Treasurer Steven Johnson statement on line-item veto of Alternatives to Abortion program

TOPEKA – (April 21, 2023) – Kansas State Treasurer Steven Johnson today issued the following statement on Gov. Kelly’s line-item veto of funding for the Alternatives to Abortion program in the Legislature’s budget bill, House Bill 2184:

“I am disappointed by the governor’s veto of this funding, and her veto message, which misrepresented this program as directing the state treasurer to ‘oversee[] a state pregnancy crisis center and maternity home.’ Rather, the language of the bill merely directs our office to conduct a request for proposals process and contract with a nonprofit organization to promote and provide the services enumerated in the bill. Our office has talented staff with many years of experience in the state procurement process who can easily manage the selection of an organization to fulfill the requirements of this provision. Should the Legislature override the governor’s veto, we stand ready to perform this limited contracting function, and will do so with the full transparency required by the state procurement laws.”

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