346971.html
"Rhetoric has been thick the past few months surrounding the topic of school funding. Despite comments about a supposedly broken formula and a block-grant measure that disconnects school funding from actual costs, what you do not hear about are the 486,000 young people who depend on Kansas’ public education system to prepare them to reach high standards and be college- and career-ready upon graduation."
"We embrace all students, be they from homes of affluence or poverty, with gifted ability or learning difficulties, with proficiency in the English language or limited English skills, regardless of the unique supports they may require."
"The reality is that it does cost more to educate students who face many of these challenges. Their academic experiences have been supported by a research-based formula that directly connects dollars to the actual costs of serving students. In the rush to change the formula because of the significant state revenue shortfall, Kansans have lost a method of funding public education that ensures both adequacy and equity for every child."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article17346971.html
"Tough decisions on taxes await lawmakers when they return to Topeka", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 4/4/15.
"When lawmakers return to Topeka at the end of the month, they’ll face the difficult challenge of passing tax increases that generate enough revenue to balance the state’s finances."
"The state is below revenue estimates by $43 million since November, according to the nonpartisan Kansas Legislative Research Department. Corporate income tax revenue, in particular, is nearly $26 million below estimates."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article17400815.html
"When lawmakers return to Topeka at the end of the month, they’ll face the difficult challenge of passing tax increases that generate enough revenue to balance the state’s finances."
"The state is below revenue estimates by $43 million since November, according to the nonpartisan Kansas Legislative Research Department. Corporate income tax revenue, in particular, is nearly $26 million below estimates."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article17400815.html
"Senator proposes bill on out-of-district transfers. Masterson suggests schools might manipulate state's new block grants", as posted on The Topeka Capital-Journal website on 4/3/15.
"News that some Kansas school districts may turn down out-of-district children next year has sparked concern, and a new bill, from the chairman of the Senate’s budget committee.
Yet critics of Ty Masterson, R-Andover, allege his bill is a solution in search of a problem and doesn’t address the real reason the districts are limiting transfer students — budget cuts related to the state’s new law establishing temporary block grants for schools."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://cjonline.com/news/2015-04-03/senator-proposes-bill-out-district-transfers
"News that some Kansas school districts may turn down out-of-district children next year has sparked concern, and a new bill, from the chairman of the Senate’s budget committee.
Yet critics of Ty Masterson, R-Andover, allege his bill is a solution in search of a problem and doesn’t address the real reason the districts are limiting transfer students — budget cuts related to the state’s new law establishing temporary block grants for schools."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://cjonline.com/news/2015-04-03/senator-proposes-bill-out-district-transfers
"Editorial: State budget lingers", as posted on The Topeka Capital-Journal website on 4/3/15.
"Granted, lawmakers like to have the final revenue projections at hand when they craft the annual budget. But this year, they have known since the session began that they had huge budget hole to be filled. Surely more could have been done in recent months to make some headway on the budget puzzle."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://cjonline.com/opinion/2015-04-03/editorial-state-budget-lingers
"Granted, lawmakers like to have the final revenue projections at hand when they craft the annual budget. But this year, they have known since the session began that they had huge budget hole to be filled. Surely more could have been done in recent months to make some headway on the budget puzzle."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://cjonline.com/opinion/2015-04-03/editorial-state-budget-lingers
"'Kansas leaders need to hear us': Topeka West students voice concern on the state of Kansas' education budget", as posted on The Topeka Capital-Journal website on 4/2/15.
"Julie Ford, superintendent of Topeka Unified School District 501, told the students assembled in the Douglas P. Goheen Theatre that the district’s budget is getting cut by $1,619,679 this year as a result of block grants recently signed into law by Gov. Sam Brownback. She said another $1,310,867 will be cut next year and then another $664,879 the following year.
Those figures add up to a loss of $3,595,425 as a result of the block grants."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://m.cjonline.com/news/2015-04-02/kansas-leaders-need-hear-us-topeka-west-students-voice-concern-state-kansas#gsc.tab=0
"Julie Ford, superintendent of Topeka Unified School District 501, told the students assembled in the Douglas P. Goheen Theatre that the district’s budget is getting cut by $1,619,679 this year as a result of block grants recently signed into law by Gov. Sam Brownback. She said another $1,310,867 will be cut next year and then another $664,879 the following year.
Those figures add up to a loss of $3,595,425 as a result of the block grants."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://m.cjonline.com/news/2015-04-02/kansas-leaders-need-hear-us-topeka-west-students-voice-concern-state-kansas#gsc.tab=0
"Wichita State mathematician sues Kris Kobach, Sedgwick County elections commissioner seeking to audit voting machines. Woman wants to investigate machines for voter fraud or demographic trend", as posted on The Topeka Capital-Journal on 4/1/15.
"Beth Clarkson, chief statistician for the university’s National Institute for Aviation Research, filed the open records lawsuit in Sedgwick County District Court as part of her personal quest to find the answer to an unexplained pattern that transcends elections and states. The lawsuit was amended Wednesday to name Secretary of State Kris Kobach and Sedgwick County Elections Commissioner Tabitha Lehman."
Scott Poor, an elections attorney who does not represent her, said Clarkson wants to get access to public records so she can do a statistical model."
“This is a statistics professor,” Poor said. “She has no motivation for anything political; she just wants to write a paper that will be published in some academic journal nobody in politics is going to see or read.”
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://cjonline.com/news/2015-04-01/wichita-state-mathematician-sues-kris-kobach-sedgwick-county-elections-commisioner
"Beth Clarkson, chief statistician for the university’s National Institute for Aviation Research, filed the open records lawsuit in Sedgwick County District Court as part of her personal quest to find the answer to an unexplained pattern that transcends elections and states. The lawsuit was amended Wednesday to name Secretary of State Kris Kobach and Sedgwick County Elections Commissioner Tabitha Lehman."
Scott Poor, an elections attorney who does not represent her, said Clarkson wants to get access to public records so she can do a statistical model."
“This is a statistics professor,” Poor said. “She has no motivation for anything political; she just wants to write a paper that will be published in some academic journal nobody in politics is going to see or read.”
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://cjonline.com/news/2015-04-01/wichita-state-mathematician-sues-kris-kobach-sedgwick-county-elections-commisioner
"Action Needed on Elections Bill. Why Change Kansas School Board Elections?", as posted on John Heim's Blog on 3/31/15.
"Over 200 locally elected boards of education in Kansas (more than 2/3) have passed resolutions against moving elections to the fall and making them partisan. These board members govern what Governor Brownback called the “5th best schools in the country” and spend less than any state ranked higher in student achievement. What are we trying to fix?
Last year the Kansas Legislature passed a law that required mail ballots in school district Local Option Budget elections. Kansas election officials estimate that mail ballots can increase voter participation by a factor of three (300 percent). No legislation to try mail ballots for local elections has been forwarded this year. Why aren’t we considering this fix?"
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://heimkasb.blogspot.com/2015/03/action-needed-on-elections-bill.html
"Over 200 locally elected boards of education in Kansas (more than 2/3) have passed resolutions against moving elections to the fall and making them partisan. These board members govern what Governor Brownback called the “5th best schools in the country” and spend less than any state ranked higher in student achievement. What are we trying to fix?
Last year the Kansas Legislature passed a law that required mail ballots in school district Local Option Budget elections. Kansas election officials estimate that mail ballots can increase voter participation by a factor of three (300 percent). No legislation to try mail ballots for local elections has been forwarded this year. Why aren’t we considering this fix?"
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://heimkasb.blogspot.com/2015/03/action-needed-on-elections-bill.html
"School districts ‘taking the cut’", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 3/30/15.
Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman Ty Masterson, R-Andover,said: “No district under this plan should have to cut a planned expenditure unless it’s a local decision for other than funding reasons.”
The reality is proving much less upbeat, in part because many of the dollars counted as increased funding are actually going to the state’s pension system and not available for district operations.
The Pratt Tribune reported that the Skyline district’s contingency reserves are gone because of an unexpected $90,000 HVAC expenditure, and the block-grant bill is a loss of $118,000 to the district this school year. “It will cut our state aid and hurt our school district. This is dire for us,” Skyline superintendent Mike Sanders told his school board earlier this month.
The Auburn-Washburn district in Topeka is deferring bus purchases, technology infrastructure work and paving, among other projects, to help offset $1.14 million in lost funding for this school year, the Topeka Capital-Journal reported. Plus, district leaders fear they may be expected to repay the state about $260,000 already spent on maintenance. (A spokeswoman for House Speaker Ray Merrick, R-Stilwell, told the Capital-Journal that was not lawmakers’ intention.)
Wichita’s USD 259 is managing its $7.6 million current-year cut by delaying capital projects and, if necessary, using reserve funds. That also will defer the hardest decisions for the summer work on the 2015-16 school year budget.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article16947053.html
Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman Ty Masterson, R-Andover,said: “No district under this plan should have to cut a planned expenditure unless it’s a local decision for other than funding reasons.”
The reality is proving much less upbeat, in part because many of the dollars counted as increased funding are actually going to the state’s pension system and not available for district operations.
The Pratt Tribune reported that the Skyline district’s contingency reserves are gone because of an unexpected $90,000 HVAC expenditure, and the block-grant bill is a loss of $118,000 to the district this school year. “It will cut our state aid and hurt our school district. This is dire for us,” Skyline superintendent Mike Sanders told his school board earlier this month.
The Auburn-Washburn district in Topeka is deferring bus purchases, technology infrastructure work and paving, among other projects, to help offset $1.14 million in lost funding for this school year, the Topeka Capital-Journal reported. Plus, district leaders fear they may be expected to repay the state about $260,000 already spent on maintenance. (A spokeswoman for House Speaker Ray Merrick, R-Stilwell, told the Capital-Journal that was not lawmakers’ intention.)
Wichita’s USD 259 is managing its $7.6 million current-year cut by delaying capital projects and, if necessary, using reserve funds. That also will defer the hardest decisions for the summer work on the 2015-16 school year budget.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article16947053.html
"130,000 steps: Public school activists’ grueling march from Merriam to Topeka", as posted on the Prairie Village Post website on 3/30/15.
"Walking 66 miles from Merriam to Topeka? The idea was audacious.
But in Heather Ousley’s opinion, what was happening to Kansas schools was audacious, too. For months, she’d endured a steady steam of bad news"
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://pvpost.com/2015/03/30/130000-steps-public-school-activists-grueling-march-merriam-topeka-37843
"Walking 66 miles from Merriam to Topeka? The idea was audacious.
But in Heather Ousley’s opinion, what was happening to Kansas schools was audacious, too. For months, she’d endured a steady steam of bad news"
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://pvpost.com/2015/03/30/130000-steps-public-school-activists-grueling-march-merriam-topeka-37843
"Power walk: March to Topeka one way to make a stand for schools.", as posted on The Garden City Telegram website on 3/29/15.
Americans often walk for a cause.
In Kansas, a school board member’s trek with fellow Kansans involves casting more light on ongoing attempts to cripple public schools.
Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 school board member Aaron Estabrook is among forces behind Game on for Kansas Schools, a nonpartisan, grassroots public education advocacy group.
Estabrook helped the group of parents, teachers, school board members and other Kansans get on track Sunday to finish a 60-mile walk from Merriam to Topeka as a way to raise awareness of funding and policy issues harming K-12 schools.
“Adequate and equitable education freedom is more important than income tax elimination for private businesses,” he said, referring to Gov. Sam Brownback’s elimination of income taxes for wealthy Kansans, a self-inflicted economic mess that spurred $1 billion in budget shortfalls.
The reckless tax policy also set up an excuse to cut public school funding for a governor and fellow far-right Republicans determined to shift support to private school operations.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://m.gctelegram.com/opinion/power-walk-march-to-topeka-one-way-to-make-a/article_d954782a-026c-521f-b1da-a09481ffa468.html
Americans often walk for a cause.
In Kansas, a school board member’s trek with fellow Kansans involves casting more light on ongoing attempts to cripple public schools.
Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 school board member Aaron Estabrook is among forces behind Game on for Kansas Schools, a nonpartisan, grassroots public education advocacy group.
Estabrook helped the group of parents, teachers, school board members and other Kansans get on track Sunday to finish a 60-mile walk from Merriam to Topeka as a way to raise awareness of funding and policy issues harming K-12 schools.
“Adequate and equitable education freedom is more important than income tax elimination for private businesses,” he said, referring to Gov. Sam Brownback’s elimination of income taxes for wealthy Kansans, a self-inflicted economic mess that spurred $1 billion in budget shortfalls.
The reckless tax policy also set up an excuse to cut public school funding for a governor and fellow far-right Republicans determined to shift support to private school operations.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://m.gctelegram.com/opinion/power-walk-march-to-topeka-one-way-to-make-a/article_d954782a-026c-521f-b1da-a09481ffa468.html
"What is the matter with Kansas?", as posted on The Scott County Record, by Rod Haxton, editor.
"We aren’t sure when the legislature officially declared war on education. We can only assume that it began when the courts first ruled in favor of public schools, declaring that they weren’t being funded adequately by the state in accordance with that outdated, yellowing document known as the state constitution."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.scottcountyrecord.com/opinions/what-is-the-matter-with-kansas
"We aren’t sure when the legislature officially declared war on education. We can only assume that it began when the courts first ruled in favor of public schools, declaring that they weren’t being funded adequately by the state in accordance with that outdated, yellowing document known as the state constitution."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.scottcountyrecord.com/opinions/what-is-the-matter-with-kansas
"Lawrence public education rally shows support for march to Topeka", as posted on the Lawrence Journal-World website on 3/28/15.
"Those gathered were participants in the Rally for Public Education organized by the parent legislative advocacy group Educate Lawrence in support of the walkers and their cause. The group of about 30 walkers was made up of members of Game On for Kansas Schools, a public education advocacy group."
“I’m sad that in the 21st century in Kansas, we have to spend our Saturdays rallying for public education,” Wilson said. “It just doesn’t make any sense.”
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2015/mar/28/public-education-rally-shows-support-march-topeka/
"Those gathered were participants in the Rally for Public Education organized by the parent legislative advocacy group Educate Lawrence in support of the walkers and their cause. The group of about 30 walkers was made up of members of Game On for Kansas Schools, a public education advocacy group."
“I’m sad that in the 21st century in Kansas, we have to spend our Saturdays rallying for public education,” Wilson said. “It just doesn’t make any sense.”
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2015/mar/28/public-education-rally-shows-support-march-topeka/
"Senate picks winners, losers among Kansas college students. Bill diverts $5.3 million in public university financial aid to private schools", as posted on the Topeka Capital-Journal website on March 28, 2015.
"The Senate budget bill overhauling Kansas’ need-based financial aid program makes winners of 1,500 private college students and generates 3,500 losers at public universities."
"However, retention by the Senate of language in the bill mandating independent colleges receive “not less than 75.0 percent or $13,318,753” meant public colleges wouldn’t get one-fourth of the pot. The bill guarantees private schools a minimum of $13.3 million, or 84 percent, of the total. Sixteen percent, or $2.4 million, could be available for students at public universities."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://cjonline.com/news/state/2015-03-28/senate-picks-winners-losers-among-kansas-college-students
"The Senate budget bill overhauling Kansas’ need-based financial aid program makes winners of 1,500 private college students and generates 3,500 losers at public universities."
"However, retention by the Senate of language in the bill mandating independent colleges receive “not less than 75.0 percent or $13,318,753” meant public colleges wouldn’t get one-fourth of the pot. The bill guarantees private schools a minimum of $13.3 million, or 84 percent, of the total. Sixteen percent, or $2.4 million, could be available for students at public universities."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://cjonline.com/news/state/2015-03-28/senate-picks-winners-losers-among-kansas-college-students
"No truce in Kansas education battle as block grants plan keeps many districts on edge", as posted on The Kansas City Star website on 3/28/15.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article16642676.html
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article16642676.html
"Kansas Senate approves budget that requires some tax increases", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 3/25/15.
"During a tax hearing before the debate began, Eric Stafford, lobbyist for the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, spoke against the governor’s proposal to slow scheduled income tax cuts. Donovan pressed him on how he would cut spending instead. Stafford did not give a specific example.
The chamber and Americans for Prosperity have strongly criticized the governor’s proposal to slow tax cuts. The proposal to increases taxes on alcohol and tobacco has also faced resistance."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article16297001.html
"During a tax hearing before the debate began, Eric Stafford, lobbyist for the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, spoke against the governor’s proposal to slow scheduled income tax cuts. Donovan pressed him on how he would cut spending instead. Stafford did not give a specific example.
The chamber and Americans for Prosperity have strongly criticized the governor’s proposal to slow tax cuts. The proposal to increases taxes on alcohol and tobacco has also faced resistance."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article16297001.html
"Brownback signs bill changing school funding formula", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 3/25/15.
"A bill that overhauls the way schools are funded in Kansas was signed by Gov. Sam Brownback in a closed ceremony Wednesday.
SB 7 replaces the state’s 23-year-old school funding formula, which allocated money based on districts’ specific needs, with flexible block grants.
The bill reduces funding that districts had expected for the current school year. But supporters say the greater flexibility will ensure that no districts have to make cuts.
The Wichita school district will lose $4.8 million in overall funding for the current year after the bill goes into effect."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article16333310.html
"A bill that overhauls the way schools are funded in Kansas was signed by Gov. Sam Brownback in a closed ceremony Wednesday.
SB 7 replaces the state’s 23-year-old school funding formula, which allocated money based on districts’ specific needs, with flexible block grants.
The bill reduces funding that districts had expected for the current school year. But supporters say the greater flexibility will ensure that no districts have to make cuts.
The Wichita school district will lose $4.8 million in overall funding for the current year after the bill goes into effect."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article16333310.html
Superintendent John Black: Why SB7 is not the best option for all Kansans.
Will the Ks. Legislature be able to fund its obligation for public education?, as posted on The Butler County Times-Gazette on 3/17/15.
Base State Aid Per Pupil that was cut ($116,000) by the Governor’s allotment was restored to USD 402 however the block grant prorates and re-computes the way equalization aid is distributed and this decision reduces our approved budget by $160,000 starting in this budget year (FY15) and continues for at least two more years. USD 402 will not experience an increase in funding that affects the classrooms, teachers or facilities. The State’s retirement system will receive an increase for needed support to that system. The money for KPERS has always been paid for by the State and the employee. Flowing the State’s KPERS funding and increases through the district’s budget appears to artificially increase local funding. It is just fine that these funds are recorded locally however do not insinuate that the district has more money.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.butlercountytimesgazette.com/article/20150317/OPINION/150319426
Will the Ks. Legislature be able to fund its obligation for public education?, as posted on The Butler County Times-Gazette on 3/17/15.
Base State Aid Per Pupil that was cut ($116,000) by the Governor’s allotment was restored to USD 402 however the block grant prorates and re-computes the way equalization aid is distributed and this decision reduces our approved budget by $160,000 starting in this budget year (FY15) and continues for at least two more years. USD 402 will not experience an increase in funding that affects the classrooms, teachers or facilities. The State’s retirement system will receive an increase for needed support to that system. The money for KPERS has always been paid for by the State and the employee. Flowing the State’s KPERS funding and increases through the district’s budget appears to artificially increase local funding. It is just fine that these funds are recorded locally however do not insinuate that the district has more money.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.butlercountytimesgazette.com/article/20150317/OPINION/150319426
"Kansas school funding dispute heading back to high court", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 3/18/15.
"A dispute over whether Kansas must boost its spending on public schools by tens of millions of dollars each year is headed back to the state Supreme Court."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article15230918.html
"A dispute over whether Kansas must boost its spending on public schools by tens of millions of dollars each year is headed back to the state Supreme Court."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article15230918.html
"Landmark school finance bill clears Kansas Legislature", as posted on The Kansas City Star website on 3/16/15.
“What the Legislature and the governor don’t want to do is come up with any formula that focuses on the actual costs (of education) because that will involve a substantial increase,” said Alan Rupe, the lawyer representing the school districts in the education finance case.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansascity.com/news/government-politics/article14677361.html
“What the Legislature and the governor don’t want to do is come up with any formula that focuses on the actual costs (of education) because that will involve a substantial increase,” said Alan Rupe, the lawyer representing the school districts in the education finance case.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansascity.com/news/government-politics/article14677361.html
"Kansas Senate passes school finance overhaul", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 3/16/15.
"Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, called the bill the governor’s unconstitutional and intentional attempt to evade court orders for equitable and adequate education funding.
SB 7 would repeal the state’s school finance formula, which earmarks money for specific needs, such as transportation or bilingual education. Districts instead would receive flexible block grants. Proponents say the change will enable more money to be directed to classrooms."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article14669279.html
"Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, called the bill the governor’s unconstitutional and intentional attempt to evade court orders for equitable and adequate education funding.
SB 7 would repeal the state’s school finance formula, which earmarks money for specific needs, such as transportation or bilingual education. Districts instead would receive flexible block grants. Proponents say the change will enable more money to be directed to classrooms."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article14669279.html
"Legislator asks about cutting courts’ funding in wake of school finance ruling", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 3/16/15.
"He said it was unlikely that the Legislature would reverse income tax cuts passed in 2012, which he contended have spurred job growth. He said that property tax and sales tax increases would also be controversial and unlikely to pass."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/prairie-politics/article14580998.html
"He said it was unlikely that the Legislature would reverse income tax cuts passed in 2012, which he contended have spurred job growth. He said that property tax and sales tax increases would also be controversial and unlikely to pass."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/prairie-politics/article14580998.html
"Illegal funding", as posted on The Hays Daily News on 3/15/15.
We are beginning to see why Kansas legislators are so insistent state residents have the right to openly carry weapons. It is a forewarning the rule of law could be about to end in Kansas. Lawmakers themselves are not following the law.
It was merely three months ago the three-judge school-finance panel appointed by the Kansas Supreme Court ruled the state was inadequately funding public schools. Using the "Rose standards" that have been adopted by courts throughout the U.S., the panel said the Legislature was violating the Kansas Constitution.
