One of the beauties of democracy is its system of checks of balances.
One branch of government — either the legislative, executive or judicial — cannot go crazy without the others having the option to put on the brakes.
We’re seeing it in action now with the Kansas Supreme Court ruling that the Legislature must adequately fund our public schools or else they will not open for the 2016-17 school year.
Naturally, those who want to see our schools diminished are not happy.
At the forefront is Sen. Jeff King, R-Independence, who is supposedly crafting a constitutional amendment that says the state’s high court cannot close public schools if, as with the current instance, a lawsuit is brought against the state for how it manages public education.
“The people of Kansas want us to take off the table the option of ever closing schools,” King said.
No, Sen. King, the people of Kansas want you to fund the darn things.
And if it takes the threat of closing our schools until they are properly maintained then you, not the courts, should bear that responsibility.
THAT THE LAWSUIT was brought against state government in the first place is of profound embarrassment.
School administrators should not have to take legal recourse against their legislators whose responsibility is to fund public schools.
Time and again legislators have hired outside experts to tell them how much money is needed to provide an adequate education for our children.
Time and again legislators have refuted those findings. Why? Because they don’t fit with their desire to cut taxes. Or worse, they are enemies of public education, reserving that privilege only for the elite.
KANSANS are grateful for the Supreme Court’s decision to hold legislators’ feet to the fire to fund our public schools in an equitable manner. With the special session called to begin on June 23 to address the Court’s directive, they have no time to lose.
