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Because Kelly's orders on public gatherings applied to Easter Sunday celebrations in churches, the Republican-majority Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC), a group of leaders of the [[Kansas Legislature]], voted to revoke her order on a 5&ndash;2 party-line vote on April 9, 2020, asserting that the order violated the [[free exercise of religion]].<ref name=church>[https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article241861126.html War over Easter: Kansas lawmakers revoke Gov. Kelly’s order limiting church gatherings], ''[[Wichita Eagle]]'', Jonathan Shorman, Amy Renee Leiker and Michael Stavola, April 8, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.</ref><ref>Sherman Smith, [https://www.leavenworthtimes.com/news/20200411/kansas-coronavirus-update-supreme-court-sides-with-gov-laura-kelly-in-fight-over-church-crowds Kansas coronavirus update: Supreme Court sides with Gov. Laura Kelly in fight over church crowds], ''Leavenworth Times'' (April 11, 2020).</ref><ref name=GovBlasts>Conner Mitchell, [https://www2.ljworld.com/news/2020/apr/08/kelly-norman-blast-lawmakers-vote-to-rescind-order-limiting-in-person-religious-gatherings/ Governor blasts Kansas lawmakers' vote to rescind limits on in-person religious gatherings], ''Lawrence Journal-World'' (April 8, 2020).</ref> Republican Attorney General [[Derek Schmidt]] opposed Kelly's order, issuing a memorandum calling it a violation of the Kansas state law, and urged law enforcement not to enforce it.<ref name=church/> Kelly called this "shockingly irresponsible";<ref name="church" /> at the time, there had been more than a thousand confirmed COVID-19 cases, and dozens of confirmed COVID-19 deaths, in Kansas,<ref name="GovBlasts" /> and of 11 identified sources of contagion, three had come from recent religious gatherings.<ref>[https://www.kansas.com/news/coronavirus/article241810656.html Kansas has 3 church-related COVID-19 clusters, state says amid scramble for supplies], ''[[Wichita Eagle]]'', Jonathan Shorman, April 6, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.</ref> She challenged the LCC's decision in the [[Kansas Supreme Court]]. Following an expedited [[oral argument]] (conducted remotely via [[Zoom Video Communications|Zoom]] teleconference), the state Supreme Court unanimously reinstated Kelly's orders, concluding that her executive order was valid and that the LCC lacked the authority to overturn it.<ref>''[https://www.kscourts.org/KSCourts/media/KsCourts/High%20Interest%20Cases/Kelly%20v%20LCC/122765Opinion.pdf Kelly v. Legislative Coordinating Counsel]'', Kansas Supreme Court (April 11, 2020).</ref><ref>[https://www.kmbc.com/article/kansas-supreme-court-says-executive-order-banning-religious-service-of-more-than-10-people-stands-governor-laura-kelly-covid-19-coronavirus/32114710# Kansas Supreme Court says executive order banning religious service of more than 10 people stands], [[KMBC-TV|KMBC]], April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2020.</ref><ref>Jason Breslow, [https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/12/832644243/kansas-supreme-court-upholds-governors-order-limiting-the-size-of-easter-service Kansas Supreme Court Upholds Governor's Order Limiting The Size Of Easter Services], NPR (April 12, 2020).</ref><ref>Conner Mitchell, [https://www2.ljworld.com/news/2020/apr/11/kansas-supreme-court-hears-arguments-in-governors-suit-against-lawmakers-decision-could-come-saturday/ Kansas Supreme Court says legislative panel didn't have authority to revoke governor's order], ''Lawrence Journal-World'' (April 11, 2020).</ref>
Because Kelly's orders on public gatherings applied to Easter Sunday celebrations in churches, the Republican-majority Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC), a group of leaders of the [[Kansas Legislature]], voted to revoke her order on a 5&ndash;2 party-line vote on April 9, 2020, asserting that the order violated the [[free exercise of religion]].<ref name=church>[https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article241861126.html War over Easter: Kansas lawmakers revoke Gov. Kelly’s order limiting church gatherings], ''[[Wichita Eagle]]'', Jonathan Shorman, Amy Renee Leiker and Michael Stavola, April 8, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.</ref><ref>Sherman Smith, [https://www.leavenworthtimes.com/news/20200411/kansas-coronavirus-update-supreme-court-sides-with-gov-laura-kelly-in-fight-over-church-crowds Kansas coronavirus update: Supreme Court sides with Gov. Laura Kelly in fight over church crowds], ''Leavenworth Times'' (April 11, 2020).</ref><ref name=GovBlasts>Conner Mitchell, [https://www2.ljworld.com/news/2020/apr/08/kelly-norman-blast-lawmakers-vote-to-rescind-order-limiting-in-person-religious-gatherings/ Governor blasts Kansas lawmakers' vote to rescind limits on in-person religious gatherings], ''Lawrence Journal-World'' (April 8, 2020).</ref> Republican Attorney General [[Derek Schmidt]] opposed Kelly's order, issuing a memorandum calling it a violation of the Kansas state law, and urged law enforcement not to enforce it.<ref name=church/> Kelly called this "shockingly irresponsible";<ref name="church" /> at the time, there had been more than a thousand confirmed COVID-19 cases, and dozens of confirmed COVID-19 deaths, in Kansas,<ref name="GovBlasts" /> and of 11 identified sources of contagion, three had come from recent religious gatherings.<ref>[https://www.kansas.com/news/coronavirus/article241810656.html Kansas has 3 church-related COVID-19 clusters, state says amid scramble for supplies], ''[[Wichita Eagle]]'', Jonathan Shorman, April 6, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.</ref> She challenged the LCC's decision in the [[Kansas Supreme Court]]. Following an expedited [[oral argument]] (conducted remotely via [[Zoom Video Communications|Zoom]] teleconference), the state Supreme Court unanimously reinstated Kelly's orders, concluding that her executive order was valid and that the LCC lacked the authority to overturn it.<ref>''[https://www.kscourts.org/KSCourts/media/KsCourts/High%20Interest%20Cases/Kelly%20v%20LCC/122765Opinion.pdf Kelly v. Legislative Coordinating Counsel]'', Kansas Supreme Court (April 11, 2020).</ref><ref>[https://www.kmbc.com/article/kansas-supreme-court-says-executive-order-banning-religious-service-of-more-than-10-people-stands-governor-laura-kelly-covid-19-coronavirus/32114710# Kansas Supreme Court says executive order banning religious service of more than 10 people stands], [[KMBC-TV|KMBC]], April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2020.</ref><ref>Jason Breslow, [https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/12/832644243/kansas-supreme-court-upholds-governors-order-limiting-the-size-of-easter-service Kansas Supreme Court Upholds Governor's Order Limiting The Size Of Easter Services], NPR (April 12, 2020).</ref><ref>Conner Mitchell, [https://www2.ljworld.com/news/2020/apr/11/kansas-supreme-court-hears-arguments-in-governors-suit-against-lawmakers-decision-could-come-saturday/ Kansas Supreme Court says legislative panel didn't have authority to revoke governor's order], ''Lawrence Journal-World'' (April 11, 2020).</ref>


