Category: Kansas state government
-
Regarding School Finance from Senator Karin Brownlee
What is the higher priority? Should the Legislature send $143 million more to schools or preserve the form of government our forefathers carefully designed over two hundred years ago? The separation of powers doctrine is fundamental to maintaining our free society because it maintains a balance of powers with the judiciary unable to control the…
-
Beneath the Radar
Beneath the Radarby Richard Nadler On June 3, the Supreme Court of Kansas issued a ruling requiring the state legislature to appropriate an additional $853 million per year to Kansas schools, K-12. The basis of the decision, said a unanimous court, was a clause in the Kansas Constitution: “The legislature shall make suitable provision for…
-
Wearing a Black Robe to Make Sausage
Wearing a Black Robe to Make Sausageby Bob L. CorkinsApril 22, 2005 Want to create new laws without legislators? Then watch the Kansas Supreme Court for the next few weeks to see how it’s done. Like pride for trophies on a mantle, trial lawyers boast of cases where they convinced a court to declare the…
-
More from Rep. Frank Miller
A press release from Kansas House Member Frank Miller, Republican from Independence. Further Regarding The Sebelius Court OrderJune 9, 2005 Thank you for your many responses to my last press release. I appreciate getting both those that agree with me as well as those that disagree with me. The responses are running about half agree…
-
Kansas Supreme Court Bypasses Voters Right to Representation
Following is a press release from Kansas House Member Frank Miller, Republican from Independence. I think he assesses the situation accurately. Kansas Supreme Court By-Passes Voters Right to Representation I am shocked and very alarmed that the Kansas Supreme Court by a unanimous decision would so boldly by-pass the authority of the legislature and directly…
-
Disgraceful decision will hurt Kansas
The Kansas Supreme Court’s school finance decision is deeply flawed both in substance and in procedure. This five page judicial edict (www.kscourts.org see case no. 92,032) announced January 3 is designed to pressure the legislature into voting for more spending for public schools without saying by how much. Many tax and spend advocates are now…
-
Ethics Require Two Recusals In School Finance Lawsuit
Would you want to go to court and face a judge who used to serve as legal counsel for your courtroom opponent? That is one of the ethics challenges facing the state in trying to fight off the $1 billion school finance lawsuit in front of the Kansas Supreme Court. This court heard oral arguments…
-
What’s the Matter with Kansas?
By Alan Cobb, State Director of Americans For Prosperity, Kansas Many would describe that much of Kansas is in decline. Over 75 percent of the counties in Kansas have lost population just since 2000. Over half of Kansas’ counties have fewer residents today than 1900. Recently, the Associated Press reported that Kansas is in real…
-
Ethics Require Recusal in School Finance Lawsuit
The Kansas Supreme Court’s second canon of rules requires that its members, “shall respect and comply with the law and shall act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.” This rule goes on to state, “A judge shall not allow family, social, political or…
-
The Decline of Kansas Documented By Census
By Karl Peterjohn, Kansas Taxpayers Network Kansas is in a decline. This state is shrinking relative to its peers in the other 49 states. However, some might say, and with some degree of accuracy, that this trend is nothing new. It is clear that the size and impact of this decline is likely to shape…
-
Kansas Faces Challenges for Growth
By Alan Cobb, Americans For Prosperity Kansas State Director Many would describe that much of rural Kansas is in decline. Nearly 60 percent of the counties in Kansas have lost population just since 1990. Over half of Kansas’ counties have fewer residents today than 1900. Just this week the Associated Press reported that stated Kansas…
-
Democrats dominate in top Kansas court
There are three numbers that everyone at the statehouse knows who follows Kansas government: 63, 21, and one. You must have 63 votes to pass a bill out of the Kansas House of Representatives, 21 votes to pass a bill out of the Kansas Senate, and the governor’s signature to turn a bill into law.