Kelly vetoes GOP flat tax bill

TOPEKA (KSNT) – Governor Laura Kelly has vetoed the GOP Flat Tax Bill.

On Friday afternoon, Kelly vetoed House Bill 2284. Earlier this week, Kelly told the Kansas Capitol Bureau in a pre-session interview that she was willing to have other tax conversations, but wouldn’t sign a proposal that includes Republicans’ single-rate income tax.

I support responsible tax cuts, but I refuse to sign into law a reckless flat tax that would take us back to Brownback while doing next to nothing for the middle class. This flat tax experiment would overwhelmingly benefit the super wealthy, and I’m not going to put our public schools, roads, and stable economy at risk just to give a break to those at the very top.

I am dead set on making sure working Kansans get a tax cut this year. That’s why I’ve brought together Republican, Democratic, and Independent legislators to champion a $1 billion tax cut over three years, all while maintaining our state’s strong fiscal foundation. Our bipartisan tax cut will make it easier for families to pay for groceries, child care, diapers, and school supplies – while also cutting property, sales, and retirement taxes.

While I urge the legislature to take this irresponsible flat tax experiment off the table once and for all, know that I will not let legislators leave Topeka this year without meaningfully and responsibly cutting taxes for middle-class families. I will call a special session if I have to – anything to ensure Kansans see tax relief, immediately. Let’s work together to cut taxes in a way that continues our economic growth while benefiting all Kansans, not just the wealthiest.

“Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto House Bill 2284.

A message from Governor Laura Kelly regarding the veto of HB 2284.

Senate President Ty Masterson and House Speaker Dan Hawkins issued the following statements in response to Kelly’s veto:

Today the governor yet again put her radical ideology ahead of the people. She is so focused on hyper-partisan politics that she has again vetoed a compromise tax plan that was primarily designed to increase the take home pay for every Kansan and bring sustainable tax relief for hard-working taxpayers who are suffering under Bidenflation. The governor has proven again that she has abandoned the middle.

Masterson said in the statement.

“Governor Kelly has now axed a third tax relief bill in less than a year; choosing political wins over increasing Kansan’s paychecks. Today, the Governor said “no” to property tax relief that automatically adjusts for inflation, an elimination of income tax for 300,000 lower income Kansans, a total elimination of property tax for some homeowners, a simpler tax code, an elimination of the sales tax on food, and an elimination of the sales tax on social security. House Republicans will remain focused on delivering tax relief to the people of Kansas by overriding the Governor’s veto.”

Hawkins said in the statement.

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