TOPEKA — A bill barring Kansans who use food benefits from buying soda and candy failed to move forward last week, while another bill passed that opponents said would stall stage agencies’ ability to react to changes in assistance programs and intellectual or developmental disability services.
Senate Bill 79, which would have stopped anyone using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits from purchasing soda and candy, died when the House failed to take up the bill to override Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto. The Senate voted to overturn the veto, 29 – 11.
Both chambers, however, voted along party lines to override the governor’s veto on House Bill 2240. Opponents expressed concerns that it would create obstacles for state agencies to move quickly in making needed changes in Medicaid, SNAP and other assistance programs. The bill requires legislative approval for any changes expanding eligibility for public assistance programs, increasing state costs or making certain changes for individuals receiving IDD services. If the Legislature isn’t in session, decisions will be made by the Legislative Coordinating Council, which has 14 days to act.
“Just the Medicaid ones, every single administration that we’ve had since I’ve been an adult has over 100 things that would have had to go before a legislative body,” said Rep. Suzanne Wikle, a Lawrence Democrat, during a March debate. “I don’t think we understand how many things we’re talking about. This bill requires that all changes — simple, mundane changes that all states make to programs all the time to keep in compliance with federal regs, update certain things for Medicaid, for SNAP, for child care assistance, for TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) — those are all going to have to go before some sort of legislative body now.”
Sen. Cindy Holscher, a Democrat from Overland Park, echoed those concerns before the Senate override vote last week.
“It shifts power away from actual experts in our agencies, and this will hurt our response time for critical programs and cause bottlenecks in our processes,” she said, adding that there are appropriate processes in place for oversight of spending.
Sen. Renee Erickson, a Wichita Republican, said this bill puts the responsibility for spending where it should be.
“The reason for this is that the Legislature, not bureaucrats, should be overseeing the allocation of funds and making those decisions,” she said.
Kansas Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Kansas Reflector maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Sherman Smith for questions: info@kansasreflector.com. Follow Kansas Reflector on Facebook and Twitter.
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