ICYMI: Governor Kelly Discusses
Administration Priorities with Emporia Gazette

KEY QUOTE: “A month after Gov. Laura Kelly and top Republican House and Senate leaders delivered a projected $2 billion reduction in state income and property taxes over the next five years, Kelly shared her insights on the state’s tax policy, ongoing efforts towards Medicaid expansion, and initiatives to improve childcare accessibility and affordability during an interview this week with The Emporia Gazette.”

Gov. Kelly discusses tax reforms, Medicaid expansion, and childcare initiatives
Ryann Brooks, Emporia Gazette
July 16, 2024

• “Kansas families will definitely feel the [tax cuts] impact,” Kelly said. “One of the things that is in the bill in terms of property tax relief is raising the exemption on homes from $42,000 to $75,000. That will impact our middle-income folks. I would have liked to do more, but this was the best I could get and still make it sustainable.”
• Kelly’s administration successfully included a $6 million annual child and dependent care tax credit in the legislation, a priority secured through closed-door negotiations.
• “We must ensure responsible fiscal management while providing necessary tax relief,” [Gov. Kelly] noted. Reflecting on past tax experiments, she said, “We went back to four-day school weeks in many of our districts because they didn’t have the money to turn on their lights.”
• Kelly also reaffirmed her commitment to expanding Medicaid, which remains a contentious issue. Despite the legislature’s resistance, Kelly emphasized the economic and social benefits of expanding Medicaid… She criticized the state’s missed opportunity to utilize over $7 billion in federal funds.
• “I will never give up on Medicaid expansion. It is absolutely central that we do this,” Kelly said. “We are now a Medicaid desert in the Midwest. Every state around us has expanded Medicaid, and we are losing our healthcare workers to those states because they can get reimbursed for their services or get a bigger paycheck.”
• Improving childcare accessibility and affordability is another priority for Kelly’s administration. She noted that a robust childcare system is essential not only for families but also for businesses. The state has added 6,800 new childcare slots over the past year and is investing in facilities for the first time.
• “I think it’s not only for our families that we need to have a very robust childcare system, early childhood system in our state, it’s also for our businesses,” Kelly said. “We have been investing for the first time ever in bricks and mortar, actually building childcare facilities or modifying facilities. That’s never happened before.”

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