TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has named former state Senate President Steve Morris of Hugoton as co-chairman of a council she is creating to review the state’s tax laws.
The Democratic governor said Thursday that Morris will lead her Council on Tax Reform along with former state Sen. Janis Lee.
Morris is a moderate Hugoton Republican who was Senate president from 2005 through 2012.
He lost his Senate seat in a primary-election purge in 2012 by Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s conservative allies. Morris and Brownback had been at odds over income tax cuts championed by Brownback.
Lee is a Kensington Democrat who served in the Senate from 1989 through 2010.
Kelly said she would appoint a tax study group after vetoing two tax relief bills pushed by Republican lawmakers.