At about $45,000 a day, it was a good thing the special session of the Kansas Legislature did not extend beyond Friday night.
Of course, you could say they should have taken care of business during the regular 90-day session. But in the spirit of generosity, let’s commend our elected representatives for not dragging it out as long as last year’s session, which was the longest in state history at 114 days.
It was only earlier this year that State Sen. Jeff King (R-Independence) proposed that in the off-budget years legislators should have a condensed session of 60 days.
This year’s proved that’s most likely unfeasible.
The news that grabs all the headlines is that Kansas’s public schools will remain open because legislators agreed to send more money the way of poorer school districts such as Iola’s, so we are not at a distinct disadvantage to wealthier districts.
Moderate Republicans and Democrats worked together to craft the legislation, but only after the conservative Republican leadership had designed a proposal that would further reduce school spending by $13 million. Have they no shame?
Rep. John Rubin, R-Shawnee, was particularly upset with the idea of compromise, saying the Legislature capitulated to the whims of the Kansas Supreme Court.
Which leads to the second headline of the day: “Constitutional amendment to hog-tie Supreme Court fails.”
Sen. King, again, was instrumental in trying to rewrite the Kansas Constitution so that it would limit the powers of the state supreme court. King, and others who would like to see the state back away from funding public education, wanted it written that in such battles over school finance the high court could not order public schools closed if legislators failed to do their constitutional duty to keep them adequately and equitably funded.
Voting on the proposal was split along ideological lines — ultra-conservatives against moderates and Democrats. Our Sen. Caryn Tyson, R-Parker, was in King’s camp.
IT’S WITH relief that the special session ended quickly and positively.
Here’s to hoping that spirit of compromise between moderates and Democrats will only get stronger. We can help that happen in the Aug. 2 primary election by booting out ultra-conservatives.
— Susan Lynn
