TOPEKA — A recent ruling by a three-judge panel that state funding levels for public schools is unconstitutional has been put on hold by the Kansas Supreme Court. At the request of Gov. Sam Brownback and Attorney General Derek Schmidt, the high court ordered an effort at mediation to resolve the dispute before it goes to court in October.
Former federal appeals judge Deanell Tacha and Topeka attorney James Steven Pigg were named mediators. House Democratic leader Paul Davis, Lawrence, filed a motion to intervene in the mediation effort. “…“At the end of the day, the only branch of government that can respond to the court’s ruling is the Legislature,” Davis said. “Governor Brownback is not a party to the case. As he said in his State of the State address, the Legislature has the ‘power of the purse.’ This is why the Legislature needs to be involved in these discussions.” Top Republican legislators have said they don’t expect to take part. However, one of the attorneys for schools and students suing the state said that legislators will have to approve any deal and without any leaders involved, the mediation effort will fail.
Wednesday, March 13, 6 a.m.