A week later, in a separate case, U.S. District Judge [[John W. Broomes]] in Wichita issued a temporary restraining order blocking enforcement of Kelly's order as to two churches (one in [[Junction City, Kansas|Junction City]], the other in [[Dodge City, Kansas|Dodge City]]) contending that the restriction violated religious freedom and free speech rights.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-18|title=Judge doubts Kansas COVID-19 rule, blocks it for 2 churches|url=https://apnews.com/article/2dc708f8d69d2671af2301d086043ccc|access-date=2021-02-13|website=AP NEWS}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Shorman|first=Jonathan|date=April 26, 2020|title=Kansas governor to issue less restrictive coronavirus rules beginning May 4|url=https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article242300191.html|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}</ref> That case became [[Mootness|moot]] after Kelly issued a new executive order with less restrictive COVID-19 rules effective on May 4, 2020, under an agreement that allowed the churches to hold larger in-person services but required [[Social distancing|social distancing.]]<ref name=StarkShorman>Carylynn Stark & Jonathan Shorman, [https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article242300191.html Kansas governor to issue less restrictive coronavirus rules beginning May 4], ''Kansas City Star'' (April 25, 2020).</ref>
A week later, in a separate case, U.S. District Judge [[John W. Broomes]] in Wichita issued a temporary restraining order blocking enforcement of Kelly's order as to two churches (one in [[Junction City, Kansas|Junction City]], the other in [[Dodge City, Kansas|Dodge City]]) contending that the restriction violated religious freedom and free speech rights.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-18|title=Judge doubts Kansas COVID-19 rule, blocks it for 2 churches|url=https://apnews.com/article/2dc708f8d69d2671af2301d086043ccc|access-date=2021-02-13|website=AP NEWS}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Shorman|first=Jonathan|date=April 26, 2020|title=Kansas governor to issue less restrictive coronavirus rules beginning May 4|url=https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article242300191.html|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}</ref> That case became [[Mootness|moot]] after Governor Kelly issued a new executive order with less restrictive COVID-19 rules effective on May 4, 2020, under an agreement that allowed the churches to hold larger in-person services but required [[Social distancing|social distancing.]]

