Kansas governor has plan on rural teachers, answers critics

Republican Gov. Sam Brownback outlined a plan Wednesday for a scholarship program to attract new teachers to rural Kansas schools and suggested GOP legislators aren't being constructive in their criticism of how he's handled the state's budget woes.

Budget proposals in January will include the new teacher scholarship program — called "TeachersKan" — and initiatives to attract doctors and dental services to underserved rural areas, Brownback said. As for financing them, he said he'll find the money despite a projected shortfall of more than $345 million in the state's current budget and gaps in funding for existing programs totaling $1.1 billion through June 2019.

The governor also rejected criticism for not imposing budget cuts ahead of the legislative session, which starts in January. Senate President Susan Wagle, a Wichita Republican, said earlier this week that lawmakers are concerned Brownback is "looking for a ticket to D.C.," or a position in President-elect Donald Trump's administration.

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