Kansas GOP

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed Senate Bill 29, but the veto was overridden by the Republican-dominated House and Senate. It opens health officials to lawsuits over quarantine decisions and removed their authority to ban public gatherings.

Kansas lawmakers last week passed a budget that would put the state roughly $460 million in debt by 2028. Up To Date spoke to Gov. Laura Kelly about the new spending plan, the GOP supermajority in the Legislature and more.

The GOP has tried and failed to pass a ban on puberty blockers and hormone treatments, as well as gender-affirming surgery, for children with gender dysphoria. But this year, Republicans have an even stronger majority in the Kansas Statehouse.

Kansas Republicans have a veto-proof supermajority in both the House and Senate, meaning they can steamroll Democrats on any issue — and override the governor's veto — if they stand united. But Democrats could change that by flipping seats in Johnson County.

Some GOP lawmakers from Johnson County are no longer talking about their votes championing anti-abortion bills in the Kansas Legislature, and saying they respect the 2022 vote defeating an anti-abortion constitutional amendment.

In Kansas, issues like abortion restrictions and transgender rights might hinge on whether Republicans can keep their powerful majorities in the Statehouse. Democrats have set their sights on breaking the supermajority. Plus: Problems with Boeing are causing anxiety in Wichita, where aviation is a big industry.

Ahead of Tuesday's special legislative session, the deal between Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and the GOP leaders of the Kansas Senate and House would collapse the personal income tax structure to a two-rate system. Kelly previously vetoed a single-tier flat tax plan, calling it too expensive.

Kris Van Meteren claims he seized ownership of the No Labels political party on Monday. He lashed out against Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, accusing him of working on behalf ‘fever swampers’ aligned with his personal opponents when Schwab invalidated the two nominations Van Meteren made for the upcoming election.

The centrist group was officially recognized last month as the state’s third minor party. The party's chairperson says the goal is to provide a middle ground for Kansans who don’t feel represented by Democrats or Republicans.

Participants at a fundraiser for the Johnson County GOP earlier this month took turns kicking, punching and pummeling an effigy of President Biden, leading to bipartisan outrage and demands of resignations. What does the incident say about the Kansas Republican Party and its future?

The Biden-bashing antics were part of a Kansas GOP event in Johnson County, where rocker Ted Nugent and disgraced former Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline were the main attractions. Kansas GOP chairman Mike Brown, an election denier, touted the fundraiser for weeks in official GOP emails.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly is again pushing lawmakers to expand the health care program Medicaid, which is widely supported by Kansans. But Republican leaders remain staunchly opposed. Plus: Female veterinarians still face skepticism and discrimination in rural areas, where there’s a shortage of animal specialists.