Legislature overrides Kelly veto of food-assistance bill

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The Kansas Legislature on Thursday overrode Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of a bill requiring  able-bodied adults without dependents who receive food assistance – and don’t work more than 30 hours – to participate in an employment training program that is now voluntary.

The Senate voted 29-11 early Thursday evening to override the veto after the House voted 86-36 to override earlier in the day.

The bill, which would apply to food-assistance recipients from the ages of 18 to 49, would affect about 7,000 people in fiscal year 2023 starting this July and cost the state an estimated $2.8 million.

It would affect about 14,000 people and cost about $3.9 million in fiscal year ’24.

“We’re increasing the size of government with this bill and we’re doing it just to prevent people from accessing federal funds that are already applied to the state,” said Democratic state Rep. Jason Probst of Hutchinson.

“”We’re going to hire additional people and spend upward of $3 million to implement this work requirement and it’s punitive in nature,” he said.

“We are going to harm people with this if we do this override,” he said.

Republican state Rep. Susan Humphries of Wichita said work was a “blessing” not a “punishment.”

“It’s not a perfect bill. It’s not going to solve our work force crisis,” Humphries said.

“But it gives hope and dignity to a vulnerable population,” Humphries said. ”

“I believe poverty and opportunity are moral issues,” she said.  “Human dignity has deeper roots than what is in our wallet.

“Human dignity and happiness are the results of faith, family, community and earned success through work,” she said. “What is the central solution to poverty? It’s work.”

The governor said the new law would burden families.

“Every Kansan feels the price of the pandemic-induced inflation at the pumps and at the grocery store,” Kelly said in a statement when she vetoed the bill

“The cost of food alone is one of the most significant contributors to inflation overall.

“With the rising costs of these necessities, we should be helping people afford the basics. This bill would unnecessarily burden nearly 30,000 hard-working Kansans, including people caring for their families and impacting those with children.”

The Kansas Appleseed Center for Law and Justice called the bill” harmful,” stressing that it  would “tack on even more work requirements for Kansans who may just need a month or two to get back on their feet.”

House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr. criticized the governor when she vetoed the bill.

“The governor has made clear that welfare in Kansas is not about a hand up, but merely keeping people down,” Ryckman said.

“Her veto cuts clean through her rhetoric and puts truth to the lie that she wants to lift people out of poverty.

“We know that a job is the best way to lead to prosperity and the governor no longer cares to help the most needy find one.”