Kansas Lawmakers Override Gov. Kelly’s Vetoes

Republican legislators in Kansas have overridden Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s vetoes of several spending items in the next state budget, including an extra payment to the state’s public pension system.
The GOP-controlled House voted 86-30 to override all of Kelly’s budget vetoes at once. Republicans leaders had two more votes than they needed and picked up a few Democratic votes. The vote in the Republican-controlled Senate was 27-11.
Kelly had argued that her veto would make the state budget more stable by building up the state’s cash reserves. The biggest spending item she excised was a $51 million payment to the pension system for teachers and other government workers. She also trimmed funds for mental health services.
Republicans argued that the pension payment would help the system’s long-term stability.