Kansas Bill Has Potential to Defund Judiciary

[Panich52]

Brennan Center

Kansas Bill Has Potential to Defund Judiciary

This week, a Kansas House/Senate conference committee agreed to a bill that has the potential to defund the state judiciary, according to Bill Raftery of Gavel to Gavel. http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=82127&qid=5037999 In 2014, after the judiciary ruled that the state’s level of education funding was unconstitutionally low, Gov. Sam Brownback (R) signed into law a bill (HB 2338) that strips the state supreme court of some of its administrative powers. The Brennan Center, along with Irigonegaray & Associates and Kaye Scholer LLP, is representing Judge Larry T. Solomon in a lawsuit http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=82128&qid=5037999 challenging the 2014 law. The bill that came out of conference committee this week (HB 2005) will completely defund the judiciary if HB 2338 is struck down in the pending lawsuit. In a Wall Street Journal http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=82129&qid=5037999 article by Joe Palazzolo, Raftery said, “(t)his is the first time I’m aware of in which funding for the courts is being specifically linked to courts’ decisions.” The article adds, “Kansas Democrats said the legislation was an attempt by Republicans to force the judiciary’s hand.”

[-none]

1. What does the State Constitution have to say about this?

And what happens if the State Surpreme court weighs in and declares it unconstitutional? After the fact?

[hifiguy]

2. How long before Kansas simply grinds to a halt

and implodes.

[KamaAina]

3. What's the matter with Kansas?

$#*! like this.

[world wide wally]

4. At what point do we get to expel Kansas and Texas from the Union?

We must be getting close to it.