"It is inadequate from any rational perspective of the evidence presented or proffered to us," the district court panel based concluded in Gannon v. Kansas.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://hdnews.net/opinion/editorial031515-edit
We are beginning to see why Kansas legislators are so insistent state residents have the right to openly carry weapons. It is a forewarning the rule of law could be about to end in Kansas. Lawmakers themselves are not following the law.
It was merely three months ago the three-judge school-finance panel appointed by the Kansas Supreme Court ruled the state was inadequately funding public schools. Using the "Rose standards" that have been adopted by courts throughout the U.S., the panel said the Legislature was violating the Kansas Constitution.
"It is inadequate from any rational perspective of the evidence presented or proffered to us," the district court panel based concluded in Gannon v. Kansas.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://hdnews.net/opinion/editorial031515-edit
"How Republican budgets hide huge spending cuts in “block grants", as posted on Vox website on 3/16/15.
"Block grants may be good policy, or they may be bad policy. But Republicans tend to use them as a justification for an unrelated policy: massive spending cuts."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.vox.com/2015/3/16/8226165/block-grants-medicaid-budget
"Block grants may be good policy, or they may be bad policy. But Republicans tend to use them as a justification for an unrelated policy: massive spending cuts."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.vox.com/2015/3/16/8226165/block-grants-medicaid-budget
"Walker Budget Sneaks Major Policy Changes Past Education Agency",as posted on PR Watch website on 3/16/15.
"Scott Walker is traveling the country portraying himself as a straight shooter. "We said what we're gonna do, and we did it!" he told CPAC delegates in D.C. last month. But here in Wisconsin he has earned a reputation for governing by sneak attack and "bombshell," as the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel described the governor's track record of springing major policy changes on the public, stakeholders, and even legislators.
Two years ago, Walker wielded his veto pen and struck a loophole from the the 2013-15 budget bill that could have inadvertently expanded the state's school voucher program. In last month's budget address, he instead announced that he would lift the cap entirely."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.prwatch.org/news/2015/03/12768/gov-walker-lift-cap-failing-voucher-schools-dont-tell-dpi
"Scott Walker is traveling the country portraying himself as a straight shooter. "We said what we're gonna do, and we did it!" he told CPAC delegates in D.C. last month. But here in Wisconsin he has earned a reputation for governing by sneak attack and "bombshell," as the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel described the governor's track record of springing major policy changes on the public, stakeholders, and even legislators.
Two years ago, Walker wielded his veto pen and struck a loophole from the the 2013-15 budget bill that could have inadvertently expanded the state's school voucher program. In last month's budget address, he instead announced that he would lift the cap entirely."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.prwatch.org/news/2015/03/12768/gov-walker-lift-cap-failing-voucher-schools-dont-tell-dpi
"Kansas legislative agenda heavy with transparency bills", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 3/14/15.
"Government transparency has been at the forefront of Kansas politics during the first three months of 2015.
Gov. Sam Brownback’s office faces a lawsuit from several media outlets regarding rejected open records requests, and several controversial bills in the Kansas Legislature have been introduced anonymously, without a clear author stepping forward. Legislative rules allow that."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/local/article14446004.html
"Government transparency has been at the forefront of Kansas politics during the first three months of 2015.
Gov. Sam Brownback’s office faces a lawsuit from several media outlets regarding rejected open records requests, and several controversial bills in the Kansas Legislature have been introduced anonymously, without a clear author stepping forward. Legislative rules allow that."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/local/article14446004.html
"Capitol Beats: School finance edition", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 3/14/15.
“We’re pitting school district against school district. We’re pitting rural against urban. We’re pitting poor against rich. I’m quite frankly tired of that.”
"64 That’s the number of House members who voted in favor of SB 7, the block grant bill. The bare minimum to pass a bill in the House is 63."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article14399783.html
“We’re pitting school district against school district. We’re pitting rural against urban. We’re pitting poor against rich. I’m quite frankly tired of that.”
"64 That’s the number of House members who voted in favor of SB 7, the block grant bill. The bare minimum to pass a bill in the House is 63."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article14399783.html
"Shannon Cotsoradis: State needs to keep promises to young children", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 3/14/15.
"Why do families want to call Kansas home? If you asked me several years ago, I quickly would have pointed to our strong schools, good roads and smart investments in children and their families.
But times have changed, and many of the things that made me and thousands of others proud to call Kansas home are hanging in the balance during the 2015 session of the Legislature, not the least of which is our willingness to invest in our youngest children."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article14076761.html
"Why do families want to call Kansas home? If you asked me several years ago, I quickly would have pointed to our strong schools, good roads and smart investments in children and their families.
But times have changed, and many of the things that made me and thousands of others proud to call Kansas home are hanging in the balance during the 2015 session of the Legislature, not the least of which is our willingness to invest in our youngest children."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article14076761.html
"Court reopens lawsuit as Kansas House narrowly passes school finance overhaul", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 3/13/15.
"A major overhaul of the state’s school finance system passed in close vote in the Kansas House on Friday, but a district court hinted that it might eventually block it.
The bill eliminates the state’s current school finance formula, the subject of an ongoing lawsuit brought by school districts that argue the state is not funding schools adequately or equitably as required by the Constitution."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article13996184.html
"A major overhaul of the state’s school finance system passed in close vote in the Kansas House on Friday, but a district court hinted that it might eventually block it.
The bill eliminates the state’s current school finance formula, the subject of an ongoing lawsuit brought by school districts that argue the state is not funding schools adequately or equitably as required by the Constitution."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article13996184.html
"Kansas senators consider bill to reverse part of big tax cut", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 3/13/15.
"The Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee had a hearing Thursday on a bill that would revive the state’s tax on passive business income, including income from rental property. The measure would raise $65 million for the fiscal year beginning July 1 and a total of $115 million over two years.
“We’re going to be looking at things like this (that are) distasteful to people,” said Committee Chairman Les Donovan, a Wichita Republican. “We don’t have any choice.”
Legislators must close a projected shortfall of nearly $600 million in the budget for the next fiscal year. Lawmakers cut personal income taxes in 2012 and 2013 at Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s urging, and one key policy exempted 281,000 business owners and 53,000 farmers altogether."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article13986488.html
"The Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee had a hearing Thursday on a bill that would revive the state’s tax on passive business income, including income from rental property. The measure would raise $65 million for the fiscal year beginning July 1 and a total of $115 million over two years.
“We’re going to be looking at things like this (that are) distasteful to people,” said Committee Chairman Les Donovan, a Wichita Republican. “We don’t have any choice.”
Legislators must close a projected shortfall of nearly $600 million in the budget for the next fiscal year. Lawmakers cut personal income taxes in 2012 and 2013 at Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s urging, and one key policy exempted 281,000 business owners and 53,000 farmers altogether."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article13986488.html
"Wasn’t easy ramming through school-funding bill", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 3/13/15.
"In just over one week, state lawmakers introduced a bill to replace the state’s 2-decades-old school-finance formula, held hearings on the bill (where only three anti-tax groups testified in support), and got it passed by the full House. But it wasn’t easy ramming through a bill this consequential that few lawmakers read or fully understood. It required arm-twisting, sweetheart deals, holding the floor vote open for two hours, flying a lawmaker to the Statehouse using the state’s private plane, and disregarding the objections of nearly every school district. Now the bill goes to the Senate, which, thanks to a procedural move, can approve it without allowing any amendments."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/now-consider-this/article14075831.html
"In just over one week, state lawmakers introduced a bill to replace the state’s 2-decades-old school-finance formula, held hearings on the bill (where only three anti-tax groups testified in support), and got it passed by the full House. But it wasn’t easy ramming through a bill this consequential that few lawmakers read or fully understood. It required arm-twisting, sweetheart deals, holding the floor vote open for two hours, flying a lawmaker to the Statehouse using the state’s private plane, and disregarding the objections of nearly every school district. Now the bill goes to the Senate, which, thanks to a procedural move, can approve it without allowing any amendments."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/now-consider-this/article14075831.html
"Why scrap Teacher of the Year program?", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 3/13/15.
"Especially given the state’s budget problems, it’s puzzling that some lawmakers want to end the state’s Teacher of the Year award and replace it with a much more expensive Kansas Legislature Award for Teaching Excellence Program. Is it because the Legislature would have majority control of the selection committee? Currently, Teacher of the Year winners receive a $4,000 cash prize and can earn up to nine free credit hours a year from several Kansas colleges and universities. The proposed alternative would select one outstanding teacher, four finalists and at least 10 semifinalists to receive cash awards. The total cost of the new program would be $340,000."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/now-consider-this/article14074001.html
"Especially given the state’s budget problems, it’s puzzling that some lawmakers want to end the state’s Teacher of the Year award and replace it with a much more expensive Kansas Legislature Award for Teaching Excellence Program. Is it because the Legislature would have majority control of the selection committee? Currently, Teacher of the Year winners receive a $4,000 cash prize and can earn up to nine free credit hours a year from several Kansas colleges and universities. The proposed alternative would select one outstanding teacher, four finalists and at least 10 semifinalists to receive cash awards. The total cost of the new program would be $340,000."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/now-consider-this/article14074001.html
"Pay no attention to who is behind the curtain", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 3/12/15.
"During a hearing Wednesday on a bill to scale back collective bargaining of public-sector employees, Senate Commerce Committee Chairwoman Julia Lynn, R-Olathe, cut off questioning of the bill’s sponsor about his participation in conferences held by the American Legislative Exchange Council"
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/now-consider-this/article13799096.html
"During a hearing Wednesday on a bill to scale back collective bargaining of public-sector employees, Senate Commerce Committee Chairwoman Julia Lynn, R-Olathe, cut off questioning of the bill’s sponsor about his participation in conferences held by the American Legislative Exchange Council"
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/now-consider-this/article13799096.html
"Kansas school officials speak in opposition to block-grant funding bill", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 3/9/15.
"School officials from Wichita and around the state voiced strong opposition Monday to a bill that would overhaul the state’s school finance system, saying it would reduce accountability and hamper districts’ ability to provide services to students.
The House Appropriations Committee convened the first hearing Monday on HB 2403, which would put state aid for school districts into flexible block grants. It and an identical Senate bill were introduced last week by Republican lawmakers."
"The bill would give the Wichita school district about $7.8 million less for the current year than it expected when it passed its budget last summer – or $4.8 million less than it expects now after a cut ordered by the governor went into effect last weekend."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article13094219.html
"School officials from Wichita and around the state voiced strong opposition Monday to a bill that would overhaul the state’s school finance system, saying it would reduce accountability and hamper districts’ ability to provide services to students.
The House Appropriations Committee convened the first hearing Monday on HB 2403, which would put state aid for school districts into flexible block grants. It and an identical Senate bill were introduced last week by Republican lawmakers."
"The bill would give the Wichita school district about $7.8 million less for the current year than it expected when it passed its budget last summer – or $4.8 million less than it expects now after a cut ordered by the governor went into effect last weekend."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article13094219.html
"Kansas Sen. Jeff Melcher needs a remedial lesson in school math", as posted on The Kansas City Star website on 3/7/15.
A basic accounting course teaches you that you don’t include such things as building schools or administration buildings or interest on debt as a current operating expense, such as, for example, paying teachers.
Subtract out capital outlay and interest, and Shawnee Mission spent $9,908 per student in the 2013-14 school year. Not $15,000. Not $12,000.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/steve-rose/article12865235.html
A basic accounting course teaches you that you don’t include such things as building schools or administration buildings or interest on debt as a current operating expense, such as, for example, paying teachers.
Subtract out capital outlay and interest, and Shawnee Mission spent $9,908 per student in the 2013-14 school year. Not $15,000. Not $12,000.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/steve-rose/article12865235.html
"Capitol Beats: ‘The Legislature giveth and the Legislature taketh away’", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 3/7/815.
"Budget chairs Rep. Ron Ryckman Jr., R-Olathe, and Sen. Ty Masterson, R-Andover, will have the spotlight for most of the rest of the session after unveiling their plan to shift education funding to a block grant system. Hearings on the legislation begin in Ryckman’s Appropriations Committee and Masterson’s Ways and Means Committee this week."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article12942260.html
"Budget chairs Rep. Ron Ryckman Jr., R-Olathe, and Sen. Ty Masterson, R-Andover, will have the spotlight for most of the rest of the session after unveiling their plan to shift education funding to a block grant system. Hearings on the legislation begin in Ryckman’s Appropriations Committee and Masterson’s Ways and Means Committee this week."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article12942260.html
"School finance bill would cost local districts millions.Shawnee County administrators concerned about controversial block grants", as posted on The Topeka Capital-Journal website on 3/6/15.
"Shawnee County school districts appear poised to lose millions of dollars in operational and maintenance funds under a bill that would replace the state’s school finance formula with block grants.
Superintendents were scrambling Friday to understand the potential impacts of the bill for their districts.
“We believe, from what we know, that it’s going to be a net loss of $400,000” for Auburn-Washburn Unified School District 437, superintendent Brenda Dietrich said."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://cjonline.com/news/2015-03-06/school-finance-bill-would-cost-local-districts-millions
"Shawnee County school districts appear poised to lose millions of dollars in operational and maintenance funds under a bill that would replace the state’s school finance formula with block grants.
Superintendents were scrambling Friday to understand the potential impacts of the bill for their districts.
“We believe, from what we know, that it’s going to be a net loss of $400,000” for Auburn-Washburn Unified School District 437, superintendent Brenda Dietrich said."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://cjonline.com/news/2015-03-06/school-finance-bill-would-cost-local-districts-millions
"Wichita would lose $4.8 million from expected funding in school finance bill, figures show", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 3/6/15.
"Republican lawmakers on Thursday introduced twin House and Senate bills to replace the state’s school finance system with block grants, saying districts would have more flexibility to spend state dollars.
It wasn’t clear Thursday how individual districts would be affected. Responding to requests, the department released numbers Friday afternoon that compared the bill with current law, which includes a $28 million statewide cut in base funding ordered by Gov. Sam Brownback to help balance the state budget. It is set to go into effect Saturday."
Sen. Ty Masterson, R-Andover, one of the bill’s architects, said the bill in part addresses the fact that last year’s school finance bill ended up costing the state more than lawmakers had expected when they voted.
He said lawmakers preferred to cut from the current year rather than decrease funding for next year as the governor had proposed in his budget.
“That sets your basement and it inclines from there,” Masterson said.
Mark Tallman, associate executive director of the Kansas Association of School Boards, explained the situation to school officials from around the state in a webinar Friday.
“The budget you adopted based on current law … that formula is changed in the bill, so you will not get as much as you were expecting and it’s that reduced amount that is going forward,” Tallman said.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article12835088.html
"Republican lawmakers on Thursday introduced twin House and Senate bills to replace the state’s school finance system with block grants, saying districts would have more flexibility to spend state dollars.
It wasn’t clear Thursday how individual districts would be affected. Responding to requests, the department released numbers Friday afternoon that compared the bill with current law, which includes a $28 million statewide cut in base funding ordered by Gov. Sam Brownback to help balance the state budget. It is set to go into effect Saturday."
Sen. Ty Masterson, R-Andover, one of the bill’s architects, said the bill in part addresses the fact that last year’s school finance bill ended up costing the state more than lawmakers had expected when they voted.
He said lawmakers preferred to cut from the current year rather than decrease funding for next year as the governor had proposed in his budget.
“That sets your basement and it inclines from there,” Masterson said.
Mark Tallman, associate executive director of the Kansas Association of School Boards, explained the situation to school officials from around the state in a webinar Friday.
“The budget you adopted based on current law … that formula is changed in the bill, so you will not get as much as you were expecting and it’s that reduced amount that is going forward,” Tallman said.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article12835088.html
"Newton budget cut suggestions include middle school sports", as posted on KWCH.com on 3/6/15.
Many Kansas schools are trying to find ways to cut their budget without hurting students. In Newton, some teachers have even suggested cutting middle school sports.
Newton parents sympathize with those having to decide what to cut. We asked them what they would do if they were in that position.
READ THE FULL STORY AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kwch.com/news/local-news/newton-budget-cut-suggestions-include-middle-school-sports/31663796
Many Kansas schools are trying to find ways to cut their budget without hurting students. In Newton, some teachers have even suggested cutting middle school sports.
Newton parents sympathize with those having to decide what to cut. We asked them what they would do if they were in that position.
READ THE FULL STORY AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kwch.com/news/local-news/newton-budget-cut-suggestions-include-middle-school-sports/31663796
"We Have Everything to Lose", as recently posted on EudoraRocks.org, a blog by Superintendent of Schools Steve Splichal.
"There are few times worse than when you learn that the district you lead — the one you care most about — may likely lose the funding it needs to provide a great education to the students you serve. That time is now."
PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ THE FULL STORY AT THIS LINK:
http://eudorarocks.org/we-have-everything-to-lose/
"There are few times worse than when you learn that the district you lead — the one you care most about — may likely lose the funding it needs to provide a great education to the students you serve. That time is now."
PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ THE FULL STORY AT THIS LINK:
http://eudorarocks.org/we-have-everything-to-lose/
"Kansas court considers handling of school funding lawsuit", as posted on KAKE.com on 3/3/15.
The Kansas Supreme Court is considering whether a lower-court panel should still review a lawsuit over state funding for public schools.
The Supreme Court directed school districts that sued the state in 2010 to declare in writing Tuesday whether they want a three-judge panel in Shawnee County District Court to have more hearings in the case.
The panel has a hearing scheduled for Thursday.
READ THE FULL STORY AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kake.com/home/headlines/Kansas-court-considers-handling-of-school-funding-lawsuit-294831701.html?llsms=1120581&c=y
The Kansas Supreme Court is considering whether a lower-court panel should still review a lawsuit over state funding for public schools.
The Supreme Court directed school districts that sued the state in 2010 to declare in writing Tuesday whether they want a three-judge panel in Shawnee County District Court to have more hearings in the case.
The panel has a hearing scheduled for Thursday.
READ THE FULL STORY AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kake.com/home/headlines/Kansas-court-considers-handling-of-school-funding-lawsuit-294831701.html?llsms=1120581&c=y
"School board bill is nutty", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 3/3/15.
A bill that would prohibit a Kansan from serving on a school board if a family member or roommate is employed by a school district sounds like a spoof. This couldn’t possibly be serious.
Yet House Bill 2345 is scheduled for a House Education Committee hearing Thursday.
According to the Kansas Association of School Boards, teachers already are prohibited from serving on their own school board. This bill would extend that to prevent any school employee’s spouse, sibling, parent or roommate from running for a school board, including the Kansas State Board of Education.
And the relative doesn’t even have to live in the same district. As the bill is written, a person in southwest Kansas, for example, could not serve on her local board if her sibling teaches in northeast Kansas, hundreds of miles away.
The bill also would prevent anyone with a “substantial interest in any business that works directly with or provides services to this state or the school district” from running for a school board. In some small towns, that could mean most business owners (and their spouses) could not serve on the school board.
The bill was introduced anonymously (how brave and transparent). But the fact that the bill is scheduled for a hearing indicates that GOP leaders are taking it seriously.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article12315308.html
A bill that would prohibit a Kansan from serving on a school board if a family member or roommate is employed by a school district sounds like a spoof. This couldn’t possibly be serious.
Yet House Bill 2345 is scheduled for a House Education Committee hearing Thursday.
According to the Kansas Association of School Boards, teachers already are prohibited from serving on their own school board. This bill would extend that to prevent any school employee’s spouse, sibling, parent or roommate from running for a school board, including the Kansas State Board of Education.
And the relative doesn’t even have to live in the same district. As the bill is written, a person in southwest Kansas, for example, could not serve on her local board if her sibling teaches in northeast Kansas, hundreds of miles away.
The bill also would prevent anyone with a “substantial interest in any business that works directly with or provides services to this state or the school district” from running for a school board. In some small towns, that could mean most business owners (and their spouses) could not serve on the school board.
The bill was introduced anonymously (how brave and transparent). But the fact that the bill is scheduled for a hearing indicates that GOP leaders are taking it seriously.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article12315308.html
"School officials object to bill on K-12 education", as posted on Parsons Sun website on 3/2/15.
Current law protects K-12 schools, universities, museums and libraries from prosecution. However, Senate Bill 56 removes that provision for K-12 public schools, while leaving protection intact for all the others.
"I think it’s a poor piece of legislation,” Oswego USD 504 Superintendent Terry Karlin said. “It’s intended to restrict and censor material presented to students based on the religious and moral convictions of certain politicians. I simply believe there would absolutely be no freedom of expression on the part of teachers … Academic freedom would be virtually nonexistent.”
"It just seems like the state wants to legislate everything in the schools now,” Altamont USD 506 Superintendent John Wyrick said. “Why don’t they just vote to eliminate local school boards and make it so they determine everything? They don’t seem to trust the locally elected boards to handle the governance.
“Some of our legislators have lost touch with reality, and I don’t know who I’m even talking to at the state now,” Wyrick said. “I truly believe we are living in a day and age where some elected officials would like to see all power and rights stripped from schools and handed to the state. They continue to make laws that make no sense. We’re being censured is what’s happening.”
Kansas once boasted a public school system that was something to be proud of, but in the last few years the Legislature has continued to attack it and tear it down, Woolf said.
With matters such as concealed-carry laws on the table, diverting the attention of public school patrons, the educational bills are paid little attention to except by those in education.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.parsonssun.com/news/article_06e273f4-c12a-11e4-abf2-a7459ea0180a.html?mode=jqm
Current law protects K-12 schools, universities, museums and libraries from prosecution. However, Senate Bill 56 removes that provision for K-12 public schools, while leaving protection intact for all the others.
"I think it’s a poor piece of legislation,” Oswego USD 504 Superintendent Terry Karlin said. “It’s intended to restrict and censor material presented to students based on the religious and moral convictions of certain politicians. I simply believe there would absolutely be no freedom of expression on the part of teachers … Academic freedom would be virtually nonexistent.”