===== Vaccine distribution =====
According to the [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] data tracker, as of February 2021 Kansas ranks 49th of 50 states in vaccine doses administered per capita.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Tidd|first=Jason|date=February 8, 2021|title=Kansas COVID vaccination rates remain low, rank 49th of 50 states in CDC report|url=https://www.kansas.com/news/coronavirus/article249095875.html|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}</ref> State health officials have said the number of doses administered is believed to be higher than reported as vaccination sites have emphasized getting shots in arms over sending timely documentation to local, state and federal government agencies.<ref name=":1" /> Kansas also ranks low in COVID-19 testing per capita, with [[Iowa]] and [[Idaho]] as the only two states testing at a lower rate according to data compiled by [[Johns Hopkins University]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=ALL STATE COMPARISON OF TESTING EFFORTS|url=https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/testing/states-comparison|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}</ref>

Kelly’s administration plans to give COVID-19 vaccinations to Kansas prison inmates before the general population, ignoring a call from the Republican-controlled [[Kansas Legislature|Legislature]] to postpone their inoculations so that others can get them first.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Kansas to give COVID-19 shots to inmates despite GOP protest|url=https://www.kake.com/story/43301347/kansas-to-give-covid19-shots-to-inmates-despite-gop-protest|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}</ref> Kelly and the [[Kansas Department of Health and Environment|health department]] say they are following the advice of public health officials and experts in vaccinating inmates in the second phase, along with people 65 and older, workers critical to the economy and others in group living situations.<ref name=":2" /> Republicans in the state legislature and the state's Attorney General [[Derek Schmidt]] have argued that it’s wrong for convicted criminals, particularly violent ones and sex offenders, to be in line ahead of tens of thousands of Kansas residents with medical conditions putting them at risk of severe illness from COVID-19.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=KS leaders disagree on vaccine distribution as prisons struggle with COVID-19|url=https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/ks-leaders-disagree-on-vaccine-distribution-as-prisons-struggle-with-covid-19|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}</ref>

===== Unemployment fraud crisis =====
According to the [[Kansas Department of Labor]], the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed a 4-decade-old unemployment system, which it believes has allowed a sophisticated ring of criminals from overseas to exploit the system through information obtained from outside data breaches.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Flener|first=Matt|date=February 10, 2021|title=A year into a pandemic, Kansas labor department struggles with fraud, payments to deserving workers|url=https://www.kmbc.com/article/a-year-into-a-pandemic-kansas-labor-department-struggles-with-fraud-payments-to-deserving-workers/35462644|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}</ref> KDOL has not yet confirmed how much unemployment fraud has cost the state, but industry experts have estimated it could be as much as $400 million.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Kansas unemployment crisis: Jobless can’t get through to the state, but scammers can|url=https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article248841459.html|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}</ref> Another consultant who met with Kansas lawmakers estimated it could be as high as $700 million, finding that roughly 75 percent of all unemployment claims in the fourth quarter of 2020 were fraudulent.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Elliott|first=Caroline|date=February 5, 2021|title=Consultant estimates KS lost $700 million in unemployment fraud|url=https://www.kwch.com/2021/02/05/consultant-estimates-ks-lost-700-million-in-unemployment-fraud/#:~:text=A%20consultant%20who%20met%20with,%24700%20million%20of%20taxpayer%20dollars.&text=Rep.%20Tarwater%20is%20among%20the,been%20lost%20to%20unemployment%20fraud.|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}</ref>

Kelly's Labor Secretary [[Delia Garcia]], who led the state’s rocky response to the massive surge of unemployment caused by the pandemic, was forced to resign in June 2020 after her agency overdrafted the bank accounts of an undetermined number of residents. Garcia’s departure came less than a week after KDOL moved to “clawback” more than 4,500 duplicate benefit payments totaling $7 million, a decision that resulted in the overdrafted bank accounts.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Shorman|first=Jonathan|date=June 22, 2020|title=After Kansas overdrafts unemployed residents’ bank accounts, labor secretary resigns|url=https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article243709572.html|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}</ref>


