Chillin' in the Statehouse Gannett

With two members of the Chillin' in the Statehouse team back from well-earned vacations, we're ready for the long awaited special session. Tax cuts are the stated priority for politicians, but there is a major lobbying effort underway for lawmakers to enact a subsidy package designed to lure the Kansas City Chiefs (or the Royals) to move from Missouri to Kansas.

It's pretty chill here at the Kansas Statehouse, but we know it's going to get busy again when Gov. Laura Kelly calls a special session on tax cuts. Is there room for compromise between the governor and Legislature, the House and Senate, and Republicans and Democrats? Can Kelly get House Democrats on the same page as her, or was a Democratic meeting at a Topeka chili parlor a reflection of internal party politics? Is communication clear, or is there room for different interpretations, like Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker's comments?

Session is over! Or is it? Jason Alatidd and Jack Harvel of The Topeka Capital-Journal and John Hanna of the Associated Press recap a busy veto session — where a tornado warning interrupted the last day of the Kansas legislative session as lawmakers tried another go at cutting taxes, but didn't take up a plan designed to lure the Kansas City Chiefs to move to Kansas. Both of those issues could come back up during a likely special session.

Chillin' in the Statehouse is ready for veto session, when Kansas lawmakers return to Topeka to consider overriding Gov. Laura Kelly's vetoes and wrap up unfinished business — and there's a lot of vetoes and unfinished business for legislators to get done in a short amount of time.

With a nod to Taylor Swift's new era, The Tortured Poets Department, Chillin' in the Statehouse brings you The Tortured Reporters Department. The Topeka Capital-Journal's Jason Alatidd and Jack Harvel are joined by the Associated Press' John Hanna as they run down the highlights of the first batches of bill signings and vetoes during the Legislature's April break.

On this eclipse day, there is a mixture of sunlight and darkness, kind of like how the Kansas Legislature worked late into the night on its last day of regular session. The Topeka Capital-Journal's Jason Alatidd and the Associated Press' John Hanna recap three of the biggest issues (state budget, school budget and tax cuts) from drop dead day — or more like drop dead night, considering what time the House and Senate adjourned for their April break.


To read more: https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/government/2024/04/08/kansas-lawmakers-pass-tax-cuts-but-not-school-budget-before-adjourning/73243055007/