"It just seems like the state wants to legislate everything in the schools now,” Altamont USD 506 Superintendent John Wyrick said. “Why don’t they just vote to eliminate local school boards and make it so they determine everything? They don’t seem to trust the locally elected boards to handle the governance.
“Some of our legislators have lost touch with reality, and I don’t know who I’m even talking to at the state now,” Wyrick said. “I truly believe we are living in a day and age where some elected officials would like to see all power and rights stripped from schools and handed to the state. They continue to make laws that make no sense. We’re being censured is what’s happening.”
Kansas once boasted a public school system that was something to be proud of, but in the last few years the Legislature has continued to attack it and tear it down, Woolf said.
With matters such as concealed-carry laws on the table, diverting the attention of public school patrons, the educational bills are paid little attention to except by those in education.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.parsonssun.com/news/article_06e273f4-c12a-11e4-abf2-a7459ea0180a.html?mode=jqm
"Tax collections a relief but still lagging", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 3/2/15.
Another drop in revenue would have been disastrous, as Gov. Sam Brownback already has cut funding for state agencies and public schools to try to cover the current-year budget shortfall. Even with the additional revenue, the state is still $37 million off pace from its projections for this fiscal year – and those projections were significantly lowered last November. Last month’s tax collections also were $19 million less than what the state collected in February 2014.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/now-consider-this/article11925290.html
Another drop in revenue would have been disastrous, as Gov. Sam Brownback already has cut funding for state agencies and public schools to try to cover the current-year budget shortfall. Even with the additional revenue, the state is still $37 million off pace from its projections for this fiscal year – and those projections were significantly lowered last November. Last month’s tax collections also were $19 million less than what the state collected in February 2014.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/now-consider-this/article11925290.html
"Education “reformers’” new big lie: Charter schools become even more disastrous. The more so-called reformers push vouchers and school choice, the worse it works out -- for everyone", as posted on Solon.com on 3/2/15.
Rather than directly address what ails struggling public schools, policy leaders increasingly claim that giving parents more choice about where they send their children to school – and letting that parent choice determine the funding of schools – will create a market mechanism that leaves the most competent schools remaining “in business” while incompetent schools eventually close.
Also, Wagner reported, voucher funds come with “virtually no accountability measures attached … Private schools are also free to use any curriculum they see fit, employ untrained, unlicensed teachers and conduct criminal background checks only on the heads of schools. For the most part, they do not have to share their budgets or financial practices with the public, in spite of receiving public dollars.”
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.salon.com/2015/03/02/education_reformers_new_big_lie_charter_schools_become_even_more_disastrous/
Rather than directly address what ails struggling public schools, policy leaders increasingly claim that giving parents more choice about where they send their children to school – and letting that parent choice determine the funding of schools – will create a market mechanism that leaves the most competent schools remaining “in business” while incompetent schools eventually close.
Also, Wagner reported, voucher funds come with “virtually no accountability measures attached … Private schools are also free to use any curriculum they see fit, employ untrained, unlicensed teachers and conduct criminal background checks only on the heads of schools. For the most part, they do not have to share their budgets or financial practices with the public, in spite of receiving public dollars.”
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.salon.com/2015/03/02/education_reformers_new_big_lie_charter_schools_become_even_more_disastrous/
"Wichita principal calls seniors’ prank ‘the coolest thing ever’", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 3/2/15.
Within seconds, a senior walked by and dropped a piece of paper into the bucket. A few seconds later, another one did, too. Then another, and another. No words, just notes. By the end of the passing period, about 20 students had swiftly, silently dropped notes into the bucket.
Padgett went back to his office and read one of the notes.
“Thank you for the shirt you gave me,” it said. “When I didn’t have clothes on my back, you provided.”
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/local/education/article11937851.html
Within seconds, a senior walked by and dropped a piece of paper into the bucket. A few seconds later, another one did, too. Then another, and another. No words, just notes. By the end of the passing period, about 20 students had swiftly, silently dropped notes into the bucket.
Padgett went back to his office and read one of the notes.
“Thank you for the shirt you gave me,” it said. “When I didn’t have clothes on my back, you provided.”
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/local/education/article11937851.html
"National experts warn about borrowing money for pension", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 3/1/15.
Kansas State Treasurer Ron Estes endorsed Gov. Sam Brownback’s proposal to borrow up to $1.5 billion to help shore up the state’s pension plan.
Sean Carney of BlackRock Inc., which oversees $116 billion in local debt, said now is not a good time to borrow money to invest. “You’re doing it at a time when equity markets have hit all-time highs, which hasn’t proven to be a good strategy in the past,” he said. In January, the Government Finance Officers Association recommended that state and city officials avoid such deals, saying they pose “significant risks.” The Society of Actuaries issued a similar warning last year.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/now-consider-this/article11383133.html
Kansas State Treasurer Ron Estes endorsed Gov. Sam Brownback’s proposal to borrow up to $1.5 billion to help shore up the state’s pension plan.
Sean Carney of BlackRock Inc., which oversees $116 billion in local debt, said now is not a good time to borrow money to invest. “You’re doing it at a time when equity markets have hit all-time highs, which hasn’t proven to be a good strategy in the past,” he said. In January, the Government Finance Officers Association recommended that state and city officials avoid such deals, saying they pose “significant risks.” The Society of Actuaries issued a similar warning last year.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/now-consider-this/article11383133.html
"Seven most surprising moves this legislative session in Kansas", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 2/28/15.
1. Governor cuts school funding midsession and midschool year
3. Bipartisan consensus builds on teacher contracts
5. Conservatives break from Brownback on budget fix
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article11680334.html
1. Governor cuts school funding midsession and midschool year
3. Bipartisan consensus builds on teacher contracts
5. Conservatives break from Brownback on budget fix
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article11680334.html
"Linda Bakken: Support our educators", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 2/28/15.
I also found the principals try to set up their buildings in ways that are conducive to productive behaviors and social interactions. They implemented curricula and learning philosophies that helped children grow and develop into responsible and contributing adults in society.
Rather than castigating those professionals who are paid so little and who sometimes use their own pay to supplement for teaching purposes, perhaps it is time to thank these hardworking educators.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article11373260.html
I also found the principals try to set up their buildings in ways that are conducive to productive behaviors and social interactions. They implemented curricula and learning philosophies that helped children grow and develop into responsible and contributing adults in society.
Rather than castigating those professionals who are paid so little and who sometimes use their own pay to supplement for teaching purposes, perhaps it is time to thank these hardworking educators.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article11373260.html
"Sacking the School Finance Formula", as posted on The Kansas Budget website on 2/28/15.
"The governor says the school finance formula is too complicated, even suggesting that it was deliberately designed that way in order to confuse Kansans.
It’s not. Rather the formula helps make sense of a complex situation, and provides funding in a fair and consistent way. Kansas has 460,000 students with a wide range of abilities and varying needs. Those students receive education in 286 school districts that range from tiny, to quite large, from rich in property resources, to poor. Such a situation requires a reasoned, rational method for distributing funds which recognizes that one size does not fit all."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansasbudget.com/2015/02/sacking-school-finance-formula.html
"The governor says the school finance formula is too complicated, even suggesting that it was deliberately designed that way in order to confuse Kansans.
It’s not. Rather the formula helps make sense of a complex situation, and provides funding in a fair and consistent way. Kansas has 460,000 students with a wide range of abilities and varying needs. Those students receive education in 286 school districts that range from tiny, to quite large, from rich in property resources, to poor. Such a situation requires a reasoned, rational method for distributing funds which recognizes that one size does not fit all."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansasbudget.com/2015/02/sacking-school-finance-formula.html
"Bill would prevent teachers, relatives from running for school board", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 2/27/15.
A bill slated for a hearing at the Capitol next week would prevent any teacher or anyone married or related to a teacher from running for a school board seat.
House Bill 2345, set to be heard by the House Education Committee on Thursday, would prevent anyone employed by a school district or the Department of Education from being elected to a school board. It would also prevent any school employee’s spouse, sibling, parent or roommate from running for a school board.
“It epitomizes the war on public education,” said Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, a public school teacher, who was alerted to the bill by a constituent.
“And what I would suggest somebody do is that they offer up an amendment that says if you were ever taught by a teacher you can’t run for the school board,” he added sarcastically. “I mean, that’s how ridiculous this thing is.”
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/local/article11374190.html
A bill slated for a hearing at the Capitol next week would prevent any teacher or anyone married or related to a teacher from running for a school board seat.
House Bill 2345, set to be heard by the House Education Committee on Thursday, would prevent anyone employed by a school district or the Department of Education from being elected to a school board. It would also prevent any school employee’s spouse, sibling, parent or roommate from running for a school board.
“It epitomizes the war on public education,” said Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, a public school teacher, who was alerted to the bill by a constituent.
“And what I would suggest somebody do is that they offer up an amendment that says if you were ever taught by a teacher you can’t run for the school board,” he added sarcastically. “I mean, that’s how ridiculous this thing is.”
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/local/article11374190.html
"How dare local officials express their opinions?", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 2/27/15.
Sen. Mitch Holmes, R-St. John, excoriated opponents of moving local elections from the spring to the fall. This includes 194 school districts that signed resolutions against the change, the Kansas Association of School Boards, the League of Kansas Municipalities, and many local officials.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/now-consider-this/article11379173.html
Sen. Mitch Holmes, R-St. John, excoriated opponents of moving local elections from the spring to the fall. This includes 194 school districts that signed resolutions against the change, the Kansas Association of School Boards, the League of Kansas Municipalities, and many local officials.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/now-consider-this/article11379173.html
"Guest column: Law enforcement asks: Don’t rob the Kansas Endowment for Youth fund", as posted on Wyandotte Daily website on 2/27/15.
"The evidence is quite clear that low-income children who participate in a high-quality pre-k program have significant advantages compared to their peers who miss out on the pre-k experience."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://wyandottedaily.com/guest-column-law-enforcement-asks-dont-rob-the-kansas-endowment-for-youth-fund/
"The evidence is quite clear that low-income children who participate in a high-quality pre-k program have significant advantages compared to their peers who miss out on the pre-k experience."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://wyandottedaily.com/guest-column-law-enforcement-asks-dont-rob-the-kansas-endowment-for-youth-fund/
"Moving local elections from spring to fall approved by Kansas Senate", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 2/26/15.
Holmes’ bill, SB 171, originally would have moved local elections to the fall of even-numbered years and made them partisan, a change critics said was meant to solidify conservative dominance at all levels of Kansas government.
The bill was changed in committee to keep local elections non-partisan and in odd-numbered years, but to move them from April to November.
An amendment Thursday added that all local tax and bond issue votes must be held in primary or general elections and not in special elections.
Even with the more mild version of the bill, 194 school districts have signed resolutions against changing the election dates, according to the Kansas Association of School Boards.
Desetti also questioned Holmes’ logic that moving elections to the fall would break the power of organized groups. He said that organized conservative groups, such as Americans For Prosperity, which has ties to Koch Industries, dominate November elections.
“So I guess then AFP who dominates our November elections is not an organized group? Who dominates our November elections? Huge super PACs and organized groups. It’s an absurd argument,” Desetti said. “In fact the April elections have fewer organized groups involved because under these nonpartisan, spring elections the big PACs don’t get involved in them now.”
The bill now moves to the House.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/local/article11264396.html
Holmes’ bill, SB 171, originally would have moved local elections to the fall of even-numbered years and made them partisan, a change critics said was meant to solidify conservative dominance at all levels of Kansas government.
The bill was changed in committee to keep local elections non-partisan and in odd-numbered years, but to move them from April to November.
An amendment Thursday added that all local tax and bond issue votes must be held in primary or general elections and not in special elections.
Even with the more mild version of the bill, 194 school districts have signed resolutions against changing the election dates, according to the Kansas Association of School Boards.
Desetti also questioned Holmes’ logic that moving elections to the fall would break the power of organized groups. He said that organized conservative groups, such as Americans For Prosperity, which has ties to Koch Industries, dominate November elections.
“So I guess then AFP who dominates our November elections is not an organized group? Who dominates our November elections? Huge super PACs and organized groups. It’s an absurd argument,” Desetti said. “In fact the April elections have fewer organized groups involved because under these nonpartisan, spring elections the big PACs don’t get involved in them now.”
The bill now moves to the House.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/local/article11264396.html
"Kansas educators worry Common Core repeal could hurt AP classes, IB programs", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 2/26/15.
AP classes are “not just about memorizing dates and facts,” Morales said. “It’s about being able to think about your past so that it will help you as you go forward in your life.”
Critics of a bill in the Kansas Legislature that seeks to repeal Common Core standards say the measure could affect and possibly even do away with some AP classes and International Baccalaureate programs.
House Bill 2292 would compel Kansas school districts to return to reading, math, science and other standards that were in place in 2010, before the state adopted its Common Core-inspired Kansas College and Career Ready Standards.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/local/education/article11202707.html
AP classes are “not just about memorizing dates and facts,” Morales said. “It’s about being able to think about your past so that it will help you as you go forward in your life.”
Critics of a bill in the Kansas Legislature that seeks to repeal Common Core standards say the measure could affect and possibly even do away with some AP classes and International Baccalaureate programs.
House Bill 2292 would compel Kansas school districts to return to reading, math, science and other standards that were in place in 2010, before the state adopted its Common Core-inspired Kansas College and Career Ready Standards.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/local/education/article11202707.html
"War on educators continues", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 2/25/15.
Senate Bill 56, under which teachers could be charged for violation of a class B nonperson misdemeanor, need not lead to one actual prosecution to do damage. Its passage would have a chilling effect, with teachers self-censoring their choices of literature, artworks and scientific concepts to study in class on the chance someone might take offense, judge the material at odds with “contemporary community standards” or lacking literary or educational merit – and find a sympathetic ear in the district attorney’s office.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article11170253.html
Senate Bill 56, under which teachers could be charged for violation of a class B nonperson misdemeanor, need not lead to one actual prosecution to do damage. Its passage would have a chilling effect, with teachers self-censoring their choices of literature, artworks and scientific concepts to study in class on the chance someone might take offense, judge the material at odds with “contemporary community standards” or lacking literary or educational merit – and find a sympathetic ear in the district attorney’s office.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article11170253.html
"Conservatives are changing Kansas law in ways that enshrine their power, weaken opponents", as posted on The Kansas City Star website on 2/24/15.
"Public employee unions are now barred from deducting money from members’ paychecks to help bankroll political activities, which tend to be directed against conservatives. State money can no longer be used to lobby for gun control. And lawmakers have pushed repeatedly to overhaul the makeup of a state Supreme Court that’s ordered the Legislature to spend millions more on schools and that the legislative majority sees as hostile to the death penalty."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansascity.com/news/government-politics/article11115413.html
"Public employee unions are now barred from deducting money from members’ paychecks to help bankroll political activities, which tend to be directed against conservatives. State money can no longer be used to lobby for gun control. And lawmakers have pushed repeatedly to overhaul the makeup of a state Supreme Court that’s ordered the Legislature to spend millions more on schools and that the legislative majority sees as hostile to the death penalty."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansascity.com/news/government-politics/article11115413.html
"Bill easing prosecution of teachers for harmful materials get Kansas Senate’s OK", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 2/24/15.
(Regarding Senate Bill 56.)
"Some Republicans – including Sens. Michael O’Donnell, R-Wichita; Dan Kerschen, R-Garden Plain; Garrett Love, R-Montezuma; Rob Olson, R-Olathe; and Sen. Ty Masterson, R-Andover – would not talk about the bill after its passage."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article11101289.html
(Regarding Senate Bill 56.)
"Some Republicans – including Sens. Michael O’Donnell, R-Wichita; Dan Kerschen, R-Garden Plain; Garrett Love, R-Montezuma; Rob Olson, R-Olathe; and Sen. Ty Masterson, R-Andover – would not talk about the bill after its passage."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article11101289.html
"Keep court independent", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 2/23/15.
"For 32 years, Kansans had known who applied for each vacancy on the Court of Appeals and which applicants rose to the top in the vetting by the nominating commission. Composed of five attorneys and four gubernatorially appointed non-attorneys, the commission recommended a top three to the governor, who named one to the court.
But Brownback has shrouded the whole process in secrecy since 2013, when he picked his lawyer Caleb Stegall for the first Court of Appeals opening under the new system. Last month he similarly refused to disclose applicants’ names before nominating Kathryn Gardner to the court. He expects the public to just trust his judgment, without any context for his choice."
READ THE FULL DISCUSSION AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article11036060.html
"For 32 years, Kansans had known who applied for each vacancy on the Court of Appeals and which applicants rose to the top in the vetting by the nominating commission. Composed of five attorneys and four gubernatorially appointed non-attorneys, the commission recommended a top three to the governor, who named one to the court.
But Brownback has shrouded the whole process in secrecy since 2013, when he picked his lawyer Caleb Stegall for the first Court of Appeals opening under the new system. Last month he similarly refused to disclose applicants’ names before nominating Kathryn Gardner to the court. He expects the public to just trust his judgment, without any context for his choice."
READ THE FULL DISCUSSION AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article11036060.html
"Duane Goossen: Less money to the classroom", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 2/21/15.
Kansas has 460,000 students with a wide range of abilities and varying needs. Those students receive education in 286 school districts that range from tiny to quite large, from rich in property resources to poor. Such a situation requires a reasoned, rational method for distributing funds that recognizes that one size does not fit all.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article10782233.html
Kansas has 460,000 students with a wide range of abilities and varying needs. Those students receive education in 286 school districts that range from tiny to quite large, from rich in property resources to poor. Such a situation requires a reasoned, rational method for distributing funds that recognizes that one size does not fit all.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article10782233.html
"Kansas teen’s eloquent letter challenges Sam Brownback to help schools", as posted on The Kansas City Star website on 2/19/15.
"Do not write off my generation and refuse us the opportunity to educate ourselves, because we will surprise you. We are capable and ready to take on the world, and if we are put into the world without the education to make a difference, then it is you who will pay. It is you who will count on us in your age. If you wish to see this great state continue to be great, educate the future."
READ THE FULL LETTER AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/yael-t-abouhalkah/article10697678.html
"Do not write off my generation and refuse us the opportunity to educate ourselves, because we will surprise you. We are capable and ready to take on the world, and if we are put into the world without the education to make a difference, then it is you who will pay. It is you who will count on us in your age. If you wish to see this great state continue to be great, educate the future."
READ THE FULL LETTER AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/yael-t-abouhalkah/article10697678.html
"Kansas ed department launches online feedback tool for language arts, math standards", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 2/17/15.
"Officials say the goal of the new online survey – at http://standards.ksde.org – is to collect public input on the math and language arts standards at every grade level and provide specific feedback to help guide the standards review team.
“Given the fact that the standards have received so much attention this time around – people are starting to pay attention – we wanted to make sure everyone knew they had an opportunity to weigh in,” said Denise Kahler, spokeswoman for the Kansas Department of Education."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/local/education/article10522436.html
"Officials say the goal of the new online survey – at http://standards.ksde.org – is to collect public input on the math and language arts standards at every grade level and provide specific feedback to help guide the standards review team.
“Given the fact that the standards have received so much attention this time around – people are starting to pay attention – we wanted to make sure everyone knew they had an opportunity to weigh in,” said Denise Kahler, spokeswoman for the Kansas Department of Education."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/local/education/article10522436.html
USD 470 addresses financial impact, Ballard sounds budget alarm at Monday night’s meeting, as posted on arkcity.net on 2/10/15.
The newest cuts have left USD 470 approximately $174,000 shy of its previous budget numbers for the 2014-15 school year, school board members learned at their regular meeting.
While the school district has $180,000 in contingency funds, district Superintendent Ron Ballard said he is hesitant to use those funds because the district might need that money well into the next school year.
If it is passed, an additional bill, SB 71, could cost USD 470 yet another $126,000 in funding, Ballard indicated.
PLEASE READ SUPERINTENDANT BALLARD'S FULL STORY AT THIS LINK:
http://www.arkcity.net/news/top_story/usd-addresses-financial-impact/article_e6bcfc00-b1b3-11e4-9dad-9b27d0796c78.html?mode=jqm
The newest cuts have left USD 470 approximately $174,000 shy of its previous budget numbers for the 2014-15 school year, school board members learned at their regular meeting.
While the school district has $180,000 in contingency funds, district Superintendent Ron Ballard said he is hesitant to use those funds because the district might need that money well into the next school year.
If it is passed, an additional bill, SB 71, could cost USD 470 yet another $126,000 in funding, Ballard indicated.
PLEASE READ SUPERINTENDANT BALLARD'S FULL STORY AT THIS LINK:
http://www.arkcity.net/news/top_story/usd-addresses-financial-impact/article_e6bcfc00-b1b3-11e4-9dad-9b27d0796c78.html?mode=jqm
USD 489 chief reacts to school funding cuts: ‘Here we go again’ , as posted on the Hays Post website on 2/9/15.
Gov. Sam Brownback announced the proposed 1.5 percent cut to K-12 funding on Thursday, along with a 2 percent cut to higher education, just as the House and the Senate forwarded a budget balancing bill to the governor. Brownback’s self-described tax “experiment” has led to a projected $344 million deficit by June 30.
Brownback’s latest proposed cut reduces the base state aid per pupil from $3,852 to $3,810.25 meaning a loss of more than $155,000 for USD 489.
PLEASE READ SUPERINTENDANT DEAN KATT'S FULL STORY AT THIS LINK:
http://www.hayspost.com/2015/02/09/usd-489-chief-reacts-to-school-funding-cuts-here-we-go-again/
Gov. Sam Brownback announced the proposed 1.5 percent cut to K-12 funding on Thursday, along with a 2 percent cut to higher education, just as the House and the Senate forwarded a budget balancing bill to the governor. Brownback’s self-described tax “experiment” has led to a projected $344 million deficit by June 30.
