The Kansas Senate has agreed to a school funding plan aimed at ending a long-running lawsuit over education spending. It’s a rare example of Republicans going along with Democratic Governor Laura Kelly.
Governor Kelly proposed essentially renewing a plan the Kansas Supreme Court ruled last year was close to adequate. Based on calculations from the Department of Education, the proposal would add $90 million more a year to account for inflation.
It passed the Senate on a 32-8 vote and is headed to the House. Republican Senator Molly Baumgardner calls the plan reasonable.
“In my heart, I believe that Senate Bill 142 is what the courts have said we should do," she said.
But the House is taking a different approach and reconsidering some of the school funding increases already in state law.
Stephen Koranda has more: