Kansas views on state hospitals, court funding, state debt
State hospital – The federal government’s decision to halt Medicare payments for patients at Osawatomie State Hospital has brought to light horrific incidents and troubling safety issues at the state-run hospital for adults with severe psychiatric disorders. Coming on the heels of problems in the Kansas Department for Children and Families, the reports cast more doubt on the ability of Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration to protect vulnerable populations and perform core services under the strain of funding shortages, low employee morale and the ongoing departure of qualified administrators.
Unwillingness of Kansas’ government to properly operate state hospitals for the mentally ill is a tragedy. No more excuses. Do what is right and be quick about it.
While we’ve become a little immune to the continued problems at the hospital for the mentally ill, this round of news leaves no doubt something must be done – now.
Court funding – The governor and state legislators should not be surprised by the Kansas Supreme Court action striking down a state law that changed how chief judges are selected in district courts across the state. The only mystery now is how the Legislature will address another provision of that law that automatically defunds the state’s court system as a result of the ruling. Approving funding for the judicial branch should be at the top of the Legislature’s agenda when it convenes in January.
State debt – Fiscal conservatism has gone out of style in Topeka – at least among far-right Republican policymakers in charge. There’s really no other way to explain the staggering debt they’ve piled on the state to pay for income tax breaks that failed to stimulate the economy as Gov. Sam Brownback promised.
The Kansas Constitution is unambiguous on a number of fiscal policies we believe are not being adhered to, such as raising sufficient revenue to defray current expenses, using tax dollars for the distinct purpose that tax was levied, and only using balance transfers for the purposes for which the appropriation was originally made. It is high time for the high court to step in. Waiting for voters to recognize the utter incompetency they’ve elected will take too long. We need the people’s court to save the people.
This story was originally published January 3, 2016 at 6:06 PM with the headline "Kansas views on state hospitals, court funding, state debt."