Kansas governor celebrates Black history, seeks support for voting rights, health care agenda

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly asked a crowd in the Capitol rotunda on Monday to work diligently with her to protect voting rights in Kansas against campaigns to diminish the influence of Black people in electoral politics.

“Everyone in this room knows that there is no more sacred right,” the Democratic governor said. “For too long, people of color have been targeted by legislation that attempts to limit their constitutional right to cast a ballot.”

In 2023, the governor vetoed a bill requiring advance voting ballots be delivered to officials on Election Day. That decision retained state law granting a three-day grace period for arrival of late ballots by mail. She signed legislation providing an opportunity for voters to clarify ballot signatures to prevent votes from being discarded and she directed state agencies to provide Kansans with more opportunities to register to vote.

During the 2024 legislative session, Kelly told participants at Black Legislative Day, the task would be to block attempts to undercut progress on voting access. Legislators who have sponsored election reform bills defend that work as necessary to protect integrity of elections.

“It’s despicable, especially when what we should be doing is making it easier, not harder, for Kansans to make their voices heard at the ballot box,” Kelly said.

Kelly urged the audience to be active in debate about sustaining state funding for K-12 public schools, including appropriations to bring expenditures on special education in line with state law. She also recommended the audience oppose shifting more state tax dollars to private schools.

“Public schools are cornerstones of our state — the place where kids from any race, background or creed can gain the education they need to succeed,” she said. “That’s why we need to stand against any efforts to reverse any progress we’ve made, including diverting public dollars to private schools. We must preserve our local community schools. Anything else is not fair to our children, is not a responsible use of taxpayer dollars and is a blow to true equality.”

The governor said she had for six years urged the Legislature to expand eligibility for Medicaid among lower-income, working Kansans. She said expansion, with the federal government paying 90% of added costs, would bring hundreds of millions of dollars annually to the state and improve access to quality care while also creating thousands of jobs.

The Republican-led Legislature has for years repelled attempts by Democrats and moderate Republicans to expand Medicaid to about 150,000 Kansans.

“States that have expanded Medicaid see fewer racial disparities in health coverage,” Kelly said. “Studies show Medicaid expansion reduces maternal fatality rates among Black mothers and reduces disparities in infant health outcomes for Black infants.”

Kelly urged the audience to oppose a bill passed by the House and Senate, but vetoed by the governor, that would impose a single-rate state  income tax of 5.25%. The House is expected to attempt an override of the governor’s veto, which would require support from two-thirds majorities in both chambers.

After concluding her remarks, Kelly signed a proclamation declaring Feb. 19 the start of Black Legislative Month at the Capitol.