GOP Anger Stalls Response to Court Ruling on Kansas Schools

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – Many Republican legislators in Kansas are angry with the state Supreme Court’s latest order on education funding.

They question the justices’ motives and doubt the court will accept any further fixes from GOP lawmakers.

Their views prompted Republican legislative leaders to abandon a push to pass further education funding changes Wednesday before lawmakers formally adjourned their annual session.

GOP Gov. Sam Brownback hasn’t said whether he’ll call a special session. That’s despite the court’s warning that public schools won’t be able to open after June 30 if legislators don’t increase aid to poor districts by then.

Some Republican legislators advocated defying the court. They argued that complying with its order would encourage what Sen. Jeff Melcher, of Leawood, called “bad behavior” by the justices.