Though it is unclear how much Gov. Sam Brownback and the Kansas House value public education, area citizens are leaving no doubt. Mulvane voters approved a $13.4 million school bond last week with a more than 2-1 majority. Last month Derby voters approved a $66.6 million bond issue with a 3-1 majority. Opinion polls also show that Kansans would favor restoring education funding rather than cutting taxes.
Last week the Kansas House again rejected an attempt to repeal the 2004 law that enables some children of undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates at public colleges and universities. To their credit, lawmakers opted not to interfere with the efforts of the 500 students who are making use the law and advancing their educational goals. During the lengthy debate, the unflinching advocate for those students was Rep. Mario Goico, R-Wichita, who peppered the repeal sponsor with questions and spoke movingly of having had no choice when he was sent by his parents to the U.S. from Cuba as a 15-year-old. Though he was able to gain refugee status from the State Department and stay legally, the kids helped by the Kansas law have no such option. As he said, “the Department of State has been absent without leave now for 40 years.”
It was a long time in coming, but the neglected south side of Wichita won big with Wednesday’s 3-2 vote by the Sedgwick County Commission to support a tax-increment financing district for developer Jay Maxwell’s Southfork project. TIF districts carry risk and need to be carefully vetted. But Southfork passed muster at the city and county governments for a reason – it will transform 72 acres near I-135 and 47th Street South, including land now in a floodplain, and put a mix of retail and office space, hotels and restaurants in a part of town overdue for economic development.
“If you love KS & value education, workers, & jobs. Call your legislator and tell them to vote NO right now.” – Working Kansas Alliance, on Twitter, as the House was voting on the tax-cut bill
“If you love your state and want economic opportunities for your children, call your legislator and ask them to vote yes.” – Alan Cobb of Americans for Prosperity, on Twitter
“You need to go out on the Internet and educate yourself.” – Rep. Charlotte O’Hara, R-Overland Park, urging colleagues to pass the resolution condemning the United Nations Agenda 21
“Stupid is as stupid does.” – Rep. Mike Slattery, D-Mission, quoting the movie “Forrest Gump” in condemning the Agenda 21 debate as “wasteful”
“If it were Fred Brown Hospital, I think it would take on a different character.” – Rep. Gene Suellentrop, R-Wichita, on how loyalty to the University of Kansas may explain why lawmakers opposed his amendment to consider selling the KU Hospital in Kansas City, Kan.
“It would make about as much sense to sell the WSU baseball team.” – Rep. Don Hineman, R-Dighton, on selling KU Hospital
“Dear Ks House colleagues, please don’t sell the University of Kansas Hospital until I get out of here!!!” – Rep. Trent LeDoux, R-Holton, tweeting after surgery
