Laura Kelly on Government Reform

	Laura Kelly on Government Reform

Streamline our systems to be more efficient and effective

We have to develop a better water management system. Right now, water faces many of the same issues I described with early childhood: it's managed by 14 different agencies, making it very difficult, if not impossible, to align efforts around policy, planning, and investment. If this is going to work, that's got to change--let's create an Office of Natural Resources. Let's streamline our systems to make our work so much more efficient and effective. Source: 2025 State of the State Address to the Kansas legislature , Jan 15, 2025

Lobbyist reforms & increased legislative transparency

Kelly has fought to improve transparency and increase accountability throughout her time in the legislature. Kelly has stood up to the Brownback-Colyer Administration and demanded accountability. In a Kelly Administration, Cabinet members and staff will be required to sign an ethical code of conduct that ensures the highest standards of integrity. She will also advocate for a series of lobbyist reforms, increase transparency of legislative proceedings and lower the cost to access open records. Source: 2018 Gubernatorial campaign website LauraKellyForKansas.com , Aug 14, 2018

Don't require voter identification for advance voting

Excerpts from legislation: Bill HB2019 regarding Voter Identification: After Jan. 1, 2010, any registered voter may file with the county election officer where such person is a resident, an application for an advance voting ballot. The signed application shall be transmitted only to the county election officer by personal delivery, mail, or fax.

Excerpts from veto message: I cannot support creating any roadblock to prevent our citizens from adding their voices to democratic discourse. HB 2019 seeks to solve a problem of voter fraud which does not exist, due to the tireless efforts of our local election officials. The needless, additional identification requirements of HB 2019 will only work to disenfranchise many of the electorate.

Legislative outcome: Sen. Laura Kelly voted NAY; Bill passed House 67-56-2; Bill passed Senate 26-14-0; Vetoed by Gov. Sebelius May 18, 2008

