Substantial progress on the launch of the state’s recovery office is anticipated in the coming days according to Governor Laura Kelly.
During her regular news briefing Monday afternoon, Governor Kelly announced the executive committee of the state’s Strengthening People And Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) task force will be convening for its first meeting Tuesday.
Governor Kelly went on to state that discussions regarding potential first-round allocations of CARES act funds will take place. The governor says this will include initial funding to localities to assist with COVID-19 health-related expenses.
The SPARK task force was established in mid-May with the main focus of “getting Kansans back to work” and rejuvenating the state economy.
Separately Tuesday, Governor Kelly briefly spoke on the special legislative session set for Jun. 3 announced last week. Governor Kelly reiterated she did not take the decision to call the session lightly but that it was the only “viable option to ensure that Kansas preserves its ability to act swiftly and decisively” as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
Among many reasons for the special session chief among them was the governor’s veto of House bill 20-54 which Governor Kelly has referred to as a “complex bill” which she believes would have significantly impacted the state’s ability to manage the COVID-19 impact on the local economy.
While Kelly says we still have a “long way to go” in this process, she is feeling more optimistic that a solution will be found sooner rather than later. Kelly says she is feeling encouragement as lines of communication have “reopened” on both sides of the aisle and there appears to be a “good faith effort on both sides.”
Governor Kelly is scheduled to hold her next news briefing at 2 pm Wednesday. You can listen in to the news conference on KVOE 1400 am, 96.9 fm and KVOE.com.