====Human services====
====Human services====

Revision as of 02:41, 13 February 2021

Laura Kelly
48th Governor of Kansas
Assumed office
January 14, 2019
LieutenantLynn Rogers
David Toland
Preceded byJeff Colyer
Member of the Kansas Senate
from the 18th district
In office
January 10, 2005 – January 14, 2019
Preceded byDave Jackson
Succeeded byVic Miller
Personal details
Born (1950-01-24) January 24, 1950 (age 74)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Ted Daughety
​
(m. 1979)​
Children2
ResidenceCedar Crest
EducationBradley University (BS)
Indiana University Bloomington (MS)
WebsiteGovernment website

Laura Kelly (born January 24, 1950) is an American politician serving as the 48th governor of Kansas since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, she represented the 18th district in the Kansas Senate from 2005 to 2019.[1] Kelly ran for governor in the 2018 election and defeated the Republican nominee, Kris Kobach.[2]

Early life

Kelly was born in New York City to a military family that moved often and was stationed overseas. She studied at Bradley University, earning a Bachelor of Science in psychology, and at Indiana University, earning a Master of Science in therapeutic recreation.[3] Kelly was the executive director of the Kansas Recreation and Park Association.

Early political career

Kelly was elected to the Kansas Senate in November 2004, later serving as Minority Whip.[4] In 2007, she was asked to serve as the Ranking Minority member of the Kansas Ways and Means Committee. Kelly helped to establish the Early Childhood Development Block Grants program in the State of Kansas.[5]

In late 2009 Kelly briefly considered a run for Kansas's 2nd congressional district.[6] During the 2011–2012 legislative sessions, she served as the Assistant Minority Leader of the Kansas Senate.[7]

Governor of Kansas

Election

On December 15, 2017, Kelly announced her intention to run for governor of Kansas. In the Democratic primary she ran against former mayor of Wichita Carl Brewer and former Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Josh Svaty.[8][9]

On May 24, 2018, Kelly announced State Senator Lynn Rogers as her running mate.[10] On August 7, she defeated Brewer and Svaty, receiving 51.5% of the vote.[11][12] On November 6, Kelly defeated the Republican nominee, Secretary of State Kris Kobach, receiving 47.8% of the vote.[13][14]

Campaign

Kelly was endorsed by former Kansas Governor and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius.[15] She was also endorsed by 28 current or former Republican government officials, including Kansas Governor Bill Graves; former State Senator, Lt. Governor and U.S. Senator Sheila Frahm, Lt. Gov. Gary Sherrer, Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger, Senate President Dick Bond, Senate President Dave Kerr, Senate Vice President John Vratil, Senate Majority Leaders Tim Emert and Lana Oleen; Senators Barbara Allen, David Wysong, Wint Winter, Jr., Pete Brungardt, Ruth Teichman, Barbara Bollier, Audrey Langworthy, Terrie Huntington, Bob VanCrum, and Alicia Salisbury; Representatives JoAnn Pottorff, Ginger Barr, Jim Yonally, Jim Lowther, Fred Lorentz, and Representative and Republican Party Chairperson Rochelle Chronister; Republican National Delegate Don Johnston; and Representatives Joy Koesten and Charles Roth.[16][17]

Graves said, "Laura Kelly is the only Democrat I have ever endorsed for public office. And the reason I'm doing that now is because I believe so much is at stake in the state of Kansas. I have known Laura for over 30 years. She has all the qualities and all the capabilities that we are looking for to lead the state during this difficult time and to reestablish the state to what it once was. ... Laura has integrity, and I know she will bring Kansans together regardless of party to solve problems."[15] Former Republican state senator Tim Owens was the campaign treasurer for Kansas independent candidate Greg Orman, but he stepped down from that post on October 30 and endorsed Kelly, believing only she could beat Kobach.[18]

Kelly described her candidacy as aimed at reversing the fiscal, educational and other "disasters" of Sam Brownback's governance. She characterized her opponent, who had been noted for his broad disenfranchisement of voters and legal strategies against immigrants, as "Sam Brownback on steroids".[19]

Cabinet

Office Incumbent
Lieutenant Governor David Toland
Adjutant General David Weishaar
Secretary of Administration DeAngela Burns-Wallace
Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam
Secretary of Commerce David Toland
Secretary of Corrections Jeff Zmuda
Secretary of Health and Environment Lee Norman
Superintendent of the Highway Patrol Herman Jones
Secretary of Human Services Laura Howard
Secretary of Labor Ryan Wright (interim)
Secretary of Revenue Mark Burghardt
Secretary of Transportation Julie Lorenz
Secretary of Wildlife and Parks Brad Loveless

Tenure and political positions

Kelly is regarded as a moderate Democrat.[20]

