Emporia — Late one morning last week, a man walked into The Emporia Gazette asking for an editor.
He could very well have been a citizen looking to place an advertisement or drop off a meeting notice.
But this ordinary-looking businessman was on a mission. It was Gov. Bill Graves wanting to talk to an editor about raising taxes for public schools.
The scene was repeated from Pittsburg to Hays and places in between. Graves hit the road by himself to chat with editors and reporters about his plan to raise $112 million plan for education by raising the sales and motor fuels taxes.
Graves unveiled the plan March 13, saying that what he outlined in his State of the State address was not good enough. Editors are listening, reporting the visits as news, then opining about the merits.
The governor hopes to build public support for his plan and is counting on editorials as a springboard to votes.
Legislators are expected to take up several school finance plans this week for consideration, including the House's "Tools for Tots" package, which directs $29.4 million at programs through third grade to improve reading, writing and math skills.
Graves is getting the response he sought. The editorials suggest that most of their writers view themselves as friends of education and agree that more should be done for Kansas schools.
John D. Montgomery of the Hays Daily News wrote: "Graves is a practical governor, and this may be all the change Kansas could expect to accomplish in the remaining weeks of this legislative session. But, still, it is disappointing that the plan was not stunning."
Montgomery added: "The new money for education is fine, but Kansas has yet to sort out the distribution of state money to school districts so that anyone has any confidence that the pie is being sliced equitably.
"Disagreement among legislators and with emotions running over money for education, Kansans were crying for a plan, any plan, from the governor. They got it. He stepped in to fill the void in leadership on this issue."
Others, like the Lawrence Journal-World, think Graves needs to explore all revenue streams.
"Probably no idea would add more votes than a proposal to raise school funding without raising sales and motor fuels taxes. The governor has some good ideas about how to spend additional public school funds, but his plans on how to raise that money deserve another look.
"A more creative approach and perhaps an effort to correct some tax oversights may produce a better funding plan for Kansas taxpayers."
The Garden City Telegram said Graves should not be underestimated as a statesman.
"He's proven over the past seven years in office an ability to forge meaningful compromises, so there's little doubt he'll be able to do it again.
"This is the one issue in which the debate shouldn't be political. If lawmakers can table politics for what's right for Kansas, Kansas children will benefit."
House Speaker Kent Glasscock, R-Manhattan, said legislators will read the clips, but that they are just one of several factors at play.
"Editorial writers across the state are valued by legislators. But we don't vote all the time like they would have us vote," Glasscock said. "Are members looking with interest to editorial responses in their home districts? Yes. Will that drive them to make decisions exclusively? No.
"In the end they're going to do what they think is right and that's what they ought to do."
But, as Pat Kelley at The Emporia Gazette reminded legislators, tough decisions go with being elected.
"Graves said that the schools need the money and that he would have been shirking his duty if he hadn't proposed the tax increase.
"He's right, and the Legislature will be wrong if it does not give the plan the consideration it deserves."
The overwhelming support demonstrated Friday for the House plan is not lost on editors, as Ann Charles of the Parsons Sun noted:
"There is proof that the Democrats and Republicans can work together. The solution now depends upon them acknowledging that education reform and funding isn't about them, but about the children of the state. They must focus exclusively on that thought to do what must be done."
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