Governor Kelly Vetoes Bill Expanding Kansas Promise Scholarship to Private Institutions
TOPEKA — Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has vetoed Senate Bill 24, which sought to expand the Kansas Promise Scholarship Program to include two private institutions: Wichita Technical Institute and Heartland Welding Academy. The bill, which raised the maximum funding for the program from $10 million to $15 million, faced criticism from Kelly, who expressed concerns over allocating public funds to for-profit schools lacking accountability to the state or taxpayers.
The Kansas Promise Scholarship traditionally supports students in community colleges or technical training programs, covering tuition and essential fees for those in low-income families. While the Senate passed the bill unanimously, it faced opposition from nine Republicans in the House, ultimately passing 76-48.
Opponents of the bill, including James Genandt, president of Kansas Technical Colleges, argued that introducing more institutions could strain the program, especially given past instances where scholarship applications were paused due to funding shortages.
House Speaker Dan Hawkins expressed disappointment at the veto, emphasizing the scholarship’s role in workforce development. Conversely, House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard praised the governor for safeguarding public finances. The legislative session concluded without an opportunity to override the veto.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
