On the Road to Sequester

Unless something very unexpected happens, it appears that Friday, March 1st, will see some sizable - though not sufficient - federal budget cuts taking place.  The so-called "sequester" is scheduled to take effect, thereby ushering in $85 billion in cuts. 

This leads me to believe - as I stated in an earlier editorial - that many senators and congressmen secretly support the sequester. These clandestine supporters in congress likely feel as I do.  They don't necessarily like where some of the cuts are being made, but recognize that serious cutbacks are necessary if the federal budget is ever to be balanced. 

I personally will hate to see the slated cuts take place in education and homeland security.  Surely, less deserving programs could have been found.  Still, I realize that austerity measures must be taken, and therefore cuts must be made some place. 

As I've stated many times before, even deeper cuts will need to be made, and more taxes will need to be increased, if the federal budget is ever to be balanced and the national debt approached with an eye toward reduction and eventual elimination.

Kansas Education Funding

Kansas governor Sam Brownback, and his supporters in the state legislature, are attempting a one-two punch at a recent judicial ruling concerning public education funding.  Rather than respect the ruling, and increase funding, the Brownback-backed group has stated they will attempt to change the way judges are selected in the state, as well as change the state constitution in regards to funding K-12 education. They may well be successful, but Kansas students are the ones who will suffer.

During the recent recession, state funding was cut to public schools. In addition, the governor and like-minded legislators have passed tax cuts that will ensure further decreases in educational funding.

The recent ruling, on behalf on a three-judge panel Shawnee county court, stated in response to a lawsuit on behalf of students, parents and various school districts, that the legislature was not funding education sufficiently to met the obligation, stated in the state constitution, to suitably fund schools.  The state Supreme Court has earlier ruled that the state constitution requires legislators to provide for a suitable education for every student. Rather than accept the rulings, the governor and his followers have opted to continue to fight the lawsuit in the courts.  In addition, they will attempt to change the way judges are selected and change the constitution to read “The financing of the educational interests of the state is exclusively a legislative power (and) shall be established solely by the Legislature.”

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/02/03/4046865/attorney-kansas-schools-measure.html#storylink=cpy

This will, apparently in the legislators' minds, remove the Kansas judicial branch from educational funding decisions - something that is doubtful at best.

In my opinion, the governor and the legislature should respect the ruling and fund the education system adequately, as well as stop trying to stack the court and change the constitution. Kansas K-12 education is not funded sufficiently to provide high quality, 21st century instruction and training.