The Kansas legislature passed a Republican rescission bill that would cut $28 million from Kansas schools in fiscal year 2009, ending June 30th. The budget cuts would force schools across Kansas to institute extreme cost-saving measures, including teacher layoffs and reducing student activities. Kansans Democratic Party Executive Director Kenny Johnston released the following statement in reaction to the passage of the budget rescission bill:

“As Kansans, we put the interests of our children first – even in times of hardship. Yet Republicans in the legislature did exactly the opposite by putting our children’s future on the chopping block when the going got tough. “Because of Republicans in the legislature, parents across Kansas will be forced to look their children in the eye and explain why their favorite teacher stopped coming to school.”