So the Governor Wants to Hear from Kansans on Education Funding...

Governor Sam Brownback has indicated that he wants to hear from Kansans what they think about our state’s education funding, specifically with regards to a new funding formula. While I’m skeptical that he truly wants to hear what most Kansans seem to be saying with regards to education funding and his tax policies, I nevertheless encourage all Kansans to do so.

So Governor Brownback, here’s what I briefly think. First, eliminate the reckless tax cuts you’ve made (both the business and personal income tax cuts) so that we can begin to recover from the absolute fiscal mess you’ve created for our state. Second, reinstate the previous public education funding system. Third, fully fund it. That’s it in a nutshell. Now if you really want to see the details of what I’ve previously written in regards to public education funding, other public education issues in general, as well as aspects of our state’s governing processes/procedures, then I would refer you to the following:

• Cherry Picking Data, Tricksters & the Assault on KansasPublic Education 

• The Trap of False Equivalency in the Assault on KansasPublic Education 

• The Unique Insanity of Teacher Merit Pay 

• The Insanity Continues: Teacher Merit Pay Follow Up 

• Student Success Committee Bonding Recommendations Anything But Efficient 

• From Hunter-Gatherers to the Kansas Legislature: The Powerof Transparency 

• Sam Brownback, America’s worst governor: He’s gutted Kansaswith an ultraconservative, religious agenda — and it’s getting worse 

• Sam Brownback’s Kansas is still a nightmare: The state’slatest ultra-conservative war may be its worst yet 

• Sam Brownback declares war on Kansas: This is how extremistsgut a state — and democracy 

• Sam Brownback gutted Kansas: How America’s worst governorand an ultra-conservative ideology wrecked an entire state 

• Sneaking the Last Doughnut: The Lack of PerceivedAccountability among Kansas Ultraconservative Legislators  

• You’ve Got Skin in the Game, So Get Out and Vote 

Relative to the four Salon pieces, while I stand by their content I would have preferred titles that weren’t quite so sensational from a clickbait standpoint. But I didn’t have any say in the matter. Of course my regret hinges on the governor or any of his staff actually reading these, which I admit to being skeptical of. But don’t let my skepticism deter you from speaking your own mind. Whether that’s in the potential town hall meetings or public forums that may end up occurring as a result of this, or just contacting his office via phone, email or letter, I hope he's flooded with pro-public education responses.