Budget and economic issues

Kelly was critical of the Kansas experiment, the experimental Kansas budget of her predecessor Sam Brownback that led to cuts in schools, roads, and public safety. She would like to reverse those changes and pointed out that after there were major budget shortages she led a bipartisan effort to successfully balance the budget without increasing taxes.[21][22]

In 2019, Kelly vetoed two Republican bills that would have cut state income taxes in Kansas.[22] She said that the state could not afford the cuts,[22] and that the Republican bill, which would have cut revenues by an estimated $245 million over a three-year period, would have precipitated a "senseless fiscal crisis" and created a budget deficit.[23] Kelly's decision, as well as higher-than-expected state revenue intakes, led to the state beginning its 2020 budget year with $1.1 billion in cash reserves.[22] She sought to use some of the reserves to pay down debt and make payments to the state pension system.[24]

Healthcare

As governor, Kelly pushed the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature to accept the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act,[25] to provide health care coverage to up to 150,000 Kansans.[26] A Medicaid expansion plan had passed the Kansas Legislature in 2017, but Brownback vetoed it.[26] In January 2020, after years of Republican opposition, Kelly struck a bipartisan compromise deal with Republican Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning that made Kansas the 38th state to accept the Medicaid expansion.[26] Under the agreement, on January 1, 2021, Medicaid coverage will be expanded to Kansas residents earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level.[26]

Kelly has also supported reforming KanCare so that more citizens have access to health insurance.[21]

Coronavirus responses

Main article: COVID-19 pandemic in Kansas

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Kelly, like other governors, took steps to halt the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). She declared a state of emergency on March 12 following the state's first COVID-19 death,[27] and issued a 60-day ban on public gatherings of 50 or more people and a moratorium on utility shutoffs on March 16.[28] On March 18, citing the unprecedented crisis, Kelly directed the end to all in-person K-12 classes for the remainder of the school year, making Kansas the first state to take that step.[29] On March 23, to combat the virus's spread, she limited public gatherings to ten people.[30] On March 28, amid increasing deaths and illnesses, Kelly issued a "stay at home" order that directed all residents to remain at home, except for travel for essential work, essential business (such as traveling to obtain medical care or groceries), and outdoor exercise with social distancing measures.[31] Almost two dozen states had already issued similar orders, and almost 75% of Kansas's population were already affected by similar orders from local orders, since 25 Kansas counties, including the most populous ones, already had a stay-at-home order in place.[31] Kelly strongly criticized the Trump administration's slow response to the crisis and the federal failure to provide Kansas and other states with adequate supplies of personal protective equipment (such as masks, gloves, and gowns) and testing kits.[32]

On November 16, Kelly renewed her call for the legislature to join her in the issuance of masking orders.[33]

Executive order on religious gatherings

Because Kelly's orders on public gatherings applied to Easter Sunday celebrations in churches, the Republican-majority Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC), a group of leaders of the Kansas Legislature, voted to revoke her order on a 5–2 party-line vote on April 9, 2020, asserting that the order violated the free exercise of religion.[34][35][36] Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt opposed Kelly's order, issuing a memorandum calling it a violation of the Kansas state law, and urged law enforcement not to enforce it.[34] Kelly called this "shockingly irresponsible";[34] at the time, there had been more than a thousand confirmed COVID-19 cases, and dozens of confirmed COVID-19 deaths, in Kansas,[36] and of 11 identified sources of contagion, three had come from recent religious gatherings.[37] She challenged the LCC's decision in the Kansas Supreme Court. Following an expedited oral argument (conducted remotely via Zoom teleconference), the state Supreme Court unanimously reinstated Kelly's orders, concluding that her executive order was valid and that the LCC lacked the authority to overturn it.[38][39][40][41]

A week later, in a separate case, U.S. District Judge John W. Broomes in Wichita issued a temporary restraining order blocking enforcement of Kelly's order as to two churches (one in Junction City, the other in Dodge City) contending that the restriction violated religious freedom and free speech rights.[42][43] That case became moot after Governor Kelly issued a new executive order with less restrictive COVID-19 rules effective on May 4, 2020, under an agreement that allowed the churches to hold larger in-person services but required social distancing.

