Dear editor,
On the Wednesday, Oct. 5 Iola Register opinion page Susan Lynn opined “Court calls legislators’ bluff on adequately funding education.”
I take great offense to her insinuation that legislators don’t give a damn. I can factually tell you that this representative does GIVE A DAMN. In fact, I often tell friends and family that this job would be rather easy if I really didn’t care, but I do, it is just who I am.
The 2016 Elections provided an infusion of great people to the Kansas House and Senate. They were elected on their own merit. They were not bought and paid for puppets for the powers that be to manipulate.
These are people, like me, who would like to get our state back on track. We made some good progress in the last session, but there is still much work to do. This great state has survived the Brownback tax experiment. We are healing and we will survive. The one thing Kansans are known for is their character in tough times. This is one of those times.
The school finance puzzle is not an easy one to put together. There are many factors that play into it and we’re not going to solve it by pointing fingers and laying blame. While this was not the court ruling I had hoped for, it is the one we got. Now it’s time to roll up our sleeves, pull up our bootstraps and get down to work. Letting our schools close is not an option and I am committed to finding and funding an education formula that provides equity to all Kansas kids and adequately provides for a quality education. A brighter Kansas not only lies in quality schools, but also in our ability to provide safe communities and good paying jobs for Kansas families.
The legislative process is not an easy one, it is messy and compromises must be made. It is my hope that Ms. Lynn can recognize and report the good work that has been done to get Kansas back on track.
Rep. Kent Thompson,
LaHarpe, Kan
Letters to the Editor – 10/7/17
