Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly is traveling the state in an effort to drum up support for Medicaid expansion ahead of Kansas' 2024 legislative session. Kansas is one of only 10 states that have declined to pass Medicaid expansion, losing out on billions of dollars in federal aid money.
Speaking on KCUR's Up To Date, Kelly said that passing Medicaid expansion for Kansans is "my moral imperative." She said that it would not only provide health care access to an estimated 150,000 Kansans, but also create more than 20,000 jobs and long-term savings for the state.
However, Republican state leadership have vowed to fight Medicaid expansion, instead prioritizing a flat tax. Kelly previously vetoed the flat tax, which would overwhelmingly benefit the rich, and said she is not willing to negotiate on the two pieces of impending legislation.
"Why would I trade an irresponsible tax plan, which will decimate state revenues, in exchange for Medicaid expansion, which will require the expenditure of state revenues?" Kelly said. "It doesn't make any sense and I won't do it."
- Laura Kelly, governor, Kansas
