When presented with a chance to slow down the coronavirus, Governor Laura Kelly says the state missed its opportunity.
Several weeks ago, the governor said the state’s response was at a “make-it-or-break-it” period. During her weekly news conference Monday, the governor says “it appears we did not make it.” She cited the increased number of cases and the addition of nearly 100 deaths over the past month. She also mentioned the opening of schools and higher education, the resumption of sports, the ongoing opening of certain businesses and the advent of flu season. And she criticized the Republican response to her Ad Astra recovery plan and other policy goals for setting up what she called a “patchwork” of response methods seen across Kansas.
Republicans representing Lyon County districts in the Legislature have not commented.
Kelly says the ongoing increase in cases and deaths comes before the US Supreme Court will hear a case to repeal the Affordable Care Act on Nov. 10. She predicts dire consequences for those insured under the ACA if that’s repealed.
Kelly says her talks with business leaders all contain one question — whether the state has policies in place to foster healthy workforces — which bolsters her long-term support of expanding KanCare, especially now that all other neighboring states have expanded access to health insurance.
Kelly says her administration has prioritized the safety of Kansas residents while keeping businesses as open as possible, and she says her administration continues to do its best for the state, including the protection of school funding, announcements of several transportation projects including the US Highway 50 widening project just west of Emporia and business expansions.
