Kansas views on school funding, Legislature, tax mistake, Brownback, Kobach appeal, state hospitals
School funding – After a three-judge school finance court found lawmakers once again were shortchanging public school students, there was no shortage of judicial overreach comments by Gov. Sam Brownback and GOP legislative leaders. But the court’s role is to determine if laws pass constitutional muster. If doing their job correctly results in being called “activist,” judges should wear the label proudly.
Legislature – Senate President Susan Wagle, R-Wichita, argued the past session didn’t deliver a “do-nothing” Legislature. She was right. We didn’t witness a do-nothing Legislature, but rather a do-damage Legislature. Credit ultraconservatives in charge for such debacles as erasing the state’s school finance formula in favor of block grants (recently ruled unconstitutional). Also, the ultraconservatives’ tax plan failed to resolve severe budget shortfalls, while punishing the poor. Even a do-nothing Legislature would have been better than one that did such harm.
Tax cut mistake – Speaking at the Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas, Senate President Susan Wagle, R-Wichita, recounted the 2012 events that led to a tax bill that lowered state income tax rates and exempted more than 330,000 business owners and farmers from paying income tax. “The governor was having a struggle getting the bill he wanted through the Legislature,” Wagle said. “And he chose to sign a bill that really slashed income taxes, but was not funded. We knew that we’d have to come back and fix it.” And yet Kansans still are waiting for that fix. Why hasn’t Brownback tried harder to change the state’s course?
Brownback – Sam Brownback might need a hug because it’s been a heck of a few weeks for the Kansas governor. First there was the legislative session, which went 23 days beyond the 90-day scheduled session and resulted in the governor signing the largest tax increase in state history. Then the U.S. Supreme Court said that “Obamacare” is here to stay and ruled that gays and lesbians have a constitutional right to marriage. What does all this mean, other than Brownback is having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad few days? It means the nation is changing.
Kobach appeal – The U.S. Supreme Court’s refusal to hear an appeal by Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach leaves the state with an unwieldy and confusing voter registration process. But it could be worse. A different decision by the justices could have opened the door for an even more restrictive registration.
State hospitals – Osawatomie State Hospital has stopped accepting new admissions to keep its patient population at 146, the maximum number of people it can house and treat until a renovation project on building ceilings is completed. The moratorium on admissions was expected, but that doesn’t make the news any less unsettling for people and agencies that soon may be dealing with mentally ill citizens in less than optimum conditions. Once the renovation project is completed and OSH has a full complement of beds available, state officials must provide the level of funding needed to maintain the hospital’s buildings and programs in good condition.
This story was originally published July 5, 2015 at 7:07 PM with the headline "Kansas views on school funding, Legislature, tax mistake, Brownback, Kobach appeal, state hospitals."