Governor Laura Kelly delivered her seventh State of the State address, advocating for investments in water resources, public schools, and Medicaid expansion. She emphasized the need for long-term vision and bipartisan cooperation to shape a better future for Kansas. Kelly proposed the creation of the Office of Early Childhood to streamline services for young families, as well as the Office of Natural Resources to manage water resources effectively.
In terms of education, Kelly highlighted the importance of a strong K-12 public school system as the backbone of Kansas communities. She pledged to prioritize public school funding and reject any efforts to divert taxpayer money to private schools. Additionally, Kelly announced plans to provide free school lunches to thousands of Kansas students.
The governor also addressed the state’s tax policy, vowing to avoid a repeat of the financial crisis caused by former Governor Sam Brownback’s tax cuts. Kelly proposed expanding Medicaid eligibility to lower-income workers, citing the potential benefits and the missed federal funding opportunities for the state. Despite partisan obstacles, she remained optimistic that Medicaid expansion would eventually be realized.
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