If Gov. Sam Brownback were on this year’s ballot, he may have had a tougher time getting re-elected.
A recent survey put Brownback’s favorability rating at 19 percent — the lowest of any sitting governor in the nation.
Two years ago, only 33 percent of Kansas voters gave him a thumbs up, yet he still won re-election, proving the strength of the Republican party.
Seems Kansans hold their noses and vote Republican, no matter what.
Last week’s poll of 900 voters was conducted by the Docking Institute of Public Affairs based out of Fort Hays University.
Other pertinent information included that 57 percent are unhappy with Kansas legislators especially when it comes to how they have managed education, healthcare, and the state budget.
Specific to education is the diversion of $100 million from the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System in April; the budget cuts to public schools; and two cases before the Kansas Supreme Court as to whether the state is adequately and equitably funding schools.
Legislators have also refused to consider expanding Medicaid so another 150,000 Kansans could receive health insurance. Not only has that put the well-being of our brothers and sisters at risk, but it also has denied the state $1.4 billion (and counting) in federal funds and hundreds of new jobs.
As for our state budget, tax collections have fallen short of projections 11 of the past 12 months, reducing our transportation department to a cash cow. This year alone 25 highway projects have been abandoned so that $185 million in KDOT funds could be diverted to the general fund.
And all along 330,000 private businesses continue to enjoy a tax break and our income tax structure favors the wealthy.
ALL OF these issues impact the state budget, but none more so than education.
Earlier this year, the court ruled the funding for public schools had gotten out of whack and ordered $400 million in funding to balance things out, to which legislators begrudgingly agreed.
The other shoe to drop, November’s ruling, could mean that much and more is needed to bring school funding up to snuff after eight years of cuts.
But Brownback and conservative legislators have a plan: Oust the members on the Kansas Supreme Court.
On the Nov. 8 ballot are five Supreme Court Justices who ultra-conservatives are painting as the devil incarnate.
But it’s really about money. And our children’s right to a decent education. Gov. Brownback and conservative legislators do not want to put another red cent to our schools.
A “yes” vote to retain our Supreme Court Justices will be a vote to maintain a distinct separation of powers between the state’s three branches of government — the executive, legislative and judicial.
If the justices are defeated, Brownback will handpick their replacements, ensuring his warped ideology will be with us for years to come.
— Susan Lynn