Vaccine distribution

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data tracker, as of February 2021 Kansas ranks 49th of 50 states in vaccine doses administered per capita.[44] State health officials have said the number of doses administered is believed to be higher than reported as vaccination sites have emphasized getting shots in arms over sending timely documentation to local, state and federal government agencies.[44] Kansas also ranks low in COVID-19 testing per capita, with Iowa and Idaho as the only two states testing at a lower rate according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.[45]

Kelly’s administration plans to give COVID-19 vaccinations to Kansas prison inmates before the general population, ignoring a call from the Republican-controlled Legislature to postpone their inoculations so that others can get them first.[46] Kelly and the health department say they are following the advice of public health officials and experts in vaccinating inmates in the second phase, along with people 65 and older, workers critical to the economy and others in group living situations.[46] Republicans in the state legislature and the state's Attorney General Derek Schmidt have argued that it’s wrong for convicted criminals, particularly violent ones and sex offenders, to be in line ahead of tens of thousands of Kansas residents with medical conditions putting them at risk of severe illness from COVID-19.[46][47]

Unemployment fraud crisis

According to the Kansas Department of Labor, the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed a 4-decade-old unemployment system, which it believes has allowed a sophisticated ring of criminals from overseas to exploit the system through information obtained from outside data breaches.[48] KDOL has not yet confirmed how much unemployment fraud has cost the state, but industry experts have estimated it could be as much as $400 million.[49] Another consultant who met with Kansas lawmakers estimated it could be as high as $700 million, finding that roughly 75 percent of all unemployment claims in the fourth quarter of 2020 were fraudulent.[50]

Kelly's Labor Secretary Delia Garcia, who led the state’s rocky response to the massive surge of unemployment caused by the pandemic, was forced to resign in June 2020 after her agency overdrafted the bank accounts of an undetermined number of residents. Garcia’s departure came less than a week after KDOL moved to “clawback” more than 4,500 duplicate benefit payments totaling $7 million, a decision that resulted in the overdrafted bank accounts.[51]

Human services

Kelly combined the Department of Children and Family Services with the Department of Aging and Disability Services into a consolidated, integrated Department of Human Services.[52]

In January 2020, Kelly called for major changes to the Osawatomie State Hospital, the long-troubled state psychiatric hospital that has faced scrutiny from federal regulators over security, safety, and treatment lapses. She has supported a plan for state funding for mental health crisis centers in the state.[53]

School funding

Kelly has stated that she would like to ensure Kansas schools are funded and focus on improving the performance of Kansas students to be competitive with other parts of the country. For example, she would address the statewide teacher shortage and improve pay for educators. She would also like to expand early childhood programs and increase options for students pursuing higher education.[21]

Social issues

In her first official act as governor, Kelly signed an executive order reinstating the employment discrimination protections for LGBT state workers that Governor Sam Brownback had eliminated in 2015.[54]

Kelly opposed a Republican-proposed anti-abortion amendment to the Kansas Constitution in early 2020, saying it would return Kansas to the "dark ages." Amid acrimonious debate, the state House fell four votes short of the two-thirds majority required to put it on the state ballot.[55] The Kansas Legislature, on a party-line vote in January 2021, opted to place the proposed amendment to the state Constitution on the August 2022 primary election ballot.[56]

Personal life

Kelly has been married to physician Ted Daughety, a specialist in pulmonary and sleep disorders, since 1979. They moved to Topeka in 1986. They have two adult daughters, Kathleen and Molly Daughety.[19]

Kelly is Catholic.[57]

Electoral history

Kansas gubernatorial Democratic primary, 2018
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Laura Kelly 79,301 51.5%
Democratic Carl Brewer 30,885 20.1%
Democratic Josh Svaty 26,890 17.5%
Democratic Arden Andersen 12,915 8.4%
Democratic Jack Bergeson 3,874 2.5%
Majority 48,416 31.4%
Turnout 153,865

[58]

Kansas Gubernatorial election, 2018
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Laura Kelly 489,337 47.8%
Republican Kris Kobach 443,346 43.3%
Independent Greg Orman 66,163 6.5%
Libertarian Jeff Caldwell 18,898 1.8%
Independent Rick Kloos 6,232 0.6%
Majority 45,991 4.50%
Turnout 1,023,976
Democratic gain from Republican Swing +1.7%

[59]

Kansas Senate 18th district election, 2016[60]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Laura Kelly (incumbent) 15,007 51.6
Republican Dave Jackson 14,076 48.4
Total votes 29,083 100.0
Democratic hold
Kansas Senate 18th district election, 2012[61]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Laura Kelly (incumbent) 14,813 51.7
Republican Dick Barta 13,833 48.3
Total votes 28,646 100.0
Democratic hold
Kansas Senate 18th district election, 2008[62]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Laura Kelly (incumbent) 18,009 58.1
Republican James Zeller 12,959 41.8
Total votes 30,968 100.0
Democratic hold
Kansas Senate 18th district election, 2004[63][64]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Laura Kelly 4,559 71.8
Democratic D. Kent Hurn 1,793 28.2
Total votes 6,352 100.0
General election
Democratic Laura Kelly 15,388 50.1
Republican Dave Jackson (incumbent) 15,290 49.9
Total votes 30,678 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

