Topeka ? Conservatives responded angrily Wednesday to the Kansas Supreme Court order that brought lawmakers into a special legislative session to increase school funding.

On the first day of the first overtime session in Kansas in 16 years, Sen. Kay O’Connor, R-Olathe, said the “goofy court” was “out of line” and needed to be “put in its place.”

“This thing just smacks of nonsense. How do the courts try to order the Legislature around?” she asked.

O’Connor’s comments echoed those of other conservatives as they tried to defeat a $161 million education bill in the Senate that would increase school funding and provide $27 million in local property tax relief to low-wealth school districts.

Supporters said the measure could be supported by growing tax receipts, and possibly expanded casino gambling, but conservatives said the spending plan would increase pressure to adopt a statewide tax increase.

Conservatives introduced several bills and proposed constitutional amendments to weaken the judiciary, and they had a rally condemning the six-member state Supreme Court.

The protest featured a display of coffee mugs, with signs that said “Kansas Tea Party.” A singer criticized the court with a song sung to the tune of the Beatles’ “Oh! Darling,” and Rep. Mike Kiegerl, R-Olathe, who had open-heart surgery nine days ago, removed his oxygen tubes to tell the cheering crowd, “We are not undertaxed, and our schools are not underfunded.”

Dick Powers, a teacher from Eudora, holds a sign during the KNEA news conference Wednesday at the Statehouse in Topeka. Teachers from all over the state met to talk with legislators on the first day of the special legislative session.

But those in favor of obeying the court order also mobilized.

The Kansas National Education Assn. and about 60 teachers, including a group from Lawrence, had a news conference and met with legislators.

Deena Burnett, who will teach at West Junior High in the next school year, urged legislators to increase funding.

“It’s evident we have one of the premier education systems in the entire United States. We can’t continue to shortchange it,” Burnett said.

Teachers lobbying

The Kansas Supreme Court ruled that the $2.8 billion school finance system was unconstitutional because it provided an inadequate level of funding for the state’s 450,000 students, and particularly shortchanged minority and disabled students.

On June 3, the court ordered the Legislature to come up with $143 million more for schools by July 1, and threatened to impose an additional $568 million increase next year.

On Wednesday, teachers fanned out across the Capitol as the Legislature convened the special session.

“Do the right thing,” Kansas NEA President Christy Levings said. “We need solid, stable funding for our schools.”

She said Kansas teacher salaries were 44th in the nation, while the state routinely ranks in the top 10 states in student performance.

Janet Reeder, a librarian at Pinckney School, said low salaries for teachers were driving many out of the profession.

“One of my concerns is the fleeing of quality teachers from our school district in search of better salaries,” she said.

Jane Scarffe, a special education teacher at Schwegler School, said tight budgets had led to a loss of programs and an increase in fees paid by students for extracurricular activities.

“Now kids have to pay for all kinds of activities. This will hurt children who have fewer resources,” she said.

The teachers said the Legislature needed to abide by the court’s decision, and they spoke in favor of the plan before the Senate.

Senators debating

The plan before the Senate would increase school funding by approximately $134 million and reduce property taxes in low-wealth districts by $27 million. The Lawrence school district would see an increase of $4.6 million in state aid, according to the state education department.

Conservatives criticized Senate leaders for putting the plan before the full Senate, saying that working on it would embolden the court to take over other legislative duties.

“I have real concerns that six members of the Supreme Court have provided a very specific remedy, that I, frankly, firmly believe is unconstitutional,” Sen. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler, said.

Debra Wilson, Lawrence, stands outside the Statehouse Wednesday in Topeka, along with her sign urging lawmakers to adequately fund public schools.

Others said the property tax reduction was simply a political ploy for votes during an election, and the pricetag would force expansion of gambling.

“This is just to grease the skids for gambling,” Sen. Jim Barnett, R-Emporia, said.

But Sen. Jean Schodorf, R-Wichita, who helped craft the bill said the Legislature had a duty to comply with the court order and not jeopardize the opening of schools in August.

“This is the first step in trying to get through the session,” she said.

And other supporters said the bill represented a compromise between competing interests that include, rural, urban, large, and small school districts.

“This bill reflects a great deal of negotiation and compromise,” Sen. John Vratil, R-Leawood, said. “If we start amending this bill on the floor of the Senate, we will destroy that compromise.”

Conservatives managed to block an attempt to allow the Senate to vote on the bill Wednesday, so a vote is expected today.