TOPEKA — New Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is telling Kansas legislators that the state faces an emergency in its child welfare system and is “completely unprepared” for the next national economic downturn.
Kelly outlined an agenda Wednesday evening for the Republican-dominated Legislature that includes increased spending on public schools and expanding the state’s Medicaid health coverage for the needy. She is on a collision course with top Republicans because they want to cut state income taxes.
Kelly spent nearly six minutes of her 37-minute State of the State address Wednesday night attempting to make a case that expanding Medicaid will help Kansas families and rural hospitals and communities. She promised to have a plan drafted before the end of January.
But top Republican lawmakers said nothing in her speech made them rethink their opposition. They continue to view Medicaid expansion as too costly to the state, even after the federal government covers the bulk of the expense.
She also told lawmakers that she will honor her pledge to balance the budget without raising taxes. GOP legislative leaders said Wednesday night after Kelly’s State of the State address that they want to hold Kelly to her promise.
But they also said that includes adjusting state income tax laws so that Kansas residents aren’t forced to pay more to the state because of federal tax changes at the end of 2017.
House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr. said inaction means some Kansans will pay more.
Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle contends Kelly is setting a course for the state that will “squander our fiscal recovery.”
She also said Kelly wants to merely “surrender to the edicts” of the Kansas Supreme Court in an education funding lawsuit.
Kelly didn’t mention the issue in her address. She said afterward that she wouldn’t say whether she’d veto a tax bill until she saw the legislation.
Kelly’s tough tone was the most notable element of her address to a joint session of the House and Senate. She declared, “I was elected to rebuild our state.”