Source: Kansas legislative voting records: HB 2019 , Mar 28, 2007

Click here for definitions & background information on Government Reform. Click here for a summary of all issue stances of Laura Kelly. Click here for a Wikipedia profile of Laura Kelly. Click here for a Ballotpedia profile of Laura Kelly. Click here for VoteMatch responses by Laura Kelly. Click here for issue positions of other KS politicians. Click here for KS primary archives. Click here for KS secondary archives.
*Other governors on Government Reform:*			*Laura Kelly on other issues:*
*KS Gubernatorial:* Chase LaPorte Derek Schmidt *KS Senatorial:* Barbara Bollier Barry Grissom Dave Lindstrom Jake LaTurner Jerry Moran Joan Farr Kris Kobach Mark Holland Michael Soetaert Pat Roberts Susan Wagle	*Mayoral/Gubernatorial races 2025* (seated Jan. 2026): NJ Governor: Mikie Sherrill (D), U.S. Rep. NJ-11. vs.Jack Ciattarelli (R), State Assemblyman (2011-2018). NYC Mayor: Zohran Mamdani (D), New York State Assembly, 2021-2025. vs.Andrew Cuomo (I), former governor of New York, 2011-2021. vs.Curtis Sliwa (R), CEO of the Guardian Angels. VA Governor: Abigail Spanberger (D), U.S.Rep., VA-7 (2019-2024). vs.Winsome Earle-Sears (R), Lt. Gov. 2022-2026. *Gubernatorial races 2026*: AK: Mike Dunleavy(R,term-limited) vs.Click Bishop(R) vs.Nancy Dahlstrom(R) vs.Tom Begich(D) AL: Kay Ivey(R,term-limited) vs.Doug Jones(D) vs.Tommy Tuberville(R) vs.Will Boyd(D) vs.Yolanda Flowers(D) AR: Sarah Huckabee Sanders(R,for re-election) vs.Fredrick Love(D) AZ: Katie Hobbs(D,for re-election) vs.Andy Biggs(R) vs.David Schweikert(R) vs.Karrin Taylor Robson(R) CA: Gavin Newsom(D,term-limited) vs.Antonio Villaraigosa(D) vs.Eleni Kounalakis(D,Withdrew to run for state treasurer) vs.Eric Swalwell(D) vs.Tom Steyer(D) vs.Xavier Becerra(D) vs.Zoltan Istvan(L) CO: Jared Polis(D,term-limited) vs.Greg Lopez(R) vs.Michael Bennet(D) vs.Phil Weiser(D) CT: Ned Lamont(D,for re-election) vs.Ryan Fazio(R) vs.Jen Tooker(R,withdrew) FL: Ron DeSantis(R,term-limited) vs.Byron Donalds(R) vs.David Jolly(R) vs.Jason Pizzo(I) vs.Jerry Demings(D) GA: Brian Kemp(R,term-limited) vs.Brad Raffensperger(R) vs.Chris Carr(R) vs.Keisha Lance Bottoms(D) HI: Josh Green(D,(No opponent yet)) IA: Kim Reynolds(R,retiring) vs.Brad Sherman (IA)(R) vs.Randy Feenstra(R) vs.Rob Sand(D) ID: Brad Little(R,for re-election) vs.Terri Pickens(D) IL: J.B. Pritzker(D,for re-election) vs.Darren Bailey(R) KS: Laura Kelly(D,term-limited) vs.Cindy Holscher(D) vs.Jeff Colyer(R) vs.Ty Masterson(R) vs.Vicki Schmidt(R) MA: Maura Healey(D,for re-election) vs.Mike Kennealy(R) MD: Wes Moore(D,for re-election) vs.Dan Cox(R) vs.Christopher Bouchat(R) ME: Janet Mills(D,term-limited) vs.Shenna Bellows(D) vs.Ed Crockett(I) vs.Robert Charles(R)	*Gubernatorial races 2026*: MI: Gretchen Whitmer(D,term-limited) vs.Aric Nesbitt(R) vs.Perry Johnson(R) vs.Jocelyn Benson(D) vs.John James(R) vs.Mike Cox(R) vs.Tom Leonard(R) vs.Mike Duggan(I) vs.Garlin Gilchrist(D,withdrew) MN: Tim Walz(D,retiring) vs.Jeff Johnson 2026(R) vs.Lisa Demuth(R) vs.Mike Lindell(R) vs.Scott Jensen(R) vs.Amy Klobuchar(D) NE: Jim Pillen(R,for re-election) vs.Lynne Walz(D) NH: Kelly Ayotte(R,for re-election) vs.Jon Kiper(D) NM: Michelle Lujan-Grisham(D,term-limited) vs.Deb Haaland(D) vs.Gregg Hull(R) vs.Steve Lanier(R) NV: Aaron Ford(D,) vs.Joe Lombardo(R) NY: Kathy Hochul(D,for re-election) vs.Antonio Delgado(D) vs.Bruce Blakeman(R) vs.Larry Sharpe(L) vs.Elise Stefanik(R,withdrew) OH: Mike DeWine(R,term-limited) vs.Vivek Ramaswamy(R) vs.Amy Acton(D) vs.Jon Husted(R,withdrew) OK: Kevin Stitt(R,term-limited) vs.Charles McCall(R) vs.Cyndi Munson(D) vs.Jake Merrick(R) OR: Tina Kotek(D,for re-election) vs.Christine Drazan(R) PA: Josh Shapiro(D,for re-election) vs.Ken Krawchuk(L) vs.Stacy Garrity(R) RI: Dan McKee(D,for re-election) vs.Helena Foulkes(D) vs.Aaron Guckian(R) SC: Henry McMaster(R,term-limited) vs.Jermaine Johnson(D) vs.Nancy Mace(R) vs.Ralph Norman(R) SD: Larry Rhoden(R,for re-election) vs.Dusty Johnson(R) vs.Jon Hansen(R) vs.Marty Jackley(R,withdrew) TN: Bill Lee(R,term-limited) vs.Marsha Blackburn(R) vs.Carnita Atwater(D) TX: Greg Abbott(R,for re-election) vs.Chris Bell(D) vs.Gina Hinojosa(D) VT: Phil Scott(R,(No opponent yet)) WA: Jay Inslee(D,for re-election) vs.Bob Ferguson(D) WI: Tony Evers(D,retiring) vs.Mandela Barnes(D) vs.Sara Rodriguez(D) vs.Kelda Roys(D) vs.Francesca Hong(D) vs.Tom Tiffany(R) WY: Mark Gordon(R,term-limited) vs.Eric Barlow(R) vs.Megan Degenfelder(R)	Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families/Children Foreign Policy Free Trade Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Infrastructure/Technology Jobs Local Issues Principles/Values Social Security Tax Reform War/Iraq/Mideast Welfare/Poverty [Title9]