To say that Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer’s first substantive speech to the Legislature was a bust would be going too far.

But not by much.

… On Wednesday afternoon, Colyer laid out an illogical and unworkable path forward. In his first serious policy address, he proposed settling the state’s school funding issue once and for all, boosting support for highways and spending more to safeguard Kansas’ most vulnerable kids — apparently without raising taxes.

Simply put, that’s impossible, and it does nothing to pave the way for lawmakers struggling to craft a solution to the state Supreme Court’s order to adequately fund education. …

As a candidate for governor, he’s focused on the November election — or the crowded August primary — instead of aiming at what every in-the-know Kansan wants, and that’s an end to those court fights over education.

… As he addressed what he called the “elephant in the room,” Colyer missed a prime opportunity to seize the opening that his predecessor, the much-maligned Gov. Sam Brownback, had provided him. In his State of the State address last month, Brownback declared the need to spend $600 million more on public schools to satisfy the courts. …

But Colyer declined to endorse that dollar figure, even though some leaders of both parties already have, or acknowledge the need for higher taxes. That will only make the road ahead more arduous.

Colyer also endorsed a short-sighted proposal requiring adults to work to receive Medicaid assistance. He said such a requirement will encourage “better health outcomes,” but there’s little evidence to support such a ridiculous claim, as most doctors will attest. And he said nothing about expanding Medicaid, a move that’s long overdue.

The new governor played to the GOP primary base by calling for a constitutional amendment on abortion to ensure that state courts don’t get away with striking down restrictions that federal courts approve. …

On the positive side, Colyer’s repeated calls for bipartisanship and a smoother working relationship with the Legislature were welcome after the contentious Brownback years. …

But ultimately, Colyer’s proposition that Kansas can advance without the money to do so amounts to a fantastical fairy tale. Once again, lawmakers will have to seize the day and do the hard work.

— The Kansas City Star