To the editor:

Freedom of speech is a wonderful thing. It allows having and expressing an opinion. An opinion wouldn’t count for much if it couldn’t be expressed freely. That freedom is guaranteed by a constitution, and a Supreme Court protects it. We all cherish that protection, especially from the lawmakers (the legislatures) and the law enforcers (the executive branch) when they occasionally forget the freedom exists.

Concerning the current school finance melodrama, I’m disappointed by the spreading of inaccurate facts (See Rich Lorenzo’s June 16 letter to the editor).

The Kansas Constitution states, Art. 6, Sect. 7: “The Legislature shall make suitable provision for finance of the educational interests of the State.” The only professional “study” of the cost of educating a student, rejected by the legislature who commissioned it, found woeful inadequacies.

Who has the final authority to determine if the Kansas Constitutional requirement is met? The same Supreme Court that protects other constitutional rights.

Upon observing proof that funding for some students was $5,655.95 and for others was $16,968.49, a distinction without a rational basis and without cost study, I conclude the decision of the body sworn to interpret the constitution is, based on the facts, reasonable. Just think. If only the legislators can determine if they meet a constitutional requirement, then I guess it follows that they can define constitutional free speech also.

Ed Collister,

Lawrence