TOPEKA ? House Speaker Doug Mays today said he won’t apologize for remarks he made about Alan Rupe, the lead attorney for schools that have successfully sued the state over school finance.

“I don’t apologize one bit,” Mays, R-Topeka, said. But, he added, “I’m sorry I used what some may consider a cuss word.”

On Thursday, Rupe criticized as inadequate a three-year, $500 million school finance plan that was introduced in the House.

Mays, who said he supports the plan, responded, telling the Topeka Capital-Journal, “Alan Rupe can shove it up his ass. He’s just another greedy lawyer trying to make millions off the schoolchildren of the state.”

Today, Mays was unapologetic. “I lost my temper and said what I was feeling. I don’t need to expound on it anymore. It speaks for itself,” he said.

Rupe said he wouldn’t ask for an apology but said Mays needs to focus on the problems of school finance.

“It’s important to keep focused on what the issues are. We can certainly disagree but not be disagreeable.

“Our focus from Day 1 is Kansas kids that aren’t getting an adequate and equitable education,” Rupe said.

Senate Democratic Leader Anthony Hensley of Topeka said he was disappointed in Mays’ remarks.

Of Rupe, Hensley said, “He’s only representing his clients; clients who happen to have a pretty strong case.”

The Kansas Supreme Court has ruled the school finance system unconstitutional because it shortchanges all student, especially those from low-wealth districts.