Kansas lawmakers pass funding hike, school choice proposal
JOHN HANNA, AP Political Writer
May 7, 2021
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1of9Kansas state Rep. Rui Xu, D-Westwood, holds his 18-month-old daughter, Astra, during a break in the House s work, Friday, May 7, 2021, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. Lawmakers are working late as they tried to finish their business for the year.John Hanna/APShow MoreShow Less
2of9Kansas state Rep. Steven Johnson, center, R-Assaria, watches an electronic tally board in the House as it approves budget legislation, Friday, May 7, 2021, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. To his right is Rep. Shannon Francis, R-Liberal, and to his left, Rep. Susan Concannon, R-Beloit, both members of the House Appropriations Committee, along with Johnson.John Hanna/APShow MoreShow Less
GOP drops choice plan in Kansas school funding debate
JOHN HANNA, AP Political Writer
May 6, 2021
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1of5Kansas state Sens. Molly Baumgardner, left, R-Louisburg; Renee Erickson, center, R-Wichita, and Dinah Sykes, D-Lenexa, huddle during talks with the House over the final version of school funding and education policy legislation, Thursday, May 6, 2021, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. Their talks are under way even though Republican legislative leaders and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly have not struck a deal on education issues.John Hanna/APShow MoreShow Less
2of5Kansas state Rep. Kristey Williams, R-Augusta, follows comments from senators during negotiations between the House and Senate over education funding and policy, Thursday, May 6, 2021, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. Williams is the chair of a House committee on education spending and is working to tie funding for public schools to proposals to help some parents send their children
John Hanna, Associated Press
photo by: John Hanna/AP Photo
Kansas state Sens. Molly Baumgardner, left, R-Louisburg; Renee Erickson, center, R-Wichita, and Dinah Sykes, D-Lenexa, huddle during talks with the House over the final version of school funding and education policy legislation, Thursday, May 6, 2021, at the Statehouse in Topeka.
Story updated at 10:13 p.m. Thursday:
TOPEKA Conservative Republicans set aside their most ambitious proposal for helping Kansas parents move their children into private schools so that lawmakers could forge a bipartisan compromise Thursday night on education funding and policy.
Three state senators and three House members drafted the final version of a bill funding public schools as top Republicans in the GOP-controlled Legislature negotiated privately with Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly over the measure. They had yet to strike a deal Thursday night. But House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr., an Olathe Republican, said Kelly and GOP leaders had moved cl
After arrest, Kansas Rep. Mark Samsel loses seat on alma mater s board of trustees Jonathan Shorman, The Kansas City Star
May 4 TOPEKA Kansas Rep. Mark Samsel has lost his seat on the Missouri Valley College board of trustees following his arrest last week after he was alleged to have kneed a student in the crotch.
It s one of the first professional consequences Samsel has faced from videos showing the 36-year-old lawmaker talking to students about God, sex, suicide and giving them permission to kick another student in the balls while substitute teaching at Wellsville secondary school last Wednesday. We are aware of the situation involving Mark Samsel. On April 30, 2021, Mr. Samsel was asked to resign from the Missouri Valley College Board of Trustees, Missouri Valley College, or MVC, said in an unsigned statement on Tuesday.
Kansas governor vetoes most bills in 17 years as Republicans push aggressive agenda Katie Bernard and Jonathan Shorman, The Kansas City Star
Apr. 26 TOPEKA Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly s veto pen moved swiftly last week.
Transgender athlete ban? Civics and financial literacy requirements for high schoolers? Gun safety education for students using NRA materials? All vetoed. Kelly has rejected eight non-budget bills this year, more than any Kansas governor in the past 17 years.
On Monday, she added to her streak, vetoing 18 provisions in the proposed budget. They include items that would give legislative committees more power over allocation of federal relief funds and ban use of state dollars to enforce mask mandates.