President Biden addresses the nation on debt ceiling decision
3 June 2023
TOPEKA (KSNT) – Attorney General Kris Kobach has backed off on threats of a lawsuit against Gov. Laura Kelly over her line-item veto of next year’s state education budget.
Last month, Kelly signed the $6.3 billion education budget for K-12 schools, but only after she vetoed a provision she said would take money away from rural districts with declining enrollment.
Republican leaders said Kelly exceeded her power under the Kansas Constitution when she line-item vetoed individual spending items in budget bills. They called on Kobach to review the move, but eventually backed off after deciding a court challenge wouldn’t be worth it.
On Friday, Kelly’s office confirmed Kobach decided not to take the matter to court. A spokeswoman for the Kansas Attorney General’s office said they have decided not to take any action “at this time.”