Print edition: 
Democratic leaders —An unusual chain of events has led Kansas to a state leadership situation that probably is unique in Kansas history and is unlikely to occur again anytime soon. With last week's appointment of Securities Commissioner Chris Biggs as the new Kansas secretary of state, five of the state's six top elected offices now are held by Democrats. Even stranger is that the only Republican in the group, Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger of Lawrence, also is the only official still serving in the office to which she was elected. A string of resignations and appointments by two Democratic governors has led to the current situation. On one hand, it's unsettling that so much power lies in the hands of people not chosen by the voters. On the other hand, it's comforting to know that our system of government allows such transitions to occur so smoothly that they go almost unnoticed by the state's residents.— Lawrence Journal-World
Early education — Early education is about more than preschool for young children eager to learn. Many early education programs also offer the only therapy some parents can afford for children with disabilities in their most formative years. Should those services be cut back as part of the state's budget solution, we'll see more costs in later years for those same children. Without early intervention for some children, such as those on the autism spectrum, they are likely to need more special education services later, and they'll be less prepared for school and life in general. Early education proponents would also argue that even the average developing child would be set back by a reduction in preschool opportunity, particularly children in poverty who could especially use a head start.— Hutchinson News
Day care — We applaud the Kansas Senate's decision Wednesday to eliminate the category of "registered" day care provider, opting instead to force all facilities to be licensed and, as such, be subject to inspections. We hope the House has the same enthusiasm in correcting a flaw in the system. Currently, Kansas ranks 47th in the nation when it comes to child care oversight. We urge the Legislature to pass this bill quickly. The children, and parents, of Kansas deserve some modicum of safety assurance.— Hays Daily News
Fund roads — Kansas made notable progress on road improvement as part of comprehensive transportation programs passed in 1989 and 1999, with the latter expiring in 2009. But movement on a new transportation plan in Kansas may stall because of the budget crunch. The forecast for short-term road maintenance and other projects also looks gloomy. But this is no time to go backward. Developing and funding a plan to improve highways is neither wasteful nor something that can be put on hold in the face of economic uncertainty. Rather, improving infrastructure and spurring job growth that road projects bring are economic stimulus the state should pursue with urgency. —Garden City Telegram