References

  1. ^ "US News - Laura Kelly Upset Victory". Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  2. ^ "Meet Laura Kelly | Laura Kelly for Governor". www.laurakellyforkansas.com. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  3. ^ "Official Profile: Kansas (KS) State Senator Laura Kelly". Archived from the original on February 19, 2012. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  4. ^ "Senator Laura Kelly | Legislators | Kansas State Legislature". kslegislature.org. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  5. ^ "Governor Laura Kelly | governor.kansas.gov". Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  6. ^ ""Kelly ending U.S House bid", Topeka Capital-Journal". Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  7. ^ "Senator Laura Kelly - Legislators - Kansas State Legislature". kslegislature.org. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  8. ^ "Brewer promises community activist campaign for governor". Kansas.com. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  9. ^ Carpenter, Tim. "Democrat Joshua Svaty declares candidacy for Kansas governor". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  10. ^ "Kelly picks fellow state senator from Wichita as running mate". Kansas.com. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  11. ^ Almukhtar, Sarah; Bloch, Matthew; Lee, Jasmine C. (August 7, 2018). "Kansas Primary Election Results". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  12. ^ "Kansas primary election results 2018". Kansas.com. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  13. ^ "Kansas Election Results 2018: Live Midterm Map by County & Analysis". Politico. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  14. ^ "Unofficial Kansas Election Results". Ent.Sos.ks.gov. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  15. ^ a b Woodall, Hunter (September 4, 2018). "Former GOP governor of Kansas endorses Democrat Laura Kelly over Kris Kobach". Kansas City Star. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  16. ^ "Laura Kelly touts growing list of Republican support". WIBW. September 14, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  17. ^ Carpenter, Tim. "Two dozen GOP lawmakers endorse Democrat Kelly for governor". The Topeka Capital Journal. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  18. ^ Shorman, Jonathan (October 31, 2018). "Orman treasurer resigns, endorses Kelly in Kansas governor race". Wichita Eagle. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  19. ^ a b Hancock, Peter (October 7, 2018). "Democratic gubernatorial candidate Laura Kelly hopes to 'slam the door' on Brownback's policies". Lawrence Journal World. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  20. ^ "'I've been there, done that': Laura Kelly navigates GOP skepticism to score early wins". Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  21. ^ a b c "Election Guide: Laura Kelly (D-Kansas Governor)". KSNW. October 25, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  22. ^ a b c d John Hanna, Rising Kansas revenues fuel GOP anger over lack of tax cuts, Associated Press (February 3, 2020).
  23. ^ Dion Lefler, Gov. Kelly vetoes Republican tax bill, says it would bring 'senseless fiscal crisis', Wichita Eagle (May 17, 2019).
  24. ^ Kansas Governor Seeks to Use Cash Reserves to Pay off Debt, Associated Press (January 16, 2020).
  25. ^ Phil McCausland, Kansas governor, top Republican reach deal to expand Medicaid, NBC News (January 9, 2020).
  26. ^ a b c d John Hanna, New Kansas proposal breaks impasse on expanding Medicaid, Associated Press (January 9, 2020).
  27. ^ John Hanna & Heather Hollingsworth, Kansas reports COVID-19 death; governor declares emergency, Associated Press (March 12, 2020).
  28. ^ John Hanna, Kansas bans gatherings of 50; Kansas City area goes further, Associated Press (March 16, 2020).
  29. ^ Colin Dwyer, Kansas Becomes The First State To End In-Person Classes For The Year, NPR (March 18, 2020).
  30. ^ Nicole Asbury, Kelly restricts public gatherings to no more than 10 to combat coronavirus spread, Kansas City Star (March 23, 2020).
  31. ^ a b Kansas governor orders residents to stay home to curb virus, Associated Press (March 28, 2020).
  32. ^ John Hanna & Heather Hollingsworth, Kansas governor calls US officials unprepared for COVID-19, Associated Press (April 2, 2020).
  33. ^ Kansas Governor Laura Kelly renews push for mask mandate, Wichita Eagle, Laura Kelly, via Facebook, October 21, 2020.
  34. ^ a b c War over Easter: Kansas lawmakers revoke Gov. Kelly’s order limiting church gatherings, Wichita Eagle, Jonathan Shorman, Amy Renee Leiker and Michael Stavola, April 8, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  35. ^ Sherman Smith, Kansas coronavirus update: Supreme Court sides with Gov. Laura Kelly in fight over church crowds, Leavenworth Times (April 11, 2020).
