KBA President Responds to Editorial Opinion Regarding
Kansas Supreme Court Decision on School Funding

(June 15, 2005) Topeka, KS—KBA President Rich Hayse, Topeka, responds to an editorial opinion made by Wayne Godsey, president and general manager, of KMBC-TV. Mr. Godsey’s editorial aired June 11- 13 on Channel 9 of the Kansas City, Mo., station.

“Contrary to KMBC’s editorial opinion,” Hayse said, “ Kansas citizens—and especially students—are winners in the school finance case. The Supreme Court’s opinion enforces the Kansas constitution and demonstrates again the value of a system of government checks and balances.

“The Kansas Supreme Court didn’t levy any taxes, and it didn’t decide the amount necessary to fund education. That decision was made by the Legislature’s hired consulting firm. As in any case, when a court finds that one party’s rights have been violated, the court can decide how much that party should receive in damages. In this case, the Court looked to the Legislature’s own study to determine the amount necessary to remedy the lack of adequate funding.

“The only evidence in the case proved that the Legislature had failed in its constitutional duty. By requiring the Legislature to meet its obligations to the schools, the courts of Kansas were fulfilling their duty to interpret and enforce the constitution. Every citizen benefits when courts uphold the rule of law.”

The full text of Mr. Godsey’s editorial opinion can be viewed by clicking here.

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KBA President Rich Hayse can be contacted at:
Morris Laing et al.
800 S.W. Jackson St.
Ste. 1310
Topeka, KS 66612
Phone: (785) 232-2662
Fax: (785) 232-9983
E-mail: RHayse@morrislaing.com

About the Kansas Bar Association
The Kansas Bar Association, located in Topeka, Kans., was founded in 1882 as a voluntary association for dedicated legal professionals and has approximately 6,200 members, including lawyers, judges, law students, and legal assistants. The KBA is dedicated to advancing the professionalism and legal skills of lawyers, promoting the interests of the legal profession, providing services to its members, advocating positions on law-related issues, encouraging public understanding of the law, and promoting the effective administration of our system of justice.