Brownback’s latest proposed cut reduces the base state aid per pupil from $3,852 to $3,810.25 meaning a loss of more than $155,000 for USD 489.
PLEASE READ SUPERINTENDANT DEAN KATT'S FULL STORY AT THIS LINK:
http://www.hayspost.com/2015/02/09/usd-489-chief-reacts-to-school-funding-cuts-here-we-go-again/
"Sam Brownback lied to Kansans about new school funding cuts", as posted on The Kansas City Star website on 2/6/15.
Put it simply and factually: On Thursday, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback lied to kids and educators throughout the state when he announced $44.5 million in cutbacks for higher education and K-12 schools.
▪ However, personal income tax revenues — some of the taxes that Brownback and his allies slashed in 2012 — already are $23 million lower than expected in predictions made just a week after the governor won re-election in November.
Add in the fact that corporate taxes are down $19 million, and those Kansas income tax receipts are $42 million lower than predicted through January — or more than three times the reduction in sales tax collections.
READ THE FULL EDITORIAL AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/yael-t-abouhalkah/article9389519.html
Put it simply and factually: On Thursday, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback lied to kids and educators throughout the state when he announced $44.5 million in cutbacks for higher education and K-12 schools.
▪ However, personal income tax revenues — some of the taxes that Brownback and his allies slashed in 2012 — already are $23 million lower than expected in predictions made just a week after the governor won re-election in November.
Add in the fact that corporate taxes are down $19 million, and those Kansas income tax receipts are $42 million lower than predicted through January — or more than three times the reduction in sales tax collections.
READ THE FULL EDITORIAL AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/yael-t-abouhalkah/article9389519.html
"Risky Pension-Bond Strategy Considered in Kansas. State Would Issue Bonds and Invest Proceeds to Boost Pension Returns", as posted on The Wall Street Journal website on 2/5/15.
"Kansas is considering a corner of the municipal-bond market most states have come to avoid because of its risk—a $1.5 billion sale of so-called pension bonds to boost returns at the state retirement system.
The strategy, which Gov. Sam Brownback is proposing in the face of a growing state deficit, would help lower annual state contributions to the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System. Under the plan, the state would issue bonds and then invest the proceeds, making a decadeslong bet that pension-fund returns will exceed current interest rates for taxable municipal bonds.
Over the last year, Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services have downgraded Kansas, as sharp tax cuts have dried up revenues. The state last year also settled with the Securities and Exchange Commission over charges it didn’t adequately warn bondholders of the risks posed by its pension liabilities. Officials improved disclosures and increased employee contributions to the plan, settling with the SEC without admitting wrongdoing or paying a penalty."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.wsj.com/articles/risky-pension-bond-strategy-considered-in-kansas-1423167830
"Kansas is considering a corner of the municipal-bond market most states have come to avoid because of its risk—a $1.5 billion sale of so-called pension bonds to boost returns at the state retirement system.
The strategy, which Gov. Sam Brownback is proposing in the face of a growing state deficit, would help lower annual state contributions to the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System. Under the plan, the state would issue bonds and then invest the proceeds, making a decadeslong bet that pension-fund returns will exceed current interest rates for taxable municipal bonds.
Over the last year, Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services have downgraded Kansas, as sharp tax cuts have dried up revenues. The state last year also settled with the Securities and Exchange Commission over charges it didn’t adequately warn bondholders of the risks posed by its pension liabilities. Officials improved disclosures and increased employee contributions to the plan, settling with the SEC without admitting wrongdoing or paying a penalty."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.wsj.com/articles/risky-pension-bond-strategy-considered-in-kansas-1423167830
"Gov. Sam Brownback cuts funding for schools and higher education", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 2/5/15.
"Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, accused the governor of waging war against public education by saying the only way to avoid his cuts to schools and universities is to cut schools.
“I’d say that’s pretty brazen. Because that in essence is making a public threat … threatening the Legislature to take action that in any event is going to be bad for public education,” Hensley said in a meeting with reporters shortly after the Senate vote.
During the debate on the budget bill, Hensley referenced the governor’s talking point that the state should act like a family and learn to live within its means.
“The problem with this analogy is that no Kansas family or business would voluntarily cut off a source of their income, drain their savings account, rob their retirement funds and still expect to have a financially secure future,” he said.
But Masterson delivered a passionate defense of the governor and the tax cuts, which reduced rates and eliminated income taxes on the owners of more than 190,000 businesses, during the budget debate."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article9351788.html
"Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, accused the governor of waging war against public education by saying the only way to avoid his cuts to schools and universities is to cut schools.
“I’d say that’s pretty brazen. Because that in essence is making a public threat … threatening the Legislature to take action that in any event is going to be bad for public education,” Hensley said in a meeting with reporters shortly after the Senate vote.
During the debate on the budget bill, Hensley referenced the governor’s talking point that the state should act like a family and learn to live within its means.
“The problem with this analogy is that no Kansas family or business would voluntarily cut off a source of their income, drain their savings account, rob their retirement funds and still expect to have a financially secure future,” he said.
But Masterson delivered a passionate defense of the governor and the tax cuts, which reduced rates and eliminated income taxes on the owners of more than 190,000 businesses, during the budget debate."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article9351788.html
"Brownback’s office criticizes media coverage of school funding decision", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 2/6/15.
"Rep. Jim Ward, D-Wichita, accused the Brownback administration of trying to perpetrate a “sleight of hand,” noting that the governor has previously promised to safeguard education funding.
“It’s somewhat hypocritical for the governor’s folks to criticize the estimates not being accurate after hearing their estimates for how the tax plan would work for Kansas and then seeing the results,” Ward said.
“They make it sound like it’s some sort of conspiracy and the Department of Education cooked the books. That’s the frustrating part,” Ward said.
Ward also pointed out that last week the Brownback administration projected that a bill intended to address the state’s deficit would get the state through rest of the fiscal year. Those estimates turned out to be wrong."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/prairie-politics/article9474524.html
"Rep. Jim Ward, D-Wichita, accused the Brownback administration of trying to perpetrate a “sleight of hand,” noting that the governor has previously promised to safeguard education funding.
“It’s somewhat hypocritical for the governor’s folks to criticize the estimates not being accurate after hearing their estimates for how the tax plan would work for Kansas and then seeing the results,” Ward said.
“They make it sound like it’s some sort of conspiracy and the Department of Education cooked the books. That’s the frustrating part,” Ward said.
Ward also pointed out that last week the Brownback administration projected that a bill intended to address the state’s deficit would get the state through rest of the fiscal year. Those estimates turned out to be wrong."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/prairie-politics/article9474524.html
"Brownback reveals new $44M cut to K-12, universities. Latest action designed to fill broadening of state budget deficit", as posted on The Topeka Capital-Journal website on 2/5/15.
"Gov. Sam Brownback used executive authority Thursday to order $44.5 million in budget cuts in state appropriations to public universities and K-12 schools in response to an unanticipated drop in tax revenue.
"Follow-up meetings were canceled,” Kelly said. “The Senate has had little, if any, input on what this bill is. I find that wrong. It’s our job to debate and discuss and amend, if necessary. It’s certainly our job to be the voice of the people."
Masterson said he was fascinated by Kelly’s line of thought.
“We cry about process with self-righteous indignation when it doesn’t do what maybe we want it to do, but we leverage it every moment when it benefits us,” the budget chairman said."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://cjonline.com/news/state/2015-02-05/brownback-reveals-new-44m-cut-k-12-universities
"Gov. Sam Brownback used executive authority Thursday to order $44.5 million in budget cuts in state appropriations to public universities and K-12 schools in response to an unanticipated drop in tax revenue.
"Follow-up meetings were canceled,” Kelly said. “The Senate has had little, if any, input on what this bill is. I find that wrong. It’s our job to debate and discuss and amend, if necessary. It’s certainly our job to be the voice of the people."
Masterson said he was fascinated by Kelly’s line of thought.
“We cry about process with self-righteous indignation when it doesn’t do what maybe we want it to do, but we leverage it every moment when it benefits us,” the budget chairman said."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://cjonline.com/news/state/2015-02-05/brownback-reveals-new-44m-cut-k-12-universities
"Kansas lawmakers take up bills on teacher contract negotiations", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 2/4/15.
"Lawmakers are weighing two separate bills that would overhaul contract negotiations between teachers and school districts.
One has the backing of the state’s largest teachers union and the majority of school boards. The other has the backing of a Wichita-based think tank.
HB 2034 would revise the state’s professional negotiations act so that the only items that districts are required to negotiate with teachers unions would be salary, wages and work hours. Other items – such as overtime pay, sick leave and vacation time – would be open to negotiation only if both sides agree."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article9298715.html
"Lawmakers are weighing two separate bills that would overhaul contract negotiations between teachers and school districts.
One has the backing of the state’s largest teachers union and the majority of school boards. The other has the backing of a Wichita-based think tank.
HB 2034 would revise the state’s professional negotiations act so that the only items that districts are required to negotiate with teachers unions would be salary, wages and work hours. Other items – such as overtime pay, sick leave and vacation time – would be open to negotiation only if both sides agree."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article9298715.html
"House GOP ready to push 'paygo' rule", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 2/4/15.
"Speaker Mike O'Neal and other Republicans pledged support Thursday for a proposed rule that would require spending cuts to offset any new increases as the Kansas House prepares to begin its first significant budget debate.The rule, which supporters call "pay as you go" or "paygo," is similar to a measure Congress approved last year. It would prohibit members of the Kansas House, during debate by the entire chamber, from proposing amendments to appropriations bills adding spending to one part of the budget without coupling that with a cut in another part."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article1056716.html
"Speaker Mike O'Neal and other Republicans pledged support Thursday for a proposed rule that would require spending cuts to offset any new increases as the Kansas House prepares to begin its first significant budget debate.The rule, which supporters call "pay as you go" or "paygo," is similar to a measure Congress approved last year. It would prohibit members of the Kansas House, during debate by the entire chamber, from proposing amendments to appropriations bills adding spending to one part of the budget without coupling that with a cut in another part."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article1056716.html
"With a voice vote, Kansas House passes budget that taps highways, health care", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 2/3/15.
"But the underlying debate was over the wisdom of the deep state income tax cuts of 2012, the centerpiece of Brownback’s plan to stimulate business development in Kansas.Those cuts exempted more than 190,000 businesses from income taxes entirely and reduced tax bracket rates for wage-earning taxpayers.
Now the state faces a shortfall of more than $300 million for the current fiscal year and a projected budget gap of $600 million to $700 million next year."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article9037202.html
"But the underlying debate was over the wisdom of the deep state income tax cuts of 2012, the centerpiece of Brownback’s plan to stimulate business development in Kansas.Those cuts exempted more than 190,000 businesses from income taxes entirely and reduced tax bracket rates for wage-earning taxpayers.
Now the state faces a shortfall of more than $300 million for the current fiscal year and a projected budget gap of $600 million to $700 million next year."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article9037202.html
"Kansas schools voice concerns about proposed funding cut", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 2/3/15.
"Wichita schools would lose nearly $4 million in state aid for the current school year and school districts across the state would lose nearly $40 million under a bill debated Tuesday in a Senate committee."
At an often-heated hearing, Sen. Ty Masterson, R-Andover, clashed with opponents of SB 71 about whether the reduction in state funding for schools this year amounts to a cut. Masterson called it “a reduction to an increase,” and after the hearing, he said use of the term “cut” was “liberal” and “leftist.”
Derby would see a cut of more than $513,000, and Maize would see a cut of more than $430,000. Valley Center, Maize, Circle and Haysville would all see cuts of more than $100,000. Andover, Masterson’s home district, would see a reduction of more than $300,000."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article9096584.html
"Wichita schools would lose nearly $4 million in state aid for the current school year and school districts across the state would lose nearly $40 million under a bill debated Tuesday in a Senate committee."
At an often-heated hearing, Sen. Ty Masterson, R-Andover, clashed with opponents of SB 71 about whether the reduction in state funding for schools this year amounts to a cut. Masterson called it “a reduction to an increase,” and after the hearing, he said use of the term “cut” was “liberal” and “leftist.”
Derby would see a cut of more than $513,000, and Maize would see a cut of more than $430,000. Valley Center, Maize, Circle and Haysville would all see cuts of more than $100,000. Andover, Masterson’s home district, would see a reduction of more than $300,000."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article9096584.html
"Local School Board Member Takes Aim at Kansas Education Funding", as posted on the Kansas Public Radio website on 1/30/15.
"In short, the governor blamed excessive education spending – and mostly former Republican lawmakers – for putting Kansas nearly a billion dollars in the hole. Seems the governor will throw anyone under the proverbial bus, in his quest to eliminate income taxes.
Now, the governor wants to repeal the school finance formula – a formula that’s been in place for decades. Instead, he wants to send block grants directly to schools. That’s left many educators wondering just how these dollars will be allocated… individually… to each of the state’s school districts? There are nearly 300 of them in Kansas. Won’t there be some kind of formula for doing that? "
READ THE FULL TRANSCRIPT AT THIS LINK:
http://kansaspublicradio.org/kpr-news/local-school-board-member-takes-aim-kansas-education-funding
"In short, the governor blamed excessive education spending – and mostly former Republican lawmakers – for putting Kansas nearly a billion dollars in the hole. Seems the governor will throw anyone under the proverbial bus, in his quest to eliminate income taxes.
Now, the governor wants to repeal the school finance formula – a formula that’s been in place for decades. Instead, he wants to send block grants directly to schools. That’s left many educators wondering just how these dollars will be allocated… individually… to each of the state’s school districts? There are nearly 300 of them in Kansas. Won’t there be some kind of formula for doing that? "
READ THE FULL TRANSCRIPT AT THIS LINK:
http://kansaspublicradio.org/kpr-news/local-school-board-member-takes-aim-kansas-education-funding
"Brownback’s Tax LessonWhy Brownback backtracked on his tax-cut schedule", as posted on The Wall Street Journal website on 1/29/15.
"Income tax receipts have fallen short of the state projections from last summer, turning a $380 million budget reserve into a two-year $700 million hole."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.wsj.com/articles/brownbacks-tax-lesson-1422576747
"Income tax receipts have fallen short of the state projections from last summer, turning a $380 million budget reserve into a two-year $700 million hole."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.wsj.com/articles/brownbacks-tax-lesson-1422576747
"Delay in paying KPERS liability would cost state extra $3.7 billion", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 1/20/15.
"Changes to the state’s pension system proposed by Gov. Sam Brownback could cost Kansas $3.7 billion in the long run, lawmakers learned Tuesday.
The governor seeks to delay payments intended to shore up the state’s pension system in order to save money in the short term."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article7745040.html
"Changes to the state’s pension system proposed by Gov. Sam Brownback could cost Kansas $3.7 billion in the long run, lawmakers learned Tuesday.
The governor seeks to delay payments intended to shore up the state’s pension system in order to save money in the short term."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article7745040.html
"State ed department: Brownback’s budget cuts $127.4 million from schools", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 1/20/15.
"Gov. Sam Brownback’s proposed budget represents about a $127.4 million cut in schools’ regular K-12 operating funds from this fiscal year to next year, according to a report released Tuesday by the state Department of Education."
"Dale Dennis, deputy commissioner of education, said the $127 million-plus in cuts identified in the education department report represent money that goes to fund classroom education on a yearly basis, which is why the department separated those items from the other spending lines."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article7843530.html
"Gov. Sam Brownback’s proposed budget represents about a $127.4 million cut in schools’ regular K-12 operating funds from this fiscal year to next year, according to a report released Tuesday by the state Department of Education."
"Dale Dennis, deputy commissioner of education, said the $127 million-plus in cuts identified in the education department report represent money that goes to fund classroom education on a yearly basis, which is why the department separated those items from the other spending lines."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article7843530.html
"Brownback budget an unattractive mix", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 1/17/15.
"While many other states are enjoying budget surpluses, Kansas stands out for trying to pull together just enough cash to get by in the wake of the revenue falloff caused by the income tax cuts.
So Gov. Sam Brownback’s two-year budget proposal, released Friday, is an unattractive mix of tax hikes, fund raids, flip-flops and “efficiencies” designed to facilitate the governor’s State of the State vow that “we will continue our march to zero income taxes.”
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article7054385.html
"While many other states are enjoying budget surpluses, Kansas stands out for trying to pull together just enough cash to get by in the wake of the revenue falloff caused by the income tax cuts.
So Gov. Sam Brownback’s two-year budget proposal, released Friday, is an unattractive mix of tax hikes, fund raids, flip-flops and “efficiencies” designed to facilitate the governor’s State of the State vow that “we will continue our march to zero income taxes.”
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article7054385.html
"School districts have questions about governor’s proposed budget", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 1/16/15.
"But despite the hour long presentation by Budget Director Shawn Sullivan, details remained sketchy on how Brownback’s plan would affect the state’s K-12 classrooms.
The department’s education analyst was vacationing in Las Vegas on Friday and unavailable to provide details, Sullivan said."
"In addition, the state would cut $63 million from its current expenditures for equalization of local property tax income, capital building funds and bond and interest payments.
In addition, she said it appeared part of the plan redefines some local property tax money as part of the state’s contribution to education.
The state is essentially telling school districts “we’re going to give you back your own money and make you pay for things you previously haven’t had to pay for,” she said."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article6969329.html
"But despite the hour long presentation by Budget Director Shawn Sullivan, details remained sketchy on how Brownback’s plan would affect the state’s K-12 classrooms.
The department’s education analyst was vacationing in Las Vegas on Friday and unavailable to provide details, Sullivan said."
"In addition, the state would cut $63 million from its current expenditures for equalization of local property tax income, capital building funds and bond and interest payments.
In addition, she said it appeared part of the plan redefines some local property tax money as part of the state’s contribution to education.
The state is essentially telling school districts “we’re going to give you back your own money and make you pay for things you previously haven’t had to pay for,” she said."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article6969329.html
"Gov. Sam Brownback’s proposed budget fix slows income tax cuts, hikes taxes on liquor, tobacco", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 1/16/15.
"The state’s budget problems arose after lawmakers aggressively cut personal income taxes in 2012 and 2013 at Brownback’s urging to stimulate the economy.
The proposal would divert funds for highway projects to general government programs and delay the elimination of a long-term funding gap in the pension system for teachers and government workers. Overall state aid for public schools would remain flat through June 2017, with higher spending on teacher pensions.
The governor also wants 50 percent reductions in existing income tax deductions – including for property taxes and for home mortgage interest – to occur this year instead of in 2017. That would generate an estimated $72.1 million over the next two fiscal years."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article6952787.html
"The state’s budget problems arose after lawmakers aggressively cut personal income taxes in 2012 and 2013 at Brownback’s urging to stimulate the economy.
The proposal would divert funds for highway projects to general government programs and delay the elimination of a long-term funding gap in the pension system for teachers and government workers. Overall state aid for public schools would remain flat through June 2017, with higher spending on teacher pensions.
The governor also wants 50 percent reductions in existing income tax deductions – including for property taxes and for home mortgage interest – to occur this year instead of in 2017. That would generate an estimated $72.1 million over the next two fiscal years."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article6952787.html
"Brownback calls for changes to school funding formula, Supreme Court selection in State of the State", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 1/15/15.
Governor Brownback complains about public education finance litigation without taking responsibility for unconstitutional policy in this area.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article6749781.html
Governor Brownback complains about public education finance litigation without taking responsibility for unconstitutional policy in this area.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article6749781.html
"Brownback downplayed fiscal mess", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 1/15/15.
"He touted test scores early in the speech, but went on to blast the formula as if it were a scam of phony enrollment numbers, “gimmicks” and “bureaucratic games.”
In fact, the admittedly complex formula was crafted in good faith for good reasons by well-meaning leaders over many years, and multiple courts have concluded the problem is the state’s refusal to fund it fully.
Surely GOP legislators will think better of following their leader into the uncharted waters of a repeal, which could invite more litigation rather than less."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article6796116.html
"He touted test scores early in the speech, but went on to blast the formula as if it were a scam of phony enrollment numbers, “gimmicks” and “bureaucratic games.”
In fact, the admittedly complex formula was crafted in good faith for good reasons by well-meaning leaders over many years, and multiple courts have concluded the problem is the state’s refusal to fund it fully.
Surely GOP legislators will think better of following their leader into the uncharted waters of a repeal, which could invite more litigation rather than less."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article6796116.html
"Hensley: Lawmakers must fix governor's failed experiment", as posted on The Garden City Telegram website 1/15/15.
“The problem with this analogy is that no Kansas family or business would voluntarily cut off a source of their income, drain their savings account, rob their retirement funds and still expect to have a financially secure future.”
Brownback had announced a plan to close the current fiscal year gap by imposing a 4 percent reduction in agency spending, withdrawing $96 million from the Kansas Department of Transportation, seizing $55 million from a Medicaid pharmacy rebate program and claiming $41 million from the Kansas Public Employee Retirement System. His State of the State speech didn’t provide more details, but he did declare resolve to continue pushing down state income taxes.
Hensley said the governor’s stewardship of the K-12 public education system has resulted in larger class sizes, school closures, layoffs of teachers and falling student test scores.
“Many of us in the Legislature and most Kansans understand that strong public schools are the very foundation of a strong economy,” Hensley said.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.gctelegram.com/news/state/hensley-lawmakers-must-fix-governor-s-failed-experiment/article_5e635cca-36df-529b-aca3-2c5d893eead5.html
“The problem with this analogy is that no Kansas family or business would voluntarily cut off a source of their income, drain their savings account, rob their retirement funds and still expect to have a financially secure future.”
Brownback had announced a plan to close the current fiscal year gap by imposing a 4 percent reduction in agency spending, withdrawing $96 million from the Kansas Department of Transportation, seizing $55 million from a Medicaid pharmacy rebate program and claiming $41 million from the Kansas Public Employee Retirement System. His State of the State speech didn’t provide more details, but he did declare resolve to continue pushing down state income taxes.
Hensley said the governor’s stewardship of the K-12 public education system has resulted in larger class sizes, school closures, layoffs of teachers and falling student test scores.
“Many of us in the Legislature and most Kansans understand that strong public schools are the very foundation of a strong economy,” Hensley said.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.gctelegram.com/news/state/hensley-lawmakers-must-fix-governor-s-failed-experiment/article_5e635cca-36df-529b-aca3-2c5d893eead5.html
"Sam Brownback’s defiant trip to fantasy land is not helping Kansans", as posted on The Kansas City Star website on 1/15/15.
"All he has to do is slice millions of dollars in funding for all kinds of social service programs, scrap some funds for already hard-hit schools across Kansas, take some more money out of the transportation improvement fund, perhaps change future pension payments for public employees and, well, that’s enough for now.
So: worse schools, worse social services, worse roads and more poorly compensated public servants.
As for actually doing something responsible and raising taxes?
Nope, it does not appear Brownback will do that — unless he eventually announces a proposed sales tax hike that could hit hardest at the poor and middle class."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/yael-t-abouhalkah/article6764463.html
"All he has to do is slice millions of dollars in funding for all kinds of social service programs, scrap some funds for already hard-hit schools across Kansas, take some more money out of the transportation improvement fund, perhaps change future pension payments for public employees and, well, that’s enough for now.
So: worse schools, worse social services, worse roads and more poorly compensated public servants.
As for actually doing something responsible and raising taxes?
Nope, it does not appear Brownback will do that — unless he eventually announces a proposed sales tax hike that could hit hardest at the poor and middle class."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/yael-t-abouhalkah/article6764463.html
"Burdett Loomis: The ‘crisis’ excuse", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 1/2/15.
"In Kansas, the governor and the Legislature face a real crisis: the collapse of state revenues in the wake of the 2012 tax cuts. Unlike Sept. 11 or the Depression, this crisis is self-imposed; indeed, it flows directly from Gov. Sam Brownback’s tax-cutting agenda."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article5361681.html
"In Kansas, the governor and the Legislature face a real crisis: the collapse of state revenues in the wake of the 2012 tax cuts. Unlike Sept. 11 or the Depression, this crisis is self-imposed; indeed, it flows directly from Gov. Sam Brownback’s tax-cutting agenda."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article5361681.html
"Advocates for gifted students warn program could be in Legislature’s funding sights", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 1/11/15.
"The Kansas Association for the Gifted, Talented and Creative, a nonprofit advocacy group, earlier this month began issuing warnings about what it says is early-draft legislation that would remove gifted children from the realm of special education."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/local/education/article6032235.html
"The Kansas Association for the Gifted, Talented and Creative, a nonprofit advocacy group, earlier this month began issuing warnings about what it says is early-draft legislation that would remove gifted children from the realm of special education."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/local/education/article6032235.html
"Brownback, Legislature now must clean up mess", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 1/10/15.
"And if lawmakers are inclined to ignore the recent ruling by a Shawnee County District Court panel that the state must come up with $500 million to $770 million more for K-12 public schools – waiting as the appeal proceeds – other key players are paying attention.
After downgrading Kansas’ credit last year, Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s both noted last week that the schools ruling will put further pressure on the state as it tries to close a $280 million budget shortfall for the fiscal year that ends June 30 and to right its fiscal course longer term."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article5746353.html
"And if lawmakers are inclined to ignore the recent ruling by a Shawnee County District Court panel that the state must come up with $500 million to $770 million more for K-12 public schools – waiting as the appeal proceeds – other key players are paying attention.
After downgrading Kansas’ credit last year, Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s both noted last week that the schools ruling will put further pressure on the state as it tries to close a $280 million budget shortfall for the fiscal year that ends June 30 and to right its fiscal course longer term."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article5746353.html
"Budget deficit looms for Sam Brownback, Kansas Legislature as 2015 session begins", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 1/10/15.
"He confirmed that education spending, which Brownback left largely unscathed in the plan he announced last month to trim this year’s budget, would not remain untouched this time around."
"And ending charitable sales tax exemptions for thing like Girl Scout cookies is not likely to be popular."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article5904450.html
"He confirmed that education spending, which Brownback left largely unscathed in the plan he announced last month to trim this year’s budget, would not remain untouched this time around."
"And ending charitable sales tax exemptions for thing like Girl Scout cookies is not likely to be popular."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article5904450.html
"Brownback stands by tax cuts as long-term economic strategy", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 12/13/14.
"Because Brownback relied primarily on one-time transfers from dedicated funds to address the problem for six months, the state faces a much bigger deficit next year. It is projected at $648 million by the nonpartisan Legislative Research Department."
"The tax policy championed by Brownback reduced individual income tax rates and eliminated income taxes for the owners of 190,000 businesses.
Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s cited the tax cuts when they downgraded the state’s bond ratings in the wake of plunging revenue. And Legislative Research has pointed to the tax cuts as one of the main causes for the looming budget shortfall."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article4470652.html
"Because Brownback relied primarily on one-time transfers from dedicated funds to address the problem for six months, the state faces a much bigger deficit next year. It is projected at $648 million by the nonpartisan Legislative Research Department."
"The tax policy championed by Brownback reduced individual income tax rates and eliminated income taxes for the owners of 190,000 businesses.
Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s cited the tax cuts when they downgraded the state’s bond ratings in the wake of plunging revenue. And Legislative Research has pointed to the tax cuts as one of the main causes for the looming budget shortfall."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article4470652.html
"Brownback proposal makes next year’s shortfall worse", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 12/12/14.
"According to legislative researchers, Brownback’s proposal would cause next year’s shortfall to increase from $436 million to $648 million. And that’s just to get to zero. Restoring the state’s statutorily required ending balance would increase the budget gap next year to about $1.1 billion."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/now-consider-this/article4454319.html
"According to legislative researchers, Brownback’s proposal would cause next year’s shortfall to increase from $436 million to $648 million. And that’s just to get to zero. Restoring the state’s statutorily required ending balance would increase the budget gap next year to about $1.1 billion."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/now-consider-this/article4454319.html
"New figures reveal Sam Brownback isn’t shrinking Kansas government, he’s collapsing it", as posted on The Kansas City Star website on 12/12/14.
"As The Associated Press reported: “The Republican governor’s plan for preventing a deficit in the state’s main bank account relies heavily on diverting revenues from other funds to help finance general government programs. The tactic is a short-term solution that allows Brownback to lessen potential spending cuts for now. But absent a long-term solution, the gap between anticipated revenues and spending in the next fiscal year, beginning in July, will widen, according to the projections.”
How much?
Instead of $436 million, next year’s spending reduction would balloon to $648 million.
And that’s counting on state revenues coming in as predicted; they fell more than $300 million short of expectations in the last fiscal year.
But even that $648 million figure understates the problem.
As The Star’s Brad Cooper has noted, state rules require Kansas government to have some reserves in its general revenue fund. The state can ignore that rule."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/yael-t-abouhalkah/article4444783.html
"As The Associated Press reported: “The Republican governor’s plan for preventing a deficit in the state’s main bank account relies heavily on diverting revenues from other funds to help finance general government programs. The tactic is a short-term solution that allows Brownback to lessen potential spending cuts for now. But absent a long-term solution, the gap between anticipated revenues and spending in the next fiscal year, beginning in July, will widen, according to the projections.”
How much?
Instead of $436 million, next year’s spending reduction would balloon to $648 million.
And that’s counting on state revenues coming in as predicted; they fell more than $300 million short of expectations in the last fiscal year.
But even that $648 million figure understates the problem.
As The Star’s Brad Cooper has noted, state rules require Kansas government to have some reserves in its general revenue fund. The state can ignore that rule."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/yael-t-abouhalkah/article4444783.html
"Kansas budget plan mostly pushes shortfall forward", as posted on Salina Journal website on 12/12/14.
"Gov. Sam Brownback’s plan for eliminating a projected $279 million shortfall in Kansas’ current budget pushes most of the problem into the state’s next fiscal year, according to projections released Thursday by the Legislature’s nonpartisan research staff."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.salina.com/news/state/kansas-budget-plan-mostly-pushes-shortfall-forward/article_8f160e96-39e2-5fe5-a12b-e25f3590f007.html
"Gov. Sam Brownback’s plan for eliminating a projected $279 million shortfall in Kansas’ current budget pushes most of the problem into the state’s next fiscal year, according to projections released Thursday by the Legislature’s nonpartisan research staff."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.salina.com/news/state/kansas-budget-plan-mostly-pushes-shortfall-forward/article_8f160e96-39e2-5fe5-a12b-e25f3590f007.html
"Tom Dondlinger: Don’t raid ‘Bank of KDOT’", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 12/11/14.
"Kansans have long understood the impact that good highways have on local communities, the state’s economy and the safety of our citizens. No Kansan knew this better than President Eisenhower. His leadership led to investment in infrastructure that changed America forever."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article4412117.html
"Kansans have long understood the impact that good highways have on local communities, the state’s economy and the safety of our citizens. No Kansan knew this better than President Eisenhower. His leadership led to investment in infrastructure that changed America forever."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article4412117.html
"Highway robbery", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 12/10/14.
"Unlike in the past, when the transfers were in response to national economic downturns, the recent transfers are linked to the state’s income tax reductions. In other words, the state is using the highway fund to finance its tax cuts.
Meanwhile, Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman Ty Masterson, R-Andover, suggested that the state pull the highway plan “back to a point of preservation.” The Kansas Policy Institute, a free-market think tank linked to Koch Industries, proposed that the state divert more than $1 billion in funding from the highway plan over the next 4 1/2 years."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article4412381.html
"Unlike in the past, when the transfers were in response to national economic downturns, the recent transfers are linked to the state’s income tax reductions. In other words, the state is using the highway fund to finance its tax cuts.
Meanwhile, Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman Ty Masterson, R-Andover, suggested that the state pull the highway plan “back to a point of preservation.” The Kansas Policy Institute, a free-market think tank linked to Koch Industries, proposed that the state divert more than $1 billion in funding from the highway plan over the next 4 1/2 years."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article4412381.html
"Brownback defends using public pension funds to fill Kansas budget hole", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 12/10/14.
"Given the state’s financial problems, it’s not surprising that Gov. Sam Brownback wants to transfer $96 million from the highway fund to help cover this year’s budget shortfall. It’s also all but certain that more highway funds will be raided next fiscal year.
But the state can’t keep siphoning money from the highway fund without consequence. It’s not a magic piggy bank.
The highway fund transfer is part of $280 million in allotment cuts that Brownback announced Tuesday. Those cuts also included a $7.8 million reduction to the Kansas Department of Transportation’s operating budget.
“We’ve got a near-term problem and none of these are ideal answers,” he said. The governor added that he was hoping to revisit KPERS in the upcoming legislative session, but did not offer specific policy proposals.
The governor cut state contributions to KPERS $40.7 million for the next six months, dropping the employer contribution rate to 9.5 percent from 12.1 percent.
Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, a public school teacher, said the governor “makes it up as he goes along.”
“A year ago he was saying the exact opposite, he was saying we were going to increase the employer contribution, which means more money for education,” Hensley said. “Now if we’re reducing the employer contribution, does that mean he’s cutting education?”
“It is an outrageous contradiction,” Hensley said. “I mean, my Lord, you can’t have it both ways.”
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article4413431.html
"Given the state’s financial problems, it’s not surprising that Gov. Sam Brownback wants to transfer $96 million from the highway fund to help cover this year’s budget shortfall. It’s also all but certain that more highway funds will be raided next fiscal year.
But the state can’t keep siphoning money from the highway fund without consequence. It’s not a magic piggy bank.
The highway fund transfer is part of $280 million in allotment cuts that Brownback announced Tuesday. Those cuts also included a $7.8 million reduction to the Kansas Department of Transportation’s operating budget.
“We’ve got a near-term problem and none of these are ideal answers,” he said. The governor added that he was hoping to revisit KPERS in the upcoming legislative session, but did not offer specific policy proposals.
The governor cut state contributions to KPERS $40.7 million for the next six months, dropping the employer contribution rate to 9.5 percent from 12.1 percent.
Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, a public school teacher, said the governor “makes it up as he goes along.”
“A year ago he was saying the exact opposite, he was saying we were going to increase the employer contribution, which means more money for education,” Hensley said. “Now if we’re reducing the employer contribution, does that mean he’s cutting education?”
“It is an outrageous contradiction,” Hensley said. “I mean, my Lord, you can’t have it both ways.”
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article4413431.html
"Brownback’s campaign rhetoric turned against him", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 12/10/14.
"Twitter users noted how Brownback’s claims about increased state funding for K-12 education were based in part on counting state pension contributions. Therefore, using that logic, Brownback’s reduction of $41 million in pension funding counts as an education funding cut. Others contrasted Brownback’s campaign commercial about how “the sun is shining in Kansas” with the grim financial reality."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/now-consider-this/article4405855.html
"Twitter users noted how Brownback’s claims about increased state funding for K-12 education were based in part on counting state pension contributions. Therefore, using that logic, Brownback’s reduction of $41 million in pension funding counts as an education funding cut. Others contrasted Brownback’s campaign commercial about how “the sun is shining in Kansas” with the grim financial reality."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/now-consider-this/article4405855.html
"Gov. Sam Brownback works on plans to change school funding and pensions in Kansas", as posted on The Kansas City Star website on 12/10/14.
"Gov. Sam Brownback is working on proposals for changing how Kansas distributes aid to public schools and for bolstering the pension system for teachers and government workers, but he wouldn’t discuss the details in an interview Wednesday.
The plan drew quick, bipartisan criticism because Brownback diverted $41 million for the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System to general government programs.
Brownback defended the reduction in the pension contributions by noting it helped him avoid immediate cuts in education spending. He said the state has made “a lot of progress” on shoring up the public pension system and will continue to do so."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansascity.com/news/state/kansas/article4406870.html
"Gov. Sam Brownback is working on proposals for changing how Kansas distributes aid to public schools and for bolstering the pension system for teachers and government workers, but he wouldn’t discuss the details in an interview Wednesday.
The plan drew quick, bipartisan criticism because Brownback diverted $41 million for the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System to general government programs.
Brownback defended the reduction in the pension contributions by noting it helped him avoid immediate cuts in education spending. He said the state has made “a lot of progress” on shoring up the public pension system and will continue to do so."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansascity.com/news/state/kansas/article4406870.html
"Sooner is better on cuts", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 12/9/14.
"The reductions bypass K-12 school districts and state universities, keeping the governor’s stated commitment to education as Kansans wait for the courts to decide the school-finance case. Public safety also was largely spared.
Still, the announced $280 million in allotments signal quite a change from the “sun is shining” theme of the governor’s successful re-election campaign. So does reducing the state’s contribution to the state employee pension system by $41 million, after Brownback took credit for helping restore the system’s long-term fiscal health.
And these are not the “efficiencies” that budget director Shawn Sullivan had insisted would fix the state’s finances. Many are real cuts that will undermine legislative commitments as they affect programs and personnel."
"It’s important to remember that the budget shortfall was predictable and self-inflicted. When the 2012 Legislature passed a plan slashing state income-tax rates and eliminating income taxes on non-wage income for about 191,000 small businesses, Brownback said that “we’re going to make it work.” Two and a half years later, $280 million in cuts and fund sweeps are needed to “make it work,” with more budget pain ahead."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article4394530.html
"The reductions bypass K-12 school districts and state universities, keeping the governor’s stated commitment to education as Kansans wait for the courts to decide the school-finance case. Public safety also was largely spared.
Still, the announced $280 million in allotments signal quite a change from the “sun is shining” theme of the governor’s successful re-election campaign. So does reducing the state’s contribution to the state employee pension system by $41 million, after Brownback took credit for helping restore the system’s long-term fiscal health.
And these are not the “efficiencies” that budget director Shawn Sullivan had insisted would fix the state’s finances. Many are real cuts that will undermine legislative commitments as they affect programs and personnel."
"It’s important to remember that the budget shortfall was predictable and self-inflicted. When the 2012 Legislature passed a plan slashing state income-tax rates and eliminating income taxes on non-wage income for about 191,000 small businesses, Brownback said that “we’re going to make it work.” Two and a half years later, $280 million in cuts and fund sweeps are needed to “make it work,” with more budget pain ahead."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article4394530.html
"Gov. Sam Brownback moves money from highway fund, cuts pension spending to deal with $279M budget shortfall", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 12/9/14.
“These first steps are a down payment in resolving the immediate budget issue," said Brownback, who said repeatedly during his re-election campaign that such cuts would not be needed this fiscal year.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article4382802.html
“These first steps are a down payment in resolving the immediate budget issue," said Brownback, who said repeatedly during his re-election campaign that such cuts would not be needed this fiscal year.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article4382802.html
"Gov. Sam Brownback rolls out demoralizing stopgap measures to shore up the Kansas budget", as posted on The Kansas City Star website on 12/10/14.
"▪ Decimated an endowment fund intended to pay for early childhood education programs. The fund, repeatedly pillaged over the years, had $14.5 million left. Brownback wants to take all of it.
▪ Resorted to an imprudent, across-the-board, 4 percent cut for state agencies. Hardest hit will be the Department of Children and Families, which will lose $4 million of anticipated revenue through the end of June."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article4391280.html
"▪ Decimated an endowment fund intended to pay for early childhood education programs. The fund, repeatedly pillaged over the years, had $14.5 million left. Brownback wants to take all of it.
▪ Resorted to an imprudent, across-the-board, 4 percent cut for state agencies. Hardest hit will be the Department of Children and Families, which will lose $4 million of anticipated revenue through the end of June."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article4391280.html
"Concerns about CO2 ‘factually incorrect,’ Hedke argues", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 12/9/14.
He said that the basis for the EPA’s desire to control CO2 emissions is “factually incorrect.” Moti Rieber, coordinator of Interfaith Power and Light, a faith-based environmental group, scoffed at Hedke’s comments. “Denying climate change is scientifically comparable to claiming (the) moon is made of cheese,” Rieber wrote on Twitter. “From an elected official, it’s malfeasance.”
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/now-consider-this/article4394647.html
He said that the basis for the EPA’s desire to control CO2 emissions is “factually incorrect.” Moti Rieber, coordinator of Interfaith Power and Light, a faith-based environmental group, scoffed at Hedke’s comments. “Denying climate change is scientifically comparable to claiming (the) moon is made of cheese,” Rieber wrote on Twitter. “From an elected official, it’s malfeasance.”
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/now-consider-this/article4394647.html
"Lawmaker blasts EPA as panel weighs response to proposed regulation", as posted on the Topeka Capital-Journal website on 12/5/14.
Rep. Dennis Hedke, a Wichita Republican who chairs the House Energy and Environment Committee, said the EPA wasn’t acting out of “economic logic” and the science surrounding the question of whether carbon dioxide is warming the atmosphere isn’t settled. The comments came during a meeting of the Kansas Electric Transmission Authority.
http://cjonline.com/news/2014-12-05/lawmaker-blasts-epa-panel-weighs-response-proposed-regulation
Rep. Dennis Hedke, a Wichita Republican who chairs the House Energy and Environment Committee, said the EPA wasn’t acting out of “economic logic” and the science surrounding the question of whether carbon dioxide is warming the atmosphere isn’t settled. The comments came during a meeting of the Kansas Electric Transmission Authority.
http://cjonline.com/news/2014-12-05/lawmaker-blasts-epa-panel-weighs-response-proposed-regulation
"Kansas lawmakers attend ALEC meeting in D.C.", as posted on Lawrence Journal-World website on 12/4/14.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2014/dec/04/kansas-lawmakers-attend-alec-meeting-dc/
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2014/dec/04/kansas-lawmakers-attend-alec-meeting-dc/
"Our ignorant governor", as posted on the Salina Journal website on 12/3/14.
"However, the one thing we’ve never accused the governor of is being ignorant. While we assume that he didn’t believe that cutting income taxes would take the state into a ditch — because no one would purposely wreck the budget — we also assume that he’s stayed on top of the numbers, dismal though they may be.
Brownback says we’re wrong. He says he is ignorant. He said he learned of the depth of the state’s financial problems only after the latest revenue numbers came out, shortly after the Nov. 4 election.
He might not have known the exact numbers, but surely he had to have an idea that trouble was coming. Others have been sounding the alarm for months."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://salina.com/opinion/editorials/our-ignorant-governor/article_1d2aceb0-8c50-513d-b4a5-5c750c145738.html
"However, the one thing we’ve never accused the governor of is being ignorant. While we assume that he didn’t believe that cutting income taxes would take the state into a ditch — because no one would purposely wreck the budget — we also assume that he’s stayed on top of the numbers, dismal though they may be.
Brownback says we’re wrong. He says he is ignorant. He said he learned of the depth of the state’s financial problems only after the latest revenue numbers came out, shortly after the Nov. 4 election.
He might not have known the exact numbers, but surely he had to have an idea that trouble was coming. Others have been sounding the alarm for months."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://salina.com/opinion/editorials/our-ignorant-governor/article_1d2aceb0-8c50-513d-b4a5-5c750c145738.html
"Investigating ALEC - the American Legislative Exchange Council", as posted on Moyers & Company website on 6/21/13.
VIEW & READ THE FULL STORY AT THIS LINK:
http://billmoyers.com/episode/full-show-united-states-of-alec-a-follow-up/
VIEW & READ THE FULL STORY AT THIS LINK:
http://billmoyers.com/episode/full-show-united-states-of-alec-a-follow-up/
"Cashing in on Kids: 139 ALEC Bills in 2013 Promote a Private, For-Profit Education Model", as posted on prwatch.org on 7/16/13.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/07/12175/cashing-kids-139-alec-bills-2013-promote-private-profit-education-model
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/07/12175/cashing-kids-139-alec-bills-2013-promote-private-profit-education-model
"Poor options: No-win situation for Kansas in House leadership position", as posted on The Garden City Telegram website on 12/2/14.