  36. ^ a b Conner Mitchell, Governor blasts Kansas lawmakers' vote to rescind limits on in-person religious gatherings, Lawrence Journal-World (April 8, 2020).
  37. ^ Kansas has 3 church-related COVID-19 clusters, state says amid scramble for supplies, Wichita Eagle, Jonathan Shorman, April 6, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  38. ^ Kelly v. Legislative Coordinating Counsel, Kansas Supreme Court (April 11, 2020).
  39. ^ Kansas Supreme Court says executive order banning religious service of more than 10 people stands, KMBC, April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  40. ^ Jason Breslow, Kansas Supreme Court Upholds Governor's Order Limiting The Size Of Easter Services, NPR (April 12, 2020).
  41. ^ Conner Mitchell, Kansas Supreme Court says legislative panel didn't have authority to revoke governor's order, Lawrence Journal-World (April 11, 2020).
  42. ^ "Judge doubts Kansas COVID-19 rule, blocks it for 2 churches". AP NEWS. 2020-04-18. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
  43. ^ Shorman, Jonathan (April 26, 2020). "Kansas governor to issue less restrictive coronavirus rules beginning May 4".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  44. ^ a b Tidd, Jason (February 8, 2021). "Kansas COVID vaccination rates remain low, rank 49th of 50 states in CDC report".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  45. ^ "ALL STATE COMPARISON OF TESTING EFFORTS".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  46. ^ a b c "Kansas to give COVID-19 shots to inmates despite GOP protest".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  47. ^ "KS leaders disagree on vaccine distribution as prisons struggle with COVID-19".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  48. ^ Flener, Matt (February 10, 2021). "A year into a pandemic, Kansas labor department struggles with fraud, payments to deserving workers".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  49. ^ "Kansas unemployment crisis: Jobless can't get through to the state, but scammers can".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  50. ^ Elliott, Caroline (February 5, 2021). "Consultant estimates KS lost $700 million in unemployment fraud".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  51. ^ Shorman, Jonathan (June 22, 2020). "After Kansas overdrafts unemployed residents' bank accounts, labor secretary resigns".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  52. ^ Laura Howard, Together for stronger, more effective human services agency, Hutchison News, February 8, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  53. ^ Gov. Kelly: Kansas psychiatric hospital unit needs changes, Associated Press (January 3, 2020).
  54. ^ Shorman, Jonathan (January 15, 2019). "Kelly reinstates protections for LGBT state workers in Kansas eliminated by Brownback". The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  55. ^ Jonathan Shorman, Kelly accused of pressuring 'her own Catholic people' on abortion vote as tempers flare, Wichita Eagle (February 11, 2020).
  56. ^ John Hanna (January 28, 2021). "Kansas lawmakers put anti-abortion measure on 2022 ballot". Associated Press – via ABC News.
  57. ^ https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/34496/laura-kelly
  58. ^ Almukhtar, Sarah; Bloch, Matthew; Lee, Jasmine C. (August 7, 2018). "Kansas Primary Election Results". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  59. ^ "Kansas Election Results". The New York Times. November 6, 2018. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  60. ^ "Kansas Secretary of State 2016 General Election Official Vote Totals" (PDF). kssos.org. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  61. ^ "Kansas Secretary of State 2012 General Election Official Vote Totals" (PDF). kssos.org. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  62. ^ "Kansas Secretary of State 2008 General Election Official Vote Totals" (PDF). kssos.org. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  63. ^ "Kansas Secretary of State 2004 Primary Election Official Vote Totals" (PDF). kssos.org. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  64. ^ "Kansas Secretary of State 2004 General Election Official Vote Totals" (PDF). kssos.org. Retrieved March 27, 2019.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Laura Kelly.


Kansas Senate
Preceded by
Dave Jackson
 Member of the Kansas Senate
from the 18th district
2005–2019 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of Kansas
2018 		Most recent
Political offices
Preceded by Governor of Kansas
2019–present 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Vice President Order of Precedence of the United States
Within Kansas 		Succeeded by
Mayor of city in which event is held
Succeeded by
Preceded byas Governor of Oregon Order of Precedence of the United States
Outside Kansas 		Succeeded byas Governor of West Virginia
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Laura_Kelly&oldid=1006477770"