Kansas is currently in a weird tussle between their governor and their State House and Senate. Pretty sure this is related to what Kelly wants to shut down right now. This just happened this afternoon..
Kansas lawmakers soften measure limiting Kelly’s emergency powers during pandemic
Kansas lawmakers have agreed to extend Gov. Laura Kelly’s emergency powers to respond to the new coronavirus, but will retain the right to review and revoke some of her decisions.
The Republican-controlled House and Senate voted unanimously Thursday to allow Kelly to continue exercising expanded authority until at least May 1 as part of a compromise that also gives legislators greater oversight as the pandemic progresses.
The deal negotiated by senators and representatives doesn’t go as far as many senators wanted.
A version of the resolution approved by the Senate on Wednesday would have prohibited Kelly from seizing ammunition or private property and stopped her from controlling the movement of people within the state.
The final version of the resolution still stops Kelly from taking ammunition. But instead of banning her from commandeering private property or limiting movement, it empowers legislative leaders to revoke any orders she issues to that effect.
House Speaker Pro Tem Blaine Finch, an Ottawa Republican, said threat of the coronavirus will not disappear quickly. Responding will require “swift action” by the governor and the Kansas Department of Emergency Management, he said, as well as compromise with the Legislature.
“For those who are concerned about granting unfettered authority, so were the founders of this nation,” Finch said. “For those who are concerned that we don’t want to tie the hands of the executive to make decisions swiftly and to take action when lives can be saved and crisis averted, they have a point as well.”
The limitations come after Republicans recoiled at some of Kelly’s executive orders this week. On Tuesday, she ordered K-12 schools closed for the rest of the academic year, though districts will attempt to educate students remotely. The same day, she temporarily banned evictions and foreclosures to keep people in their homes during the crisis.
The resolution designates the chair of the Legislative Coordinating Council, comprised of top House and Senate leaders from both parties, to decide if Kelly has issued an improper order when the full Legislature isn’t in session. Currently, House Speaker Ron Ryckman, an Olathe Republican, is the chair.
If he makes an affirmative determination, then the full council would meet within three days and could revoke the order.
Under the resolution, the State Finance Council – a panel chaired the governor and made up of legislative leaders – is allowed to authorize one, 30-day extension of Kelly’s emergency powers. After that, the Legislative Coordinating Council can extend the powers in 30-day increments.