Governor Brownback speaking at an event in Topeka. (Photo by Stephen Koranda)Republican Governor Sam Brownback says he’ll push for more Kansans to earn higher education degrees and technical certificates if he’s reelected. At an event today (MON), Brownback touted education funding increases directed toward helping students earn technical degrees.
“The world isn’t getting less complicated and it isn't getting less technical. It’s getting more complicated and more technical, and you need advanced education,” says Brownback.
Brownback also took a shot at his Democratic opponent, state Representative Paul Davis from Lawrence. Brownback says Davis voted against a plan to increase education funding by more than $100 million earlier this year. Davis says he voted against the plan because it included controversial policy changes mixed in with the funding.
Also running for governor is Libertarian Keen Umbehr.
====================
(VERSION TWO)
Republican Kansas Governor Sam Brownback has unveiled some education goals he’ll push for if he’s reelected to a second term in office. Brownback says he’ll aim for 60 percent of Kansas adults to have a college degree or technical certificate. As KPR’s Stephen Koranda reports, the events in Topeka and the Kansas City area also touched off a clash over education funding.
(SCRIPT)
Brownback touted funding increases during his time in office, specifically money targeted at technical education programs.
“You need a technical skill, you need a degree. You need that and our workforce needs that. They need it for themselves and we need it for Kansas,” says Brownback.
But he also took the chance to take a shot at his Democratic challenger, state Representative Paul Davis from Lawrence. He says Davis voted against a bill that added more than $100 million in education funding in response to a state Supreme Court ruling.
“Paul Davis talks about it and votes against putting money in education. That's wrong,” says Brownback.
Davis says he voted for an earlier version of the bill, but voted against the final product because it contained controversial policy changes. Davis points out that some other Statehouse Republicans voted against the bill. Davis also challenged Brownback’s claims over education funding, pointing out that some types of school spending faced cuts early in Brownback’s term.
Also running for governor is Libertarian Keen Umbehr.