Kansas House Rejects Ban on School Litigation

(AP) – The Kansas House has rejected a proposed amendment to the state constitution that sought to clarify that only the Legislature can decide how to appropriate state money.

The House voted 79-44 on Wednesday, failing to reach the required 84 votes to change the constitution. Senators had not yet considered the proposal and no further action will be taken this session.

The change would have modified the Kansas Constitution to state clearly that only the Legislature – not the judicial or executive branches – can appropriate money.

Supporters say the change is necessary to prevent the Kansas Supreme Court from ordering legislators to increase state funding on programs, in particular school funding. A 2005 court ruling forced legislators to increase school funding by nearly $1 billion.