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NewsSince last month much has happened nationally as well as locally. Several League members met with our legislators to discussthe school funding report that the legislative leadership contracted a study to be done. I think they expected the study would support their position but instead showed in order to increase graduation rates and proficiency in reading and math that Kansas needed to be spending $1.2 million dollars not the $650,000 more proposed.We will need to continue to pay attention to deliberations as current news suggests the legislature is considering an increase which is more than what was originally proposed but not as generous as the Courts might favor.
At the legislature we also got to listen to the debate and see the vote on a Senate proposal to approve a resolu- tion making application to the Congress of the US supporting a national Constitutional Convention.The support- ers suggest the convention will draft amendments that impose limits on the federal government. There were many who spoke in opposition but the two most powerful arguments stated that a Constitutional Convention opens the door to reworking the entire document and that avenue already exist in the Constitution to propose an amendment.
The state league and our local league were vocal about gun measures.I am certainly proud of our youth - those in Florida who sparked a national discussion and rally and those here in Lawrence who participated in a walk out of school for 17 minutes and also inspired a March and Rally in South Park. Our letter to the editor highlighted the League position that the proliferation of guns is a health and safety threat.
I want to highlight our upcoming Annual Meeting. It will be Sunday, April 29 from 12:30 to 3:30 pm at Marceli’s. Some of the items for the business meeting are election of the board and approval of the budget.But the best reason to attend is to hear Dr. Diana Carlin who will speak about Kansas Suffragettes. We have a great history in Kansas going back to 1861 and women in Lawrence were important participants in making history.