Kansas voters are being asked to give legislators a say in how the state regulates businesses, the environment and preserves residents' health.
A proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution on the Nov. 8 ballot would allow the Legislature to overturn regulations. At issue are rules as varied as which shots are required for children attending school and how often hotels must clean guest rooms.
"I'm saying it loud and clear: We need you to vote no on that amendment," Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly said after casting an early ballot Tuesday. "It clearly is a violation of the separation of powers and would create chaos all across the state."
Republicans pushed for the constitutional change after months of battling Kelly over the coronavirus pandemic.
The Legislature has a joint committee that reviews regulations, but if lawmakers object to one, their most effective tactic is to push the agency to back off. They also can pass a bill overturning the rule, but the governor can veto it.
"We can tell them that we don't like what they're doing," said state Rep. Barbara Wasinger, from western Kansas and the joint committee's vice chair. "And they can just look at you and say, 'Don't care.'"
Kelly and fellow Democrats have been the most vocal critics. State Treasurer Lynn Rogers said Wednesday that the measure would strip agencies of their independence from lawmakers.
Attorney General Derek Schmidt, seeking to unseat Kelly in the November election, backs the measure. Secretary of State Scott Schwab's spokesperson said Thursday that he's supporting it, because "it makes the most sense" for lawmakers to have that power over policy.
