By the Associated Press.
Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has vetoed conservative Republicans’ proposed ban on transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports and a GOP proposal aimed at making it easier for parents to try to remove materials from public school classrooms and libraries.
Neither measure vetoed Friday cleared the Republican-controlled Legislature with the two-thirds majorities in both the House and Senate necessary to override a veto. Kansas lawmakers are on their annual spring break but are scheduled to reconvene April 25. Kelly argued both were driven by politics.
Republicans say the measure on transgender athletes protects competition and called the other measure a proposed “Parents’ Bill of Rights.”
Additionally, Kelly signed a redistricting measure expected to preserve Republican supermajorities in the Kansas Legislature. The measure she signed Friday also would make it possible for conservatives to elect more members to the state school board.
Kelly didn’t say why she signed the measure in announcing her action, but she previously had praised the new House and Senate maps. The new legislative lines also had bipartisan support.
The State Board of Education map was more contentious because board members opposing it. The Kansas Constitution requires the state Supreme Court to review the legislative maps and rule on their validity within 45 days.
