Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Oregon Supreme Court has refused to force the state Legislature to fully fund schools.  The court issued a unanimous opinion Friday in a lawsuit brought by more than a dozen school districts.

The Court agreed that lawmakers haven’t lived up to a Constitutional requirement to adequately fund education.  But the ruling made it clear that the Court does not have the authority to force the Legislature to spend more.  

Paul Kelly is with the group that brought the lawsuit.  He says the ruling means that lawmakers have a moral -- if not a legal -- obligation to give more money to schools:

Paul Kelly: “If, as a legislator, my Supreme Court just told me in no uncertain terms, that the voters have imposed a Constitutional obligation on me as a legislator to fully fund the quality goals of education established by law, I would feel morally and principally bound to find a way to do that.” 

The ruling comes as the Legislature is dealing with a dramatic drop in revenue.  That’s expected to lead to further cuts to education funding.