With a bigger Republican supermajority in the Statehouse than she has ever faced, Democrat Governor Laura Kelly pledged a bipartisan approach on several issues as part of her State of the State Address on Wednesday.
The governor used her annual address as a “quarterly progress report” with an eye towards the rest of the century and how Kansas can flourish in the future. One area where she expects bipartisan movement is water, especially by restructuring the current bureaucracy.
On the combination of taxes — especially property taxes — and public education, Kelly struck a different tone.
60th District Representative Mark Schreiber appreciated the progress report approach.
17th District Senator Mike Argabright says it has been a busy week so far, and he knows the conversation about property taxes is just getting started.
76th District Representative Brad Barrett says the state is now in a good spot to trim property taxes without harming public education.
13th District Representative Duane Droge was not immediately available after the governor’s speech.
Governor Kelly will submit her budget for review Thursday. Part of that will include a proposal to have the state cover all costs of school lunches. The governor also — again — urged lawmakers to pass Medicaid expansion, blaming partisan politics as the reason it hasn’t passed yet despite its passage in 40 states.