"The Legislature needs visionary leaders willing to encourage intelligent debate and cooperation in solving problems specific to Kansas — not more blind followers of ALEC’s cookie-cutter plan for a national, ultraconservative utopia coveted by the Koch brothers."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.gctelegram.com/opinion/poor-options-no-win-situation-for-kansas-in-house-leadership/article_af3419bb-9e66-524e-92d6-e5ac9da0f0b8.html
"The Legislature needs visionary leaders willing to encourage intelligent debate and cooperation in solving problems specific to Kansas — not more blind followers of ALEC’s cookie-cutter plan for a national, ultraconservative utopia coveted by the Koch brothers."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.gctelegram.com/opinion/poor-options-no-win-situation-for-kansas-in-house-leadership/article_af3419bb-9e66-524e-92d6-e5ac9da0f0b8.html
"New Kansas legislators meet in Topeka before session begins in January", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 12/2/14
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article4240374.html
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article4240374.html
"Steve Kraske: Brownback claim doesn’t fly", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 12/2/14.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article4248659.html
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article4248659.html
"Brownback and the ‘Chicken Littles’", as posted on The Clay Center Dispatch on 11/26/14.
"Brownback’s opponent Paul Davis certainly was telling everyone who would listen. A majority of voters apparently weren’t listening or didn’t care.
Economists were issuing warnings.
Newspapers were shouting it from the rooftops.
The state’s own budget number crunchers were predicting it.
Credit agencies were sounding alarms and downgraded the state’s credit rating.
“They’re just trying to paint a ‘Chicken Little sky is falling’ situation, which is not true,” Brownback said in October when asked about the alarm messages."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.ccenterdispatch.com/opinion/article_61fd41f6-75ad-11e4-b3a8-3f7120f07f83.html
"Brownback’s opponent Paul Davis certainly was telling everyone who would listen. A majority of voters apparently weren’t listening or didn’t care.
Economists were issuing warnings.
Newspapers were shouting it from the rooftops.
The state’s own budget number crunchers were predicting it.
Credit agencies were sounding alarms and downgraded the state’s credit rating.
“They’re just trying to paint a ‘Chicken Little sky is falling’ situation, which is not true,” Brownback said in October when asked about the alarm messages."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.ccenterdispatch.com/opinion/article_61fd41f6-75ad-11e4-b3a8-3f7120f07f83.html
"NBC 6 Investigation: Charter Schools Not Making the Grade", as posted on NBC Miami website on 11/25/14.
READ AND VIEW THE COVERAGE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/NBC-6-Investigation-Charter-Schools-Not-Making-the-Grade-283919571.html
READ AND VIEW THE COVERAGE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/NBC-6-Investigation-Charter-Schools-Not-Making-the-Grade-283919571.html
"School-funding suit complicates Kansas budget fix", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 11/24/14.
"A three-judge panel in Shawnee County District Court has notified attorneys that it expects to rule by the end of December in a lawsuit filed in 2010 by parents of more than 30 students and the Dodge City, Hutchinson, Wichita and Kansas City, Kansas, school districts. Both sides predict an appeal to the state Supreme Court, which might not rule until 2016."
"The case already went to the Supreme Court once, and in March, the justices ruled that recession-driven cuts in the past left unconstitutional gaps in aid between poor school districts and wealthier ones. Legislators responded by increasing aid to the poor districts by $129 million for the 2014-15 school year.
The Supreme Court also ordered the lower-court judges to consider whether the state’s total spending on schools is adequate.
If the courts order the state to fulfill promises made in 2008, before the state felt the recession, Kansas would have to boost its annual spending on schools by about $450 million. If the courts agree with the four school districts pursuing the lawsuit, the figure would be about $1.4 billion."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/local/education/article4128193.html
"A three-judge panel in Shawnee County District Court has notified attorneys that it expects to rule by the end of December in a lawsuit filed in 2010 by parents of more than 30 students and the Dodge City, Hutchinson, Wichita and Kansas City, Kansas, school districts. Both sides predict an appeal to the state Supreme Court, which might not rule until 2016."
"The case already went to the Supreme Court once, and in March, the justices ruled that recession-driven cuts in the past left unconstitutional gaps in aid between poor school districts and wealthier ones. Legislators responded by increasing aid to the poor districts by $129 million for the 2014-15 school year.
The Supreme Court also ordered the lower-court judges to consider whether the state’s total spending on schools is adequate.
If the courts order the state to fulfill promises made in 2008, before the state felt the recession, Kansas would have to boost its annual spending on schools by about $450 million. If the courts agree with the four school districts pursuing the lawsuit, the figure would be about $1.4 billion."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/local/education/article4128193.html
"Brownback: ‘We’re looking at everything’ to plug Kansas budget hole", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 11/24/14.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article4123561.html
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article4123561.html
"Kansas could tap highway funds to fill budget gaps", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 11/20/14.
"Republican Gov. Sam Brownback and the GOP-dominated Legislature must close predicted budget gaps totaling more than $714 million for the current budget year and the one beginning in July. The shortfalls are in the state’s main bank account, which finances aid to public schools and spending on higher education, social services and general government operations."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article4036141.html
"Republican Gov. Sam Brownback and the GOP-dominated Legislature must close predicted budget gaps totaling more than $714 million for the current budget year and the one beginning in July. The shortfalls are in the state’s main bank account, which finances aid to public schools and spending on higher education, social services and general government operations."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article4036141.html
"Education reforms likely", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 11/20/14.
"For their part, some lawmakers already are on record as wanting more charter schools, more tax credits and perhaps vouchers for private schools, as well as a full retreat from the Common Core state curriculum standards."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article4037346.html
"For their part, some lawmakers already are on record as wanting more charter schools, more tax credits and perhaps vouchers for private schools, as well as a full retreat from the Common Core state curriculum standards."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article4037346.html
"Still some denial on state budget", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 11/19/14.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article4022115.html
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article4022115.html
"Government employees produce nothing, says ignorant Kansas House Speaker Ray Merrick of Johnson County", as posted on The Kansas City Star website on 11/17/14.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/yael-t-abouhalkah/article3979541.html
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/yael-t-abouhalkah/article3979541.html
"Lawmakers worry KPERS may be target during revenue shortfall", as posted on Lawrence Journal-World website on 11/17/14.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2014/nov/17/lawmakers-worry-kpers-may-be-target-during-revenue/
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2014/nov/17/lawmakers-worry-kpers-may-be-target-during-revenue/
"Don’t look to KPERS money to fill state budget gap, Topeka legislator says", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 11/17/14.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article3986490.html
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article3986490.html
"Davis Merritt: House speaker to public workers – drop dead", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 11/17/14.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article3985923.html
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article3985923.html
"Lawmakers divide into two camps on how to plug $1 billion budget hole", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 11/15/14.
"But after that, it’ll be in the Legislature’s hands. The state faces a $436 million shortfall for the 2016 fiscal year, which starts in July, but that number assumes that the state reduces spending this year first. So lawmakers actually have to pass a budget that cuts spending by $715 million, about 11 percent of what the state plans to spend from its general fund and about 5 percent of its total budget when federal funds are included.The state of Kansas has a two-year budget cycle, so they’ll have to cut that amount again for fiscal year 2017 (starting July 1, 2016) when they pass a preliminary budget for that year. Even after doing that, the state is projected to have a shortfall of $400,000 for that year. That adds up to a cumulative budget hole of more than $1.4 billion that lawmakers will have to close."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article3955592.html
"But after that, it’ll be in the Legislature’s hands. The state faces a $436 million shortfall for the 2016 fiscal year, which starts in July, but that number assumes that the state reduces spending this year first. So lawmakers actually have to pass a budget that cuts spending by $715 million, about 11 percent of what the state plans to spend from its general fund and about 5 percent of its total budget when federal funds are included.The state of Kansas has a two-year budget cycle, so they’ll have to cut that amount again for fiscal year 2017 (starting July 1, 2016) when they pass a preliminary budget for that year. Even after doing that, the state is projected to have a shortfall of $400,000 for that year. That adds up to a cumulative budget hole of more than $1.4 billion that lawmakers will have to close."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article3955592.html
"Tornadic budget cuts are whirling toward Kansas, and the consequences are unclear", as posted on The Kansas City Star Website 11/15/14.
"Brownback has promised it will be hands-off of kindergarten through 12th-grade education.Yet, according to experts like Duane Goossen, former longtime Kansas secretary of administration as well as state budget director under Republican and Democratic administrations, there is no way to deal with a deficit of this magnitude without cuts in public education."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/steve-rose/article3939336.html
"Brownback has promised it will be hands-off of kindergarten through 12th-grade education.Yet, according to experts like Duane Goossen, former longtime Kansas secretary of administration as well as state budget director under Republican and Democratic administrations, there is no way to deal with a deficit of this magnitude without cuts in public education."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/steve-rose/article3939336.html
"Lawmakers discuss school funding, Common Core", as posted on Salina Journal website on 11/14/14.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.salina.com/news/lawmakers-discuss-school-funding-common-core/article_aef4e555-8a9b-52ea-b402-50e50ef34808.html
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.salina.com/news/lawmakers-discuss-school-funding-common-core/article_aef4e555-8a9b-52ea-b402-50e50ef34808.html
"Tax cuts also costly in North Carolina", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 11/14/14.
"A new analysis estimates that North Carolina’s tax cut is costing the state $205 million, or 43 percent, more than expected this tax year and is projected to cost $200 million more next year"
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/now-consider-this/article3940725.html
"A new analysis estimates that North Carolina’s tax cut is costing the state $205 million, or 43 percent, more than expected this tax year and is projected to cost $200 million more next year"
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/now-consider-this/article3940725.html
"Kansas Announces Big Budget Gap; True Gap May Be Even Larger", as posted on The New York Times website on 11/13/14.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/13/upshot/kansas-announces-big-budget-gap-but-true-gap-may-be-even-larger.html?_r=2&abt=0002&abg=1
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/13/upshot/kansas-announces-big-budget-gap-but-true-gap-may-be-even-larger.html?_r=2&abt=0002&abg=1
"State budget truth exposed", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 11/11/14.
"Yet less than a week after the election, new official revenue estimates exposed the ugly truth: The state needs to cut at least $280 million in planned spending before next July, and it could need an additional $436 million in spending reductions or revenue increases next fiscal year.
And that’s just to get to zero. Restoring the statutorily required ending balance next fiscal year could require an additional $450 million, putting the total spending cuts or revenue increases needed this fiscal year and next at more than $1.2 billion.
These estimates also don’t factor in the likelihood that the courts will rule again that the state is inadequately funding public schools."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article3790542.html#/tabPane=tabs-2fe19cc1-2
"Yet less than a week after the election, new official revenue estimates exposed the ugly truth: The state needs to cut at least $280 million in planned spending before next July, and it could need an additional $436 million in spending reductions or revenue increases next fiscal year.
And that’s just to get to zero. Restoring the statutorily required ending balance next fiscal year could require an additional $450 million, putting the total spending cuts or revenue increases needed this fiscal year and next at more than $1.2 billion.
These estimates also don’t factor in the likelihood that the courts will rule again that the state is inadequately funding public schools."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article3790542.html#/tabPane=tabs-2fe19cc1-2
"After Gov. Sam Brownback’s tax cut fiasco, Kansans must brace for public service reductions", as posted on The Kansas City Star website in 11/11/14.
"On Monday, just six days after Brownback narrowly won re-election, state officials and university economists released new general fund revenue estimates.
The upshot: State officials face the daunting challenge of having to slash the current budget and next year’s by more than $700 million."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article3788986.html
"On Monday, just six days after Brownback narrowly won re-election, state officials and university economists released new general fund revenue estimates.
The upshot: State officials face the daunting challenge of having to slash the current budget and next year’s by more than $700 million."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article3788986.html
"Lawrence schools closing achievement gap", as posted on the Lawrence Jounal-World website on 11/11/14.
"Overall, the district posted a graduation rate of 90 percent, four points better than the statewide rate from the 2012-13 school year, the latest numbers available."
"The numbers do not include data from the Lawrence Virtual High School, which until this year was run by a private company. The district took over management this year after the school posted a graduation rate of 26.3 percent, which dragged the district's overall rate slightly below state averages in 2013."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2014/nov/11/lawrence-schools-closing-achievement-gap/
"Overall, the district posted a graduation rate of 90 percent, four points better than the statewide rate from the 2012-13 school year, the latest numbers available."
"The numbers do not include data from the Lawrence Virtual High School, which until this year was run by a private company. The district took over management this year after the school posted a graduation rate of 26.3 percent, which dragged the district's overall rate slightly below state averages in 2013."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2014/nov/11/lawrence-schools-closing-achievement-gap/
"Lawrence district cancels K12 Inc. contract", as posted on Lawrence Journal-World website on 1/13/14.
"Lawrence school district Superintendent Rick Doll announced Monday that the district has taken the management of Lawrence Virtual High School over after the school posted a graduation rate last year of just 26.3 percent"
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2014/jan/13/lawrence-district-cancels-k12-inc-contract/
"Lawrence school district Superintendent Rick Doll announced Monday that the district has taken the management of Lawrence Virtual High School over after the school posted a graduation rate last year of just 26.3 percent"
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2014/jan/13/lawrence-district-cancels-k12-inc-contract/
"Kansas revenues will fall $1 billion short of 2015 and 2016 expenses, fiscal experts say", as posted on The Kansas City Star website on 11/10/14.
"Kansas will collect $1 billion less in revenue in 2015 and 2016 than its projected expenses following massive income tax cuts signed into law by Republican Gov. Sam Brownback.
Brownback’s budget director, Shawn Sullivan, said the administration has no intention of revisiting the state’s tax policy, which calls for further income tax cuts through 2018.
“He knew all along that his policies were going to bankrupt the state,” the Topeka Democrat told reporters. “There are some very, very difficult choices ahead for the Legislature. They’re going to have to cut school funding. They’re going to have to raid the highway fund. They very likely will have to cut social services.”
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansascity.com/news/government-politics/article3729756.html
"Kansas will collect $1 billion less in revenue in 2015 and 2016 than its projected expenses following massive income tax cuts signed into law by Republican Gov. Sam Brownback.
Brownback’s budget director, Shawn Sullivan, said the administration has no intention of revisiting the state’s tax policy, which calls for further income tax cuts through 2018.
“He knew all along that his policies were going to bankrupt the state,” the Topeka Democrat told reporters. “There are some very, very difficult choices ahead for the Legislature. They’re going to have to cut school funding. They’re going to have to raid the highway fund. They very likely will have to cut social services.”
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansascity.com/news/government-politics/article3729756.html
"Looming revenue shortfalls have many Kansas educators worried", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 11/9/14.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/local/education/article3682595.html
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/news/local/education/article3682595.html
"H. Edward Flentje: Where will state go from here?", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 11/1/14.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article3653431.html
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article3653431.html
"Parents fear Brownback's re-election will hurt school fundingEducation spending was big issue in campaign", as posted on KMBC.com on 11/5/14
VIEW THE VIDEO & ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kmbc.com/news/parents-fear-brownbacks-reelection-will-hurt-school-funding/29569392
VIEW THE VIDEO & ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kmbc.com/news/parents-fear-brownbacks-reelection-will-hurt-school-funding/29569392
"Hardy to resign as USD 413 superintendent", as posted on The Chanute Tribune website on 11/4/14.
"Hardy said there is currently a shortage of teachers in general, and this is especially true for special education programs.
According to Hardy, Kansas is currently 42nd in the nation in terms of teacher salaries and that makes it difficult for area districts to attract those who are qualified to teach. Teachers that are part of the ANW Special Education Cooperative are at the bottom half of the salary range in this state, making it a challenge to recruit people to come to the district to do these difficult jobs, Hardy said.
“In a lot of cases, I just think Special Ed is going to implode upon itself with all of the demands that are there,” he said."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.chanute.com/news/article_dfd85fd2-649d-11e4-a4ac-0017a43b2370.html
"Hardy said there is currently a shortage of teachers in general, and this is especially true for special education programs.
According to Hardy, Kansas is currently 42nd in the nation in terms of teacher salaries and that makes it difficult for area districts to attract those who are qualified to teach. Teachers that are part of the ANW Special Education Cooperative are at the bottom half of the salary range in this state, making it a challenge to recruit people to come to the district to do these difficult jobs, Hardy said.
“In a lot of cases, I just think Special Ed is going to implode upon itself with all of the demands that are there,” he said."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.chanute.com/news/article_dfd85fd2-649d-11e4-a4ac-0017a43b2370.html
"Brownback Faces Blowback as Kansas Tax Cuts Shutter Classrooms", as posted on Bloomberg Busnisessweek.com pm 11/3/14
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-11-03/brownback-faces-blowback-as-kansas-tax-cuts-shutter-classrooms
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-11-03/brownback-faces-blowback-as-kansas-tax-cuts-shutter-classrooms
"School funding: Unfunded mandates place extra burden on districts", as posted on The Chanute Tribune website on 10/31/14.
"On top of the state failing to fund local districts and special education at statutory levels, both state and federal requirements often place additional burdens on districts without additional funding."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.chanute.com/news/article_07c238fc-6178-11e4-89e2-001a4bcf6878.html
"On top of the state failing to fund local districts and special education at statutory levels, both state and federal requirements often place additional burdens on districts without additional funding."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.chanute.com/news/article_07c238fc-6178-11e4-89e2-001a4bcf6878.html
"Southeast Kansas School Budget Cut Concerns", as posted on FourStatesHomePage.com website, on 10/21/14.
"We're dealing with about $700,000 less from the state in terms of real dollars that we can spend, compared to 2008 and 2009 school year," said Dr. Glenn Fortmayer, Superintendent USD 247.
Local school administrators say they have had to cut back on hiring, busses, and other crucial items.
"We've had to freeze salaries for a couple of years. It makes it hard to recruit and retain. We have a high turnover of personnel, because they can get paid better in other districts," said Dr. Fortmayer.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.fourstateshomepage.com/story/d/story/southeast-kansas-school-budget-cut-concerns/24642/FM-Pum4IN024gyD41d84tg
"We're dealing with about $700,000 less from the state in terms of real dollars that we can spend, compared to 2008 and 2009 school year," said Dr. Glenn Fortmayer, Superintendent USD 247.
Local school administrators say they have had to cut back on hiring, busses, and other crucial items.
"We've had to freeze salaries for a couple of years. It makes it hard to recruit and retain. We have a high turnover of personnel, because they can get paid better in other districts," said Dr. Fortmayer.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.fourstateshomepage.com/story/d/story/southeast-kansas-school-budget-cut-concerns/24642/FM-Pum4IN024gyD41d84tg
"The relentless lies of Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback", as posted on The Kansas City Star website on 10/16/14.
"There was the “I shrunk government spending by $2 billion” lie, which Brownback enshrined into a power point presentation. The claim was debunked, and blamed on a spread sheet error by a former budget director. It is one of the few false boasts the administration owned up to and apologized for.
There’s the “record school funding” lie, which has become a bogus campaign theme.
Brownback says he has put “a record amount of money into education.” But his numbers are inflated by increases to teacher pension funds and capital projects. The money school districts use to pay employees, purchase supplies and meet other day-to-day expenses is $548 less on a per-student basis than it was six years ago.
Brownback is not a friend of public education. He has railed against judges who ordered the state to finance schools more adequately. He crafted outlandish tax cuts instead of making up the shortfall in school funding left by the recession. His allies at the Kansas Policy Institute have proposed even more cuts to schools and colleges as a way to balance the budget in upcoming years."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/barbara-shelly/article2915118.html
"There was the “I shrunk government spending by $2 billion” lie, which Brownback enshrined into a power point presentation. The claim was debunked, and blamed on a spread sheet error by a former budget director. It is one of the few false boasts the administration owned up to and apologized for.
There’s the “record school funding” lie, which has become a bogus campaign theme.
Brownback says he has put “a record amount of money into education.” But his numbers are inflated by increases to teacher pension funds and capital projects. The money school districts use to pay employees, purchase supplies and meet other day-to-day expenses is $548 less on a per-student basis than it was six years ago.
Brownback is not a friend of public education. He has railed against judges who ordered the state to finance schools more adequately. He crafted outlandish tax cuts instead of making up the shortfall in school funding left by the recession. His allies at the Kansas Policy Institute have proposed even more cuts to schools and colleges as a way to balance the budget in upcoming years."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/barbara-shelly/article2915118.html
"Kansas revenue decline among steepest in the nation", as posted on the Kansas Health Institute website on 9/24/14.
"The drop in revenue will lead to a budget shortfall of nearly $240 million by July of 2016 unless lawmakers cut spending in the current budget year, according to projections compiled by the nonpartisan Kansas Legislative Research Department."
http://www.khi.org/news/2014/sep/24/kansas-revenue-decline-among-steepest-nation/
"Districts under stress", as published in The Wichita Eagle on 9/23/14.
"Nearly all surveyed districts said base state aid per pupil for 2015 was insufficient to cover increasing costs. Kansas has fewer teachers instructing about 20,000 more students than it did in 2009. More students are at risk, though dollars earmarked to help them are being reduced in nearly half of surveyed districts. Almost half of surveyed districts have seen class sizes grow since 2009, and district training for teachers has declined. About 30 percent of districts recently have cut back or eliminated sports, arts, music or other programs. In addition, nearly 58 percent of surveyed districts suggested they’d need to raise their local property taxes in the next few years because of reduced state funding."
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article2208660.html
"Sam Brownback’s failed ‘experiment’ puts state on path to penury", as posted on The Washington Post website on 9/21/14.
