During the first week of the Kansas legislative session, the No. 1 priority for the Legislature is to extend the state s COVID-19 disaster emergency declaration before it expires Jan. 26.
The urgency has been underscored by the speed lawmakers are moving with to pass two bills ― for some, maybe a bit too fast. I ve not seen, and I don t think we ve seen before, a bill that moved with such expediency, said Sen. David Haley, D-Kansas City. I daresay it is abnormal and it lends a certain question as to how fairly it can be deliberated and considered. This is a very crucial issue in terms of the public health.
The Kansas Legislature will kick off its session Monday afternoon for what is sure to be a session like no other. Following off an unprecedented year and amid a pandemic, there will be many issues lawmakers will have to tackle.
With a supermajority, Kansas Republicans will have a massive say in what will be brought up or not. Here are seven major issues that could be of noteworthy attention.
State budget
The state’s multi-billion-dollar spending document is always tough to wrangle, but that difficulty will be magnified this year thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and its corresponding effect on state finances.
John Hanna, Associated Press
photo by: Associated Press
Public health nurse Lisa Horn prepares to give a COVID-19 vaccine injection to Kansas Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020, in Topeka, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Topeka As 2021 begins, health officials and elected leaders in Kansas are reflecting on the lessons learned so far about the coronavirus pandemic.
The Democratic governor
Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly said the pandemic showed Kansas that a “patchwork” response does not work. She closed schools in mid-March and late that month issued a stay-at-home order that remained in place for five weeks.
A law approved in June by the Republican-controlled Legislature gave the state’s 105 counties the authority to opt out of Kelly’s orders. She argued recently that she was forced to accept local control to keep a state of emergency for the pandemic in effect.
Kansas leaders reflect on pandemic lessons from 2020 Follow Us
Question of the Day By JOHN HANNA - Associated Press - Saturday, January 2, 2021
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - As 2021 begins, health officials and elected leaders in Kansas are reflecting on the lessons learned so far about the coronavirus pandemic.
THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR
Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly said the pandemic showed Kansas that a “patchwork” response does not work. She closed schools in mid-March and late that month issued a statewide stay-at-home order that remained in place for five weeks.
TOP STORIES
A law approved in June by the Republican-controlled Legislature gave the state’s 105 counties the authority to opt out of Kelly’s orders. She argued recently that she was forced to accept local control to keep a state of emergency for the pandemic in effect.