Laura Kelly in 2022 Governor's State of the State speeches
On Families & Children:
Reformed foster care, focused on kinship care
We have decreased the number of children in foster care by over 15%. That started with the work done by Secretary Laura Howard and her team. They studied the mistakes of the past and took an intentional approach, to move the state away from a child
welfare system and toward a child and family well-being system. Secretary Howard directed the agency to focus on things like kinship care, where a child is placed with a family member or a close family friend, instead of being placed in the system.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Kansas legislature
Jan 11, 2022
On Health Care:
Medicaid expansion is something we can do right now
For years, we've debated Medicaid expansion. The fact is, communities can't grow or survive if their hospitals close. Medicaid expansion won't just protect small towns and their residents, it will keep health care professionals from moving to
neighboring states--most of which are Red states--all of which have expanded Medicaid. Right now, we're the stubborn, self-defeating, state in the middle of all of them. Medicaid expansion is something we can do right now. Let's get this done.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Kansas legislature
Jan 11, 2022
On Principles & Values:
We can be as good and decent as the people who sent us here
When I talk to Kansans the most common theme I hear is: "I am so sick and tired of all the political fighting." It's all become so toxic. Now the people in this Chamber didn't cause this problem. But the people in this Chamber can be part of the
solution. We can turn down the temperature. We can be civil and compromise. We can be role models for our children. We can put allegiance to Kansans ahead of allegiance to political party. We can be as good and as decent as the people who sent us here.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Kansas legislature
Jan 11, 2022
On Tax Reform:
$250 tax rebate to every Kansan who filed in 2021
Because we've managed the budget so responsibly, I was proud to announce that every working Kansan who filed taxes in 2021 will get a $250 dollar rebate this year - $500 dollars for married couples filing jointly. That's money back in
your pocket to pay for child care, to take your family on a minivacation, or to buy groceries.For years, many of us, on both sides of the aisle, have been calling for an end to the state's sales tax on food.
Now, with this surplus in the bank and increased revenue, we can finally eliminate the grocery sales tax. The essence of the bill can be summed up in 13 words:
We hereby eliminate the state sales tax on food in Kansas, effective immediately. Send me a clean, bi-partisan bill, that eliminates the state sales tax on food by Kansas Day, January 29th. I'll sign it the moment it hits my desk.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Kansas legislature
Jan 11, 2022
On Technology:
Expanded internet to 50,000+ new households, businesses
When I got into office, Kansas was way behind the eight ball on broadband development. The state had no roadmap, no funding, and no plan. So, we established the Office of Broadband Development, and now, we have expanded internet access to over
50,000 new households and businesses. We've connected rural communities that were frustrated for years by the lack of access. We won't stop until every Kansan who wants, or needs, high-speed Internet has access to it.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Kansas legislature
Jan 11, 2022
Page last updated: Apr 04, 2022