"There have been particular expressions of anxiety about cuts to per-pupil expenditures in public schools, which have dropped more than 10 percent since 2008. . . . . non-partisan budget analysts for the state legislature project that without new sources of revenue or even deeper spending cuts, the state faces some $1.3 billion in deficits in the coming five years. That’s a big hill to climb in a state whose budget for general expenses is $6.3 billion."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/sam-brownbacks-failed-experiment-puts-state-on-path-to-penury/2014/09/21/ded58846-3eb2-11e4-9587-5dafd96295f0_story.html
"Brownback’s education claim is phony", as published in The Wichita Eagle on 9/17/14.
"Vratil does not support forced consolidation. Brownback’s basis for the claim is a quote in a Topeka Capital-Journal news story three years ago in which Vratil predicted that “rural school districts will be starved out of existence.” When the Capital-Journal asked Vratil last week about the quote, he said: “I never said in that article, nor have I ever said, that I favor forced school consolidation. In fact, I oppose it because it’s bad policy and would never work.”
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article2144197.html
"Governor's office declines to support early childhood grant Children's Cabinet unable to move forward with application for federal funding", as posted on Kansas Health Institute's website on 9/16/14.
"Gov. Sam Brownback is not ready to support the Kansas Children’s Cabinet in an attempt to win a federal grant aimed at bolstering early childhood education. . . . . Kansas’ possible share of the pie: Up to $15 million a year for four years. The money would be spent on expanding and enhancing preschool programs throughout the state.""Freiden said the decision not to apply for a Race to the Top grant was part of election-year politics.
"This is about the governor and his people not wanting to risk being seen taking money from Washington and touching Obama at a time when they’re running against someone they’re painting as an Obama liberal,” he said. “They’re putting politics above kids.”
http://www.khi.org/news/2014/sep/16/governors-office-halts-application-early-childhood/
"Survey says: New report offers local insight, cause for concern on education spending", as posted on HutchNews.com on 9/16/14.
"Hineman: Consolidation by starvation", as posted on the Hays Post website on 9/15/14.
"As state funding declines small rural districts scramble to save money any way they can. Eventually that isn’t enough and they have to reduce course offerings and curtail programs. And finally the inevitable day arrives: the school board finds it is out of options and votes to merge with a neighbor or disband entirely. Since the start of the great recession in 2008, ten Kansas school districts have ceased to exist, and it is highly likely that more will face the same fate very soon."
http://www.hayspost.com/2014/09/15/hineman-consolidation-by-starvation/
"Heed experts on state budget", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 8/20/14.
"It can be difficult for Kansans to know whom to believe. If only there were nonpartisan experts who would objectively review the state’s finances and determine whether or not there were problems.
As it so happens, three such groups have done reviews. And all three are waving warning flags."
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article1266062.html
"AP NewsBreak: New Kansas figures show shortfalls", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 8/8/14.
"The Legislative Research Department's new budget forecast also showed a lower figure for the state's cash reserves on June 30 than the cash-on-hand figure reported last month by Republican Gov. Sam Brownback's administration — $380 million compared with nearly $435 million. The department made its routine adjustment of the cash figure to account for bills pending but not paid as of that date, the end of the 2014 budget year."
http://www.kansas.com/2014/08/08/3588010/apnewsbreak-new-kansas-figures.html
"S&P downgrades Kansas bond rating; Brownback pushes back", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 8/6/14.
"'The downgrades reflect our view of a structurally unbalanced budget, following state income tax cuts that have not been matched with offsetting ongoing expenditure cuts in the fiscal 2015 budget,' said Standard & Poor's credit analyst David Hitchcock in a release.
S & P also downgraded the state’s appropriation-secured debt to AA- from AA.
The rating agency gave the state a “negative” outlook on both ratings and projects that the state will face serious budget woes by the end of fiscal year 2015."
http://www.kansas.com/2014/08/06/3584491/sp-downgrades-kansas-bond-rating.html
"Brownback’s Tax Cuts Prompt S&P to Reduce Kansas’s Credit Rating", as posted on Bloomberg.com on 8/6/14.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-08-06/brownback-s-tax-cuts-prompt-s-p-to-reduce-kansas-s-credit-rating.html
"Tight budget for school district", as posted on The Kansan (Newton, Kansas newspaper) website on 7/27/14.
The Newton school budget is suffering much like Andover's.
"Assistant Superintendent Russell Miller said currently, the district is working through changes in the state school finance formula and a slight drop in enrollment that is resulting in approximately $650,000 less in general fund revenue for the 2014-15 school year."
http://www.thekansan.com/article/20140727/NEWS/140729576
"District 99 incumbent faces round-table of criticism, questioning. Representative Dennis Hedke (R) faced some rough criticism as the guest speaker at a round-table forum hosted by 'Educate Andover,' on Thursday", as posted on The Butler County Times-Gazette on 7/27/14.
http://www.butlercountytimesgazette.com/article/20140727/NEWS/140729554/?
"H. Edward Flentje: Is state on right path to recovery?", as published in The Wichita Eagle on 7/27/14.
"Voters who support the governor may look to the Kansas Chamber Political Action Committee, which endorsed candidates in 26 of the 30 contested races. The chamber aided Brownback in crafting and enacting his experiment.
Or voters may view the Kansas Chamber as selling “modern-day, economic snake oil,” as does former Republican Party state chairwoman Rochelle Chronister. She adds that the chamber is backing “incumbents who helped create the largest deficit in the history of our state” and other candidates who “push an out-of-step economic agenda that will force sales and property taxes to skyrocket.”
http://www.kansas.com/2014/07/27/3568588/h-edward-flentje-is-state-on-right.html
"Don't Believe the Revenue Estimates — Kansas' Budget Has Already Gone Off the Fiscal Cliff"
Here's the link to "The Kansas Budget", Duane Goossen's July 22, 2014 blog discussion of the current status of the Kansas Budget: http://www.kansasbudget.com/2014/07/dont-believe-revenue-estimates-kansas.html?spref=fb
"Banwart speaks at public forum 'Educate Andover' hosted the first of two Kansas House of Representative candidates at an open forum on Thursday at the district main office", as posted on The Butler County Times-Gazette on 7/19/14.
http://www.butlercountytimesgazette.com/article/20140718/NEWS/140719336?
"Americans For Prosperity mailer part of smear campaign, says Kansas GOP legislator seeking re-election", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 7/18/14.
"It’s primary season. And that means Kansans can expect to receive political postcards warning them of their lawmakers’ misdeeds, paid for by various interest groups."
"Glendening said AFP sends out mailers all year and that the timing, so close to primary votes, was irrelevant. He also said similar postcards were going out in other districts."
http://www.kansas.com/2014/07/18/3558963/americans-for-prosperity-mailer.html
"Eagle editorial: Nice work on KPERS", as published in The Wichita Eagle on 7/17/14.
"KPERS is moving toward getting its unfunded actuarial liability under control."
"And such returns, aided by the changes made by the 2012 Legislature, would enable KPERS to erase the more than $10 billion in projected unfunded actuarial liability by 2033, he said.
As CEI warns, unfunded pension obligations “remain a significant threat to the states’ fiscal health and therefore to the business climate and labor markets.” And KPERS’ long-term well-being can’t be considered a given."
http://www.kansas.com/2014/07/17/3555902/eagle-editorial-nice-work-on-kpers.html
"What's The Matter With Kansas And Its Tax Cuts? It Can't Do Math", as published on Forbes website on 7/15/14.
"From 2013 to 2014, income tax revenue dropped by far more–by $713 million. . . . . Since the first round of tax cuts, job growth in Kansas has lagged the U.S. economy. So have personal incomes. While more small businesses were formed, many of them were merely individuals taking advantage of the newly tax-free status of those firms by redefining themselves as businesses."
http://www.forbes.com/sites/beltway/2014/07/15/whats-the-matter-with-kansas-and-its-tax-cuts-it-cant-do-math/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
"Kansas’ Ruinous Tax Cuts", as published on The New York Times website on 7/13/14.
"With less money to spend, Kansas is forced to chop away at its only hope for real economic expansion: investment in public schools and colleges. While most states began restoring education funding after the recession, Kansas has cut K-12 spending by 2 percent over the last two school years, and higher education by 3 percent since 2012."
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/14/opinion/kansas-ruinous-tax-cuts.html?_r=1
"How Tea Party tax cuts are turning Kansas into a smoking ruin", as posted on the Los Angeles Times website on 7/10/14.
"In the rest of the country, school budgets are finally beginning to recover from the toll of the last recession; in Kansas, they're still falling. Healthcare, assistance for the poor, courts, and other state services are being eviscerated."
http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-mh-kansas-a-smoking-ruin-20140709-column.html
"A look at Gov. Brownback’s economic claims" as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 7/5/14.
"In fiscal year 2009 – the last fiscal year before the recession and before federal stimulus spending began – Kansas spent $4,400 in base state aid per pupil. Next year it will spend $3,852 per student.""Brownback’s additional school spending can be almost completely attributed to increased contributions to the state’s pension system and capital improvement aid for districts, not on teacher salaries, books or other operational costs.
When pension spending and capital aid are subtracted, state support for Kansas schools was roughly $100 million higher in fiscal year 2009 than in fiscal year 2014."
http://www.kansas.com/2014/07/05/3540243/a-look-at-gov-brownbacks-economic.html
"Kansas school efficiency group's last member named", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 7/2/14.
http://www.kansas.com/2014/07/02/3537160/kansas-school-efficiency-groups.html
"Kansas tax revenue falls below estimates, last year’s figures", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 6/30/14.
http://www.kansas.com/2014/06/30/3533814/kansas-tax-revenue-so-far-this.html
"Charlatans, Cranks and Kansas", as posted on The New York Times website on 6/29/14.
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/06/30/opinion/paul-krugman-charlatans-cranks-and-kansas.html?_r=3&referrer
"Standard & Poor’s rates outlook for charter school sector as ‘negative’", as posted on The Washington Post website on 6/26/14.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/06/26/standard-poors-rates-outlook-for-charter-school-sector-as-negative/
"Inside look - Lawmaker's email shows ugly truth about lobbyist influence in Topeka", as posted on the HutchNews.Com website on 6/18/14.
http://www.hutchnews.com/opinion/editorials/inside-look/article_33d8dab4-8e8d-51fd-b42a-444e94559d5d.html
"State education board loosens teacher licensing rules.
Measure mandated by Legislature to increase available pool of teachers", as posted on The Topeka-Capital Journal website on 6/25/14.
"Licensed teachers come to the classroom with training and experience in areas of differentiated instruction, special needs education, classroom management strategies, student diversity, behavior strategies, parent-teacher communications, and so much more," Baltzell said. "This is yet another example of how the Governor and his allies are following a special interest agenda in the name of ‘reform' while ignoring the realities of the modern classroom."
http://cjonline.com/news/2014-06-25/state-education-board-loosens-teacher-licensing-rules
"Sen. Wagle names East High principal, former Wichita Metro Chamber chairman to education commission", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 6/24/14.
http://www.kansas.com/2014/06/24/3523570/sen-wagle-names-wichita-east-high.html
"How the State of Wisconsin alleges Scott Walker aides violated the law, in 1 chart", as posted on The Washington Post website on 6/19/14.
http://m.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/06/19/how-the-state-of-wisconsin-alleges-scott-walker-aides-violated-the-law-in-1-chart/
"Property taxes for schools to be rerouted through state treasury
More than half a billion in property taxes will now be reported as state aid", as posted on The Topeka-Capital Journal website on 6/17/14.
"More than half a billion dollars in property taxes for school districts will be rerouted this year to flow through the state treasury before reaching schools."
"Normally county treasurers collect the 20 mills and send the money directly to school districts. Now counties will send the money — an estimated $570 million this year — to the state treasury, which will disburse it to the districts. As a result, the Kansas State Department of Education expects to report it as state aid instead of local funding."
http://cjonline.com/news/2014-06-17/property-taxes-schools-be-rerouted-through-state-treasury
"Brownback names two school superintendents to panel on student performance", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 6/18/14.
http://www.kansas.com/2014/06/18/3514147/brownback-names-two-school-superintendents.html
"Centene, Kensinger lack of transparency revealing", as posted on The Topeka Capital-Journal website on 6/18/14.
"Linkages with Centene or their competitors might be relevant to an FBI examination touching on whether Kensinger and his partners in the Topeka lobbying firm Parallel Strategies traded on close ties with Brownback to benefit themselves financially. All three partners, including Riley Scott and George Stafford, worked for years with Brownback."
http://m.cjonline.com/blog-post/tim-carpenter/2014-06-17/centene-kensinger-lack-transparency-revealing
"Some Kansas House primaries draw education as key issue." Republican races split between those challenging mods and conservatives", as posted on The Topeka Capital-Journal website on 6/15/14.
"On the Republican side, at least, the race is similar to other primaries in that it involves House members with a conservative voting record being challenged by a more moderate candidate with ties to public education groups."
http://cjonline.com/news/2014-06-15/some-kansas-house-primaries-draw-education-key-issue
"Kansas' Tax Cut Disaster", as posted on the U.S. News & World Report website on 6/13/14.
"While most states are restoring school funding after years of significant cuts due to the recession, Kansas continues to cut (see chart)."
http://www.usnews.com/opinion/economic-intelligence/2014/06/13/kansas-republican-tax-cuts-are-becoming-a-total-disaster
"Sam Brownback's Tax-Cut Push Puts Kansas Out on Its Own Fellow Republican Governors Are Slow to Follow Example Given His State's Finances", as posted on The Wall Street Journal website on 6/10/14.
"For the first 11 months of its fiscal year, tax collections were down $685 million, or 12%, from a year earlier, at a time when U.S. states, according to the nonpartisan Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government, are expected on average to see annual revenue growth. Moody's Investors Service cut Kansas' debt rating in April as the state draws down its reserves to make up for lost revenue."
http://online.wsj.com/articles/sam-brownbacks-tax-cut-push-puts-kansas-out-on-its-own-1402448126
"K-12 attack: Problems with legislation reach beyond due process." As posted on The Garden City Telegram website on 6/1/14.
"Parents have every right to send their children to private schools, but not at the expense of the public school system. Siphoning any resources from K-12 hurts even more considering the longstanding interest of Gov. Sam Brownback and his GOP allies in slashing state financing for public schools."
http://gctelegram.com/opinion/editorials/Editorial-6-11-14
"Analyst: Kansas leaders misrepresented research into cause of state tax revenue drop", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 6/6/14
http://www.kansas.com/2014/06/06/3496739/economist-kansas-leaders-misrepresented.html
"Oklahoma Puts Politics Before Students", as posted on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce website on 6/6/14.https://www.uschamber.com/blog/oklahoma-puts-politics-students?utm_source=Outbrain&utm_medium=Wallpost&utm_campaign=Status
"Expert forecast: Kansas will be in the red within a year without changes
Ex-budget director Goossen says downward trend in revenue will force hard choices soon", as posted on The Topeka Capital-Journal website on 6/3/14. http://cjonline.com/news/2014-06-03/expert-forecast-kansas-will-be-red-within-year-without-changes
"Judicial panel will review school-funding bill", as published on The Wichita Eagle website on 6/10/14. http://www.kansas.com/2014/06/10/3501625/judicial-panel-will-review-school.html
"Memo: Income tax cuts factored into Kansas’ revenue shortfall", as published on Kansas.com on 6/10/14. http://www.kansas.com/2014/06/10/3501271/memo-income-tax-cuts-factored.html
"Think tank CEO, Kansas Chamber chief named to state’s student performance commission", as published on Kansas.com on 6/10/14. http://www.kansas.com/2014/06/10/3501758/think-tank-ceo-kansas-chamber.html
"Trabert, O'Neal appointed to schools commission.
KNEA spokesman decries appointments as 'anti-public education' ", as published on The Topeka Capital-Journal website on 6/10/14. http://cjonline.com/news/2014-06-10/trabert-oneal-appointed-schools-commission
"Republicans who designed Common Core say public has been misled", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 5/21/14.
"The standards spell out what students should learn year by year, but leave decisions about books and lesson plans up to the states and local districts."
http://www.kansas.com/2014/05/21/3468007/republicans-who-designed-common.html
"Special education jobs cut from Butler County schools", as posted on Kake.com: http://www.kake.com/home/headlines/Special-education-jobs-cut-from-schools-259451791.html
Andover schools participate in the Butler County Special Education Cooperative which provides special education services to students across our county. Since 2011, the county has lost $600,000 from the State of Kansas which is resulting in layoffs and consolidation of services.
Lacking both federal and state support for public education students, cuts will continue. Administrators work overtime juggling the dollars to keep cuts from being experienced in the classrooms by students and staff. Continued underfunding is escalating the problems and limiting options for delivery of services to all students.
"Area schools discuss impact of school funding bill. Butler County school district superintendents speak out", as posted on The Butler County Times-Gazette website on 5/8/14.
http://www.butlercountytimesgazette.com/article/20140508/NEWS/140509438/?
Andover, USD #385 Superintendent, Greg Rasmussen: Our district's funding did not increase. Overall we will have a decrease of more than $200,000.
"Moody’s Investors Service downgrades state bonds, citing Kansas’ sluggish economy, tax cuts", as posted on the Lawrence Journal-World website on 5/1/14.
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2014/may/01/bond-rating-agency-downgrades-state-bonds-cites-sl/
"Kansas tax revenue off $92 million in April", as published in The Wichita Eagle on 5/1/14.
Some legislators blame this on President Obama's economic policies others say it’s because of the Kansas Legislature's recent tax cuts.
Hmmmm . . . on the same day that the Stock Market opened at a record high?
http://www.kansas.com/2014/04/30/3431703/kansas-revenues-off-92-million.html#storylink=cpy
"Teachers, supporters give Kansas lawmakers earful at legislative forum", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 4/28/14.
http://www.kansas.com/2014/04/28/3428684/teachers-supporters-give-lawmakers.html#storylink=cpy
Lawmakers barely spoke during the meeting, although the host legislator, Rep. Jim Howell, R-Derby, acknowledged at one point, “It’s not fun to come out and be yelled at for an hour and a half.”
Game On For Kansas Schools noted that Sen. Wagle did not attend and that Sen. Masterson left early. We do not presently know if Reps. Hedke, Kahrs, Crum or Brunk attended.
And don't forget that $2 BILLION Error last year:
"Brownback’s budget director offered to resign after $2 billion error", as published in The Wichita Eagle on 3/8/13.
http://www.kansas.com/2013/03/08/2708043/brownbacks-budget-director-offers.html
"Kansas tax revenue falls $92M below April estimate", as posted on the Topeka Capital-Journal website on 4/30/14. http://cjonline.com/news/2014-04-30/kansas-tax-revenue-falls-92m-below-april-estimate
"Kansas classroom aid estimate drops by $12 million", as posted on the Topeka Capital-Journal website on 4/29/14. http://cjonline.com/news/2014-04-29/kansas-classroom-aid-estimate-drops-12m
"Eagle editorial: Bad bill now bad law", as pubilshed in The Wichita Eagle on 4/22/14.
http://www.kansas.com/2014/04/22/3416094_eagle-editorial-bad-bill-now-bad.html?fb_action_ids=712696642106902&fb_action_types=og.comments
"Kansas school finance bill would give corporate tax breaks for private school scholarships", as posted on the Kansas City Star website on 4/19/14.
http://www.kansascity.com/news/government-politics/article345873/Kansas-school-finance-bill-would-give-corporate-tax-breaks-for-private-school-scholarships.html
"Kansas teachers union set to sue if teacher firings lack due process", as published in The Wichita Eagle on 4/8/14: http://www.kansas.com/2014/04/07/3391605/teachers-union-leaders-stripping.html
"House, Senate OK school finance bill that eliminates due process for teachers", as posted on Kansas.com on 4/6/14: http://www.kansas.com/2014/04/06/3388925/kansas-senate-convenes-sunday.html#storylink=cpy
"Attorneys concerned about Kansas school package", as posted on Lawrence Journal World, 4/7/14. http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2014/apr/07/attorneys-concerned-about-kansas-school-package/
"Selling education Despite moderate standoff, business groups win change in policy", as posted on HutchNews.com on 4/7/14: http://www.hutchnews.com/opinion/editorials/article_8adac0d6-b334-54e0-ba73-0224d7837264.html
"Kansas weekend theatrics can't obscure state's fiscal crisis", Editorial in the Kansas City Star on 4/6/14:
http://www.kansascity.com/2014/04/06/4941585/much-ballyhooed-tax-cuts-leave.html_
"Lessons for Other States from Kansas' Massive Tax Cuts" as posted on Center on Budget and Policy Prioreties, 3/27/14. http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=4110#.UzRYjUcGSYI.twitter
"Senate, House leaders attempt to reconcile school finance bills", as posted on Kansas.com on 4/5/14: http://www.kansas.com/2014/04/05/3387355/senate-house-leaders-attempt-to.html
"House quickly passes school finance fix", as posted on Kansas.com on 4/4/14: http://www.kansas.com/2014/04/04/3385782/brownback-praises-kansas-house.html
"Kansas Senate passes school finance bill stripping funding for Common Core standards", as published in The Wichita Eagle on April 3, 2014.
Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2014/04/03/3384017/senat-prepares-for-long-night.html#storylink=cpy
"The drop in revenue will lead to a budget shortfall of nearly $240 million by July of 2016 unless lawmakers cut spending in the current budget year, according to projections compiled by the nonpartisan Kansas Legislative Research Department."
http://www.khi.org/news/2014/sep/24/kansas-revenue-decline-among-steepest-nation/
"Districts under stress", as published in The Wichita Eagle on 9/23/14.
"Nearly all surveyed districts said base state aid per pupil for 2015 was insufficient to cover increasing costs. Kansas has fewer teachers instructing about 20,000 more students than it did in 2009. More students are at risk, though dollars earmarked to help them are being reduced in nearly half of surveyed districts. Almost half of surveyed districts have seen class sizes grow since 2009, and district training for teachers has declined. About 30 percent of districts recently have cut back or eliminated sports, arts, music or other programs. In addition, nearly 58 percent of surveyed districts suggested they’d need to raise their local property taxes in the next few years because of reduced state funding."
