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Senate Delays Debate on Resolution Discouraging Lawsuit Date: February 9, 2010
The Kansas Senate has put off debate on a resolution aimed at discouraging a lawsuit by school districts against the state. Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, an Independence Republican, said Tuesday there were questions about the measure. Schmidt says a debate will take place at some future date. The measure targets school districts for using taxpayer dollars to finance litigation aimed at getting more state funding. Earlier this year, 74 districts asked the Kansas Supreme Court to reopen its 2006 decision declaring the school finance formula unconstitutional. Lawmakers responded with a $1 billion increase in state aid for schools. But with the state now facing a $416 million budget gap, some legislators say the money spent on lawsuits could be better spent in classrooms.
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