TOPEKA — Supporters have pushed a bipartisan plan through the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature aimed at giving lawmakers some oversight of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s response to the novel coronavirus.
Passage came Thursday after supporters cut off a debate over preventing pandemic-related lawsuits. The measure gives legislative leaders a say in how $1.25 billion in federal coronavirus relief funds are spent, limits Kelly’s power to close businesses and provides some protection from lawsuits to businesses, medical providers and nursing homes.
The measure resulted from negotiations between top Republican legislators and Kelly and her staff. She’s pledged to sign it. Kelly vetoed an earlier GOP measure to curb her power.