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article2208660.html
"Sam Brownback’s failed ‘experiment’ puts state on path to penury", as posted on The Washington Post website on 9/21/14.
"There have been particular expressions of anxiety about cuts to per-pupil expenditures in public schools, which have dropped more than 10 percent since 2008. . . . . non-partisan budget analysts for the state legislature project that without new sources of revenue or even deeper spending cuts, the state faces some $1.3 billion in deficits in the coming five years. That’s a big hill to climb in a state whose budget for general expenses is $6.3 billion."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/sam-brownbacks-failed-experiment-puts-state-on-path-to-penury/2014/09/21/ded58846-3eb2-11e4-9587-5dafd96295f0_story.html
"Brownback’s education claim is phony", as published in The Wichita Eagle on 9/17/14.
"Vratil does not support forced consolidation. Brownback’s basis for the claim is a quote in a Topeka Capital-Journal news story three years ago in which Vratil predicted that “rural school districts will be starved out of existence.” When the Capital-Journal asked Vratil last week about the quote, he said: “I never said in that article, nor have I ever said, that I favor forced school consolidation. In fact, I oppose it because it’s bad policy and would never work.”
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article2144197.html
"Governor's office declines to support early childhood grant Children's Cabinet unable to move forward with application for federal funding", as posted on Kansas Health Institute's website on 9/16/14.
"Gov. Sam Brownback is not ready to support the Kansas Children’s Cabinet in an attempt to win a federal grant aimed at bolstering early childhood education. . . . . Kansas’ possible share of the pie: Up to $15 million a year for four years. The money would be spent on expanding and enhancing preschool programs throughout the state.""Freiden said the decision not to apply for a Race to the Top grant was part of election-year politics.
"This is about the governor and his people not wanting to risk being seen taking money from Washington and touching Obama at a time when they’re running against someone they’re painting as an Obama liberal,” he said. “They’re putting politics above kids.”
http://www.khi.org/news/2014/sep/16/governors-office-halts-application-early-childhood/
"Survey says: New report offers local insight, cause for concern on education spending", as posted on HutchNews.com on 9/16/14.
- Kansas schools have gained more than 19,000 students but haven’t added enough teachers to keep pace with student growth.
- Nearly half of Kansas’ school districts have seen class size grow since 2009.
- Ninety-six percent of districts say state base aid has not kept up with increased instruction costs.
- Funds for at-risk students have been cut, even as the number of at-risk students have grown.
- Property taxes at the local level have increased to offset cuts to state aid.
"Hineman: Consolidation by starvation", as posted on the Hays Post website on 9/15/14.
"As state funding declines small rural districts scramble to save money any way they can. Eventually that isn’t enough and they have to reduce course offerings and curtail programs. And finally the inevitable day arrives: the school board finds it is out of options and votes to merge with a neighbor or disband entirely. Since the start of the great recession in 2008, ten Kansas school districts have ceased to exist, and it is highly likely that more will face the same fate very soon."
http://www.hayspost.com/2014/09/15/hineman-consolidation-by-starvation/
"Heed experts on state budget", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 8/20/14.
"It can be difficult for Kansans to know whom to believe. If only there were nonpartisan experts who would objectively review the state’s finances and determine whether or not there were problems.
As it so happens, three such groups have done reviews. And all three are waving warning flags."
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article1266062.html
"AP NewsBreak: New Kansas figures show shortfalls", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 8/8/14.
"The Legislative Research Department's new budget forecast also showed a lower figure for the state's cash reserves on June 30 than the cash-on-hand figure reported last month by Republican Gov. Sam Brownback's administration — $380 million compared with nearly $435 million. The department made its routine adjustment of the cash figure to account for bills pending but not paid as of that date, the end of the 2014 budget year."
http://www.kansas.com/2014/08/08/3588010/apnewsbreak-new-kansas-figures.html
"S&P downgrades Kansas bond rating; Brownback pushes back", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 8/6/14.
"'The downgrades reflect our view of a structurally unbalanced budget, following state income tax cuts that have not been matched with offsetting ongoing expenditure cuts in the fiscal 2015 budget,' said Standard & Poor's credit analyst David Hitchcock in a release.
S & P also downgraded the state’s appropriation-secured debt to AA- from AA.
The rating agency gave the state a “negative” outlook on both ratings and projects that the state will face serious budget woes by the end of fiscal year 2015."
http://www.kansas.com/2014/08/06/3584491/sp-downgrades-kansas-bond-rating.html
"Brownback’s Tax Cuts Prompt S&P to Reduce Kansas’s Credit Rating", as posted on Bloomberg.com on 8/6/14.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-08-06/brownback-s-tax-cuts-prompt-s-p-to-reduce-kansas-s-credit-rating.html
"Tight budget for school district", as posted on The Kansan (Newton, Kansas newspaper) website on 7/27/14.
The Newton school budget is suffering much like Andover's.
"Assistant Superintendent Russell Miller said currently, the district is working through changes in the state school finance formula and a slight drop in enrollment that is resulting in approximately $650,000 less in general fund revenue for the 2014-15 school year."
http://www.thekansan.com/article/20140727/NEWS/140729576
"District 99 incumbent faces round-table of criticism, questioning. Representative Dennis Hedke (R) faced some rough criticism as the guest speaker at a round-table forum hosted by 'Educate Andover,' on Thursday", as posted on The Butler County Times-Gazette on 7/27/14.
http://www.butlercountytimesgazette.com/article/20140727/NEWS/140729554/?
"H. Edward Flentje: Is state on right path to recovery?", as published in The Wichita Eagle on 7/27/14.
"Voters who support the governor may look to the Kansas Chamber Political Action Committee, which endorsed candidates in 26 of the 30 contested races. The chamber aided Brownback in crafting and enacting his experiment.
Or voters may view the Kansas Chamber as selling “modern-day, economic snake oil,” as does former Republican Party state chairwoman Rochelle Chronister. She adds that the chamber is backing “incumbents who helped create the largest deficit in the history of our state” and other candidates who “push an out-of-step economic agenda that will force sales and property taxes to skyrocket.”
http://www.kansas.com/2014/07/27/3568588/h-edward-flentje-is-state-on-right.html
"Don't Believe the Revenue Estimates — Kansas' Budget Has Already Gone Off the Fiscal Cliff"
Here's the link to "The Kansas Budget", Duane Goossen's July 22, 2014 blog discussion of the current status of the Kansas Budget: http://www.kansasbudget.com/2014/07/dont-believe-revenue-estimates-kansas.html?spref=fb
"Banwart speaks at public forum 'Educate Andover' hosted the first of two Kansas House of Representative candidates at an open forum on Thursday at the district main office", as posted on The Butler County Times-Gazette on 7/19/14.
http://www.butlercountytimesgazette.com/article/20140718/NEWS/140719336?
"Americans For Prosperity mailer part of smear campaign, says Kansas GOP legislator seeking re-election", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 7/18/14.
"It’s primary season. And that means Kansans can expect to receive political postcards warning them of their lawmakers’ misdeeds, paid for by various interest groups."
"Glendening said AFP sends out mailers all year and that the timing, so close to primary votes, was irrelevant. He also said similar postcards were going out in other districts."
http://www.kansas.com/2014/07/18/3558963/americans-for-prosperity-mailer.html
"Eagle editorial: Nice work on KPERS", as published in The Wichita Eagle on 7/17/14.
"KPERS is moving toward getting its unfunded actuarial liability under control."
"And such returns, aided by the changes made by the 2012 Legislature, would enable KPERS to erase the more than $10 billion in projected unfunded actuarial liability by 2033, he said.
As CEI warns, unfunded pension obligations “remain a significant threat to the states’ fiscal health and therefore to the business climate and labor markets.” And KPERS’ long-term well-being can’t be considered a given."
http://www.kansas.com/2014/07/17/3555902/eagle-editorial-nice-work-on-kpers.html
"What's The Matter With Kansas And Its Tax Cuts? It Can't Do Math", as published on Forbes website on 7/15/14.
"From 2013 to 2014, income tax revenue dropped by far more–by $713 million. . . . . Since the first round of tax cuts, job growth in Kansas has lagged the U.S. economy. So have personal incomes. While more small businesses were formed, many of them were merely individuals taking advantage of the newly tax-free status of those firms by redefining themselves as businesses."
http://www.forbes.com/sites/beltway/2014/07/15/whats-the-matter-with-kansas-and-its-tax-cuts-it-cant-do-math/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
"Kansas’ Ruinous Tax Cuts", as published on The New York Times website on 7/13/14.
"With less money to spend, Kansas is forced to chop away at its only hope for real economic expansion: investment in public schools and colleges. While most states began restoring education funding after the recession, Kansas has cut K-12 spending by 2 percent over the last two school years, and higher education by 3 percent since 2012."
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/14/opinion/kansas-ruinous-tax-cuts.html?_r=1
"How Tea Party tax cuts are turning Kansas into a smoking ruin", as posted on the Los Angeles Times website on 7/10/14.
"In the rest of the country, school budgets are finally beginning to recover from the toll of the last recession; in Kansas, they're still falling. Healthcare, assistance for the poor, courts, and other state services are being eviscerated."
http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-mh-kansas-a-smoking-ruin-20140709-column.html
"A look at Gov. Brownback’s economic claims" as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 7/5/14.
"In fiscal year 2009 – the last fiscal year before the recession and before federal stimulus spending began – Kansas spent $4,400 in base state aid per pupil. Next year it will spend $3,852 per student.""Brownback’s additional school spending can be almost completely attributed to increased contributions to the state’s pension system and capital improvement aid for districts, not on teacher salaries, books or other operational costs.
When pension spending and capital aid are subtracted, state support for Kansas schools was roughly $100 million higher in fiscal year 2009 than in fiscal year 2014."
http://www.kansas.com/2014/07/05/3540243/a-look-at-gov-brownbacks-economic.html
"Kansas school efficiency group's last member named", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 7/2/14.
http://www.kansas.com/2014/07/02/3537160/kansas-school-efficiency-groups.html
"Kansas tax revenue falls below estimates, last year’s figures", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 6/30/14.
http://www.kansas.com/2014/06/30/3533814/kansas-tax-revenue-so-far-this.html
"Charlatans, Cranks and Kansas", as posted on The New York Times website on 6/29/14.
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/06/30/opinion/paul-krugman-charlatans-cranks-and-kansas.html?_r=3&referrer
"Standard & Poor’s rates outlook for charter school sector as ‘negative’", as posted on The Washington Post website on 6/26/14.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/06/26/standard-poors-rates-outlook-for-charter-school-sector-as-negative/
"Inside look - Lawmaker's email shows ugly truth about lobbyist influence in Topeka", as posted on the HutchNews.Com website on 6/18/14.
http://www.hutchnews.com/opinion/editorials/inside-look/article_33d8dab4-8e8d-51fd-b42a-444e94559d5d.html
"State education board loosens teacher licensing rules.
Measure mandated by Legislature to increase available pool of teachers", as posted on The Topeka-Capital Journal website on 6/25/14.
"Licensed teachers come to the classroom with training and experience in areas of differentiated instruction, special needs education, classroom management strategies, student diversity, behavior strategies, parent-teacher communications, and so much more," Baltzell said. "This is yet another example of how the Governor and his allies are following a special interest agenda in the name of ‘reform' while ignoring the realities of the modern classroom."
http://cjonline.com/news/2014-06-25/state-education-board-loosens-teacher-licensing-rules
"Sen. Wagle names East High principal, former Wichita Metro Chamber chairman to education commission", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 6/24/14.
http://www.kansas.com/2014/06/24/3523570/sen-wagle-names-wichita-east-high.html
"How the State of Wisconsin alleges Scott Walker aides violated the law, in 1 chart", as posted on The Washington Post website on 6/19/14.
http://m.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/06/19/how-the-state-of-wisconsin-alleges-scott-walker-aides-violated-the-law-in-1-chart/
"Property taxes for schools to be rerouted through state treasury
More than half a billion in property taxes will now be reported as state aid", as posted on The Topeka-Capital Journal website on 6/17/14.
"More than half a billion dollars in property taxes for school districts will be rerouted this year to flow through the state treasury before reaching schools."
"Normally county treasurers collect the 20 mills and send the money directly to school districts. Now counties will send the money — an estimated $570 million this year — to the state treasury, which will disburse it to the districts. As a result, the Kansas State Department of Education expects to report it as state aid instead of local funding."
http://cjonline.com/news/2014-06-17/property-taxes-schools-be-rerouted-through-state-treasury
"Brownback names two school superintendents to panel on student performance", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 6/18/14.
http://www.kansas.com/2014/06/18/3514147/brownback-names-two-school-superintendents.html
"Centene, Kensinger lack of transparency revealing", as posted on The Topeka Capital-Journal website on 6/18/14.
"Linkages with Centene or their competitors might be relevant to an FBI examination touching on whether Kensinger and his partners in the Topeka lobbying firm Parallel Strategies traded on close ties with Brownback to benefit themselves financially. All three partners, including Riley Scott and George Stafford, worked for years with Brownback."
http://m.cjonline.com/blog-post/tim-carpenter/2014-06-17/centene-kensinger-lack-transparency-revealing
"Some Kansas House primaries draw education as key issue." Republican races split between those challenging mods and conservatives", as posted on The Topeka Capital-Journal website on 6/15/14.
"On the Republican side, at least, the race is similar to other primaries in that it involves House members with a conservative voting record being challenged by a more moderate candidate with ties to public education groups."
http://cjonline.com/news/2014-06-15/some-kansas-house-primaries-draw-education-key-issue
"Kansas' Tax Cut Disaster", as posted on the U.S. News & World Report website on 6/13/14.
"While most states are restoring school funding after years of significant cuts due to the recession, Kansas continues to cut (see chart)."
http://www.usnews.com/opinion/economic-intelligence/2014/06/13/kansas-republican-tax-cuts-are-becoming-a-total-disaster
"Sam Brownback's Tax-Cut Push Puts Kansas Out on Its Own Fellow Republican Governors Are Slow to Follow Example Given His State's Finances", as posted on The Wall Street Journal website on 6/10/14.
"For the first 11 months of its fiscal year, tax collections were down $685 million, or 12%, from a year earlier, at a time when U.S. states, according to the nonpartisan Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government, are expected on average to see annual revenue growth. Moody's Investors Service cut Kansas' debt rating in April as the state draws down its reserves to make up for lost revenue."
http://online.wsj.com/articles/sam-brownbacks-tax-cut-push-puts-kansas-out-on-its-own-1402448126
"K-12 attack: Problems with legislation reach beyond due process." As posted on The Garden City Telegram website on 6/1/14.
"Parents have every right to send their children to private schools, but not at the expense of the public school system. Siphoning any resources from K-12 hurts even more considering the longstanding interest of Gov. Sam Brownback and his GOP allies in slashing state financing for public schools."
http://gctelegram.com/opinion/editorials/Editorial-6-11-14
"Analyst: Kansas leaders misrepresented research into cause of state tax revenue drop", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 6/6/14
http://www.kansas.com/2014/06/06/3496739/economist-kansas-leaders-misrepresented.html
"Oklahoma Puts Politics Before Students", as posted on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce website on 6/6/14.https://www.uschamber.com/blog/oklahoma-puts-politics-students?utm_source=Outbrain&utm_medium=Wallpost&utm_campaign=Status
"Expert forecast: Kansas will be in the red within a year without changes
Ex-budget director Goossen says downward trend in revenue will force hard choices soon", as posted on The Topeka Capital-Journal website on 6/3/14. http://cjonline.com/news/2014-06-03/expert-forecast-kansas-will-be-red-within-year-without-changes
"Judicial panel will review school-funding bill", as published on The Wichita Eagle website on 6/10/14. http://www.kansas.com/2014/06/10/3501625/judicial-panel-will-review-school.html
"Memo: Income tax cuts factored into Kansas’ revenue shortfall", as published on Kansas.com on 6/10/14. http://www.kansas.com/2014/06/10/3501271/memo-income-tax-cuts-factored.html
"Think tank CEO, Kansas Chamber chief named to state’s student performance commission", as published on Kansas.com on 6/10/14. http://www.kansas.com/2014/06/10/3501758/think-tank-ceo-kansas-chamber.html
"Trabert, O'Neal appointed to schools commission.
KNEA spokesman decries appointments as 'anti-public education' ", as published on The Topeka Capital-Journal website on 6/10/14. http://cjonline.com/news/2014-06-10/trabert-oneal-appointed-schools-commission
"Republicans who designed Common Core say public has been misled", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 5/21/14.
"The standards spell out what students should learn year by year, but leave decisions about books and lesson plans up to the states and local districts."
http://www.kansas.com/2014/05/21/3468007/republicans-who-designed-common.html
"Special education jobs cut from Butler County schools", as posted on Kake.com: http://www.kake.com/home/headlines/Special-education-jobs-cut-from-schools-259451791.html
Andover schools participate in the Butler County Special Education Cooperative which provides special education services to students across our county. Since 2011, the county has lost $600,000 from the State of Kansas which is resulting in layoffs and consolidation of services.
Lacking both federal and state support for public education students, cuts will continue. Administrators work overtime juggling the dollars to keep cuts from being experienced in the classrooms by students and staff. Continued underfunding is escalating the problems and limiting options for delivery of services to all students.
"Area schools discuss impact of school funding bill. Butler County school district superintendents speak out", as posted on The Butler County Times-Gazette website on 5/8/14.
http://www.butlercountytimesgazette.com/article/20140508/NEWS/140509438/?
Andover, USD #385 Superintendent, Greg Rasmussen: Our district's funding did not increase. Overall we will have a decrease of more than $200,000.
"Moody’s Investors Service downgrades state bonds, citing Kansas’ sluggish economy, tax cuts", as posted on the Lawrence Journal-World website on 5/1/14.
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2014/may/01/bond-rating-agency-downgrades-state-bonds-cites-sl/
"Kansas tax revenue off $92 million in April", as published in The Wichita Eagle on 5/1/14.
Some legislators blame this on President Obama's economic policies others say it’s because of the Kansas Legislature's recent tax cuts.
Hmmmm . . . on the same day that the Stock Market opened at a record high?
http://www.kansas.com/2014/04/30/3431703/kansas-revenues-off-92-million.html#storylink=cpy
"Teachers, supporters give Kansas lawmakers earful at legislative forum", as posted on The Wichita Eagle website on 4/28/14.
http://www.kansas.com/2014/04/28/3428684/teachers-supporters-give-lawmakers.html#storylink=cpy
Lawmakers barely spoke during the meeting, although the host legislator, Rep. Jim Howell, R-Derby, acknowledged at one point, “It’s not fun to come out and be yelled at for an hour and a half.”
Game On For Kansas Schools noted that Sen. Wagle did not attend and that Sen. Masterson left early. We do not presently know if Reps. Hedke, Kahrs, Crum or Brunk attended.
And don't forget that $2 BILLION Error last year:
"Brownback’s budget director offered to resign after $2 billion error", as published in The Wichita Eagle on 3/8/13.
http://www.kansas.com/2013/03/08/2708043/brownbacks-budget-director-offers.html
"Kansas tax revenue falls $92M below April estimate", as posted on the Topeka Capital-Journal website on 4/30/14. http://cjonline.com/news/2014-04-30/kansas-tax-revenue-falls-92m-below-april-estimate
"Kansas classroom aid estimate drops by $12 million", as posted on the Topeka Capital-Journal website on 4/29/14. http://cjonline.com/news/2014-04-29/kansas-classroom-aid-estimate-drops-12m
"Eagle editorial: Bad bill now bad law", as pubilshed in The Wichita Eagle on 4/22/14.
http://www.kansas.com/2014/04/22/3416094_eagle-editorial-bad-bill-now-bad.html?fb_action_ids=712696642106902&fb_action_types=og.comments
"Kansas school finance bill would give corporate tax breaks for private school scholarships", as posted on the Kansas City Star website on 4/19/14.
http://www.kansascity.com/news/government-politics/article345873/Kansas-school-finance-bill-would-give-corporate-tax-breaks-for-private-school-scholarships.html
"Kansas teachers union set to sue if teacher firings lack due process", as published in The Wichita Eagle on 4/8/14: http://www.kansas.com/2014/04/07/3391605/teachers-union-leaders-stripping.html
"House, Senate OK school finance bill that eliminates due process for teachers", as posted on Kansas.com on 4/6/14: http://www.kansas.com/2014/04/06/3388925/kansas-senate-convenes-sunday.html#storylink=cpy
"Attorneys concerned about Kansas school package", as posted on Lawrence Journal World, 4/7/14. http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2014/apr/07/attorneys-concerned-about-kansas-school-package/
"Selling education Despite moderate standoff, business groups win change in policy", as posted on HutchNews.com on 4/7/14: http://www.hutchnews.com/opinion/editorials/article_8adac0d6-b334-54e0-ba73-0224d7837264.html
"Kansas weekend theatrics can't obscure state's fiscal crisis", Editorial in the Kansas City Star on 4/6/14:
http://www.kansascity.com/2014/04/06/4941585/much-ballyhooed-tax-cuts-leave.html_
"Lessons for Other States from Kansas' Massive Tax Cuts" as posted on Center on Budget and Policy Prioreties, 3/27/14. http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=4110#.UzRYjUcGSYI.twitter
"Senate, House leaders attempt to reconcile school finance bills", as posted on Kansas.com on 4/5/14: http://www.kansas.com/2014/04/05/3387355/senate-house-leaders-attempt-to.html
"House quickly passes school finance fix", as posted on Kansas.com on 4/4/14: http://www.kansas.com/2014/04/04/3385782/brownback-praises-kansas-house.html
"Kansas Senate passes school finance bill stripping funding for Common Core standards", as published in The Wichita Eagle on April 3, 2014.
Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2014/04/03/3384017/senat-prepares-for-long-night.html#storylink=cpy