Sebelius: Kansas Board of Education is an embarrassment
The Associated Press
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Republican gubernatorial challenger Jim Barnett says he wants to see a change in how Kansas Supreme Court justices are appointed, but Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius said she favors the current system.
The two candidates debated Monday at a Rotary Club meeting in Wichita, during which Barnett argued that having attorneys involved in the Supreme Court nominating process creates a conflict of interest.
A nine-member nominating commission, five of whom are attorneys, screens applications from prospective justices and picks three finalists. The final choice then rests with the governor.
“I really have concerns the current process has resulted in a Kansas Supreme Court that does not reflect the values of Kansans,” Barnett said.
Barnett also criticized some Supreme Court decisions, including a 2005 ruling on the constitutionality of the state’s school financing system that forced legislators to increase spending. He said that decision led to the court essentially appropriating money.
Barnett proposed a system that mirrors the federal system, in which the governor would appoint justices and the Senate would confirm them, with no nominating commission.
But Sebelius noted that the process was put in place in Kansas nearly 50 years ago to correct what was seen as an overly political system.
Justices used to be elected to six-year terms, but voters changed the system in response to what became known as “the Triple Play.”
In January 1957, after Chief Justice William Smith had retired, Gov. Fred Hall, one of his protégés, resigned. His successor as governor, John McCuish, made Hall’s appointment to the court his first major act of his few days in office. Hall, seeking a second term as governor, had lost his GOP primary.
Sebelius, who is seeking a second term, said it would be dangerous to change the selection process because people don’t like the court’s decisions.
“I think the process has served us very well and I don’t know that anybody can watch what happened in Washington, D.C., with the nomination of justices and think that somehow that is not a political process,” she said.
The candidates also disagree on whether the State Board of Education should retain its power of education policy, with Sebelius saying again Monday that she would support a change.
The governor said the current school board isn’t accountable to taxpayers, parents and business leaders. Its 10 members are elected and pick a commissioner to run the Department of Education.
“Frankly it has become somewhat of an embarrassment as I travel across the country. People often know about the work of our school board — and they don’t think very highly about it. It is not very good economic development,” she said. “I’d like to see a school board that works more closely with the Legislature.”
Barnett, a state senator from Emporia, said he would make some changes to the board, including giving it an odd rather than even number of members to avoid tie votes. But he said he supports the current system and does not want to disenfranchise Kansans any further on the issue of education.
“I do not support taking the right to vote away from people, and to me this is a fundamental issue,” Barnett said. “We may or may not like some of the discussions, some of the decisions, but the system works.”
Sebelius has criticized the Board of Education’s conservative majority for drafting science standards last year seen as anti-evolution.
Sebelius has said she will propose a constitutional amendment to allow the governor to appoint a secretary to oversee the Department of Education and make the 10-member board advisory.
The two candidates also split on immigration and voting.
Sebelius said the current system already requires voter registration, at which time the person must show proof of residency and a photo identification. She said there is no indication of voter fraud in Kansas by illegal immigrants.
Barnett said he supported having people show proof of citizenship and a photo identification each time they vote. Such a law was struck down as unconstitutional by Missouri’s Supreme Court.
On the Net:
Barnett campaign: http://www.barnettforgovernor.com
Sebelius campaign: http://www.ksgovernor.com
JD_number_07 (anonymous) says...
The schools felt they needed more funds to properly educate our children. Barnett didn't want to give it to them. The KS Supreme Court agreed with the schools, now Barnett wants to take revenge on the Supreme Court and make it so Justice who make unpopular (with Barnett) decisions are less likely to on the court. Why does Barnett hate our children?
October 25, 2006 at 7:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
murchins (anonymous) says...
Why would someone who was "called" to be a physician want to give up his time for healing people to be a politician? Either you want to heal the sick or you don't--how are his patients going to get the care and attention they need if Dr. Barnett has the weight of the state on his shoulders? I haven't heard anything from him about Sebelius except hateful words and derision--is that the quality of communication we should expect? Mr. "my way or the highway" - haven't we had enough of that in the Presidency? I want a consensus builder, a modern thinker, a "whole picture" person like Sebelius.
October 27, 2006 at 11:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )