Kansas Republicans

Gov. Laura Kelly rejecting the bill sets up a showdown with the Republican-dominated Kansas Legislature. The original vote on the bill fell two votes shy of a veto-proof majority.

The Kansas House approved a bill that would create an independent commission that sets the compensation package for lawmakers. Supporters argue the commission could increase pay to help more everyday Kansans to run for office.

The Kansas Senate has passed several GOP-backed bills that would lower the state’s tax revenue by more than a billion dollars. But Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has already expressed skepticism.

The bills would prohibit doctors from providing gender-affirming care to children, ban transgender girls from girls' sports and legally define sex as the sex a person is assigned at birth.

The GOP chose Mike Brown, a fiery conservative from Johnson County, as the new head of the state party.

Kansas Republicans are considering the removal of a three-day grace period for returning ballots by mail and creating runoff elections for statewide races. Democrats and voter turnout advocates say they are voter suppression efforts.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly laid out her Kansas spending priorities in a budget plan presented to the Republican-led Legislature Thursday.

Gov. Laura Kelly said during her inauguration address that Kansas politicians should work together for good policy. But her agenda likely faces strong opposition from Republican lawmakers.

Kansas has more than $2 billion in budget surplus. The Republican-controlled Legislature and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly may use the 2023 session to spar over how that money can be used through tax cuts and government spending, among other political issues.

Despite Democrats flipping three Kansas House seats in Johnson County — the state’s most populated area — Republican strength in rural communities remains as strong as ever. That gives rural lawmakers more say in important budget and policy-making discussions.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly wants to accelerate the phaseout of the state’s food sales tax. That could have the greatest impact on people with low incomes. But Republican lawmakers may not feel the need to do it.

The civil rights group argues the Kansas Supreme Court incorrectly interpreted federal law when it ruled race wasn’t a factor in the map drawn by the Republican-dominated Kansas Legislature.