The Kansas Supreme Court has ordered the state legislature to increase school funding by $285 million by July 1st.

In a landmark ruling, a unanimous Kansas Supreme Court on Friday ordered state lawmakers to increase school funding by $285 million by July 1, a decision that will force a special legislative session and a possible tax increase.

The court expressed urgency in getting the Legislature to act, saying “ ... we cannot continue to ask current Kansas students to ‘be patient.’ The time for education is now.”

The decision rocked Kansas politics and was a blow to Republicans who control the Legislature with large majorities and had put together the school finance plan that the court dissected.

“Today, the Legislature’s inability to fulfill its obligation to Kansas students has finally come home to roost,” said Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat.

Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, said he was shocked by the ruling, and that it could result in tax increases, budget cuts, expanded gambling, or any combination.

I'd love for someone to show me where the Kansas state constitution gives the court the authority to order legislation. Perhaps they felt that since the Mass. courts did that last year, they could do it, too. If this keeps up, why bother having legislatures at all? Just let the courts make up the laws as they see fit.

Personally, since the legislature apparently has to come up with the money, I'd go with the budget cut route first, starting with the budget of the Kansas Supreme Court. Why should the taxpayers always be the first to feel the pain when it comes to having to give up money?