TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly used the veto pen on Friday to strike GOP-backed sections of the state budget which would have set aside funding for antiabortion programs, and banned critical race theory and diversities considerations in universities.
Lawmakers The blueprint for spending $17,9 billion was approved Before the adjournment in early April. Kelly signed a 243-page budget Friday, just ahead of the Legislature’s return next week.
“Thanks to our laser-sharp focus on growing the economy, we have a record surplus that we can use to make critical investments in health care, affordable housing, our foster care system, and other essential services everyday Kansans rely on,” Kelly said.
The budget adds $600 million to the state’s rainy day fund, putting the balance at $1.6 billion.
Budget includes $20 million to create a Housing Revolving loan Program, which will increase housing availability in rural Kansas. Over $17 million of the funding will be used to increase foster care placement rates in foster homes, family preservation services and evidence-based programs for youth. Over $100 million will be allocated to KanCare, a program that funds services for Kansans with low incomes. Mental health funding is also added, as well as funding for treatment of substance abuse disorders for Kansans without insurance.
The governor used his line-item veto to halt more than a dozen budget provisions, including funding of pregnancy crisis centers and restrictions for diversity initiatives.
Vetoes
One provision of the Legislature’s budget would’ve banned universities from asking faculty members, students and contractors about diversity, equity and inclusion, unless the DEI was thought to be relevant to the person’s field.
Another budget section prohibited using DEI in order to renew or receive licenses from the Behavioral Science Regulation Board.
The budget stipulated that applicants didn’t need to go through or demonstrate understanding of education and instruction programs for DEI, anti-racism, critical race theory or other related topics — except for equal opportunity protections against discrimination covered by state and federal law.
“This funding restriction limits the ability for these professionals to be trained in potentially lifesaving practices that address the individualized needs of every Kansan,” Kelly said.
Social workers, psychologists and other professionals who work with marginalized groups are regulated by the board.
Kelly also rejected a proposal to divert state funding of $2 million into a childbirth promotion program for unplanned pregnancy.
The program would provide resources such as pregnancy assistance, maternity homes, and adoption assistance to help pregnant women consider alternatives. The services would be provided through a nonprofit contracted by the State Treasurer.
A lack of nonprofit regulations has led to financial abuse in other states that have implemented similar programs. Kansas has an existing state grant program that helps low-income pregnant women.
Kelly said she didn’t think overseeing a pregnancy program fell within the state treasurer’s jurisdiction.
“This proviso creates a sole source contract for an unknown entity to provide taxpayer funding for largely unregulated pregnancy resource centers,” Kelly said. “This is not an evidence-based approach or even an effective method for preventing unplanned pregnancies.”
House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, said Republicans in the Legislature would attempt to override the vetoes upon their return, a message he has issued for all of Kelly’s vetoes announced this month.
“The ‘middle of the road’ governor vetoed everything from supporting women in need to a provision preventing the promotion of radical ideology to be advanced with tax payer dollars at our state universities, to even making it harder for Kansas youth to enjoy outdoor activities,” Hawkins said. “Rest assured, the Legislature will examine each of these line items and will take up overrides on several of them next week.”
