Statement on Governor Brownback’s State of the State Speech

Statement of David Jordan, Executive Director of the Alliance for Healthy Kansas, on Governor Brownback’s State of the State Speech

“Over 75% of Kansans and an overwhelming majority of legislators from both parties have a dream to expand KanCare and bring our tax dollars back to Kansas to benefit our state. Yet, in his state-of-the state speech tonight, Governor Brownback made no mention of expanding the KanCare program to cover more hard working Kansans. He thus ignored an issue the will help the state budget, improve the health and financial well-being of Kansans, and bring hundreds of millions of our federal tax dollars back home.

It’s well past time for Governor Brownback, Lt. Governor Colyer, and legislative leadership to stop playing politics with the lives of Kansans. More than 150,000 Kansans remain caught in a coverage gap of the state’s own making. We have forfeited the return of more than $2.3 billion of our own federal tax dollars by not taking action. Our rural hospitals continue to struggle.

We cannot afford to wait any longer. We need to bring our tax dollars back home to create jobs, protect our communities, and improve the health of Kansans.

Kansas continues to have the option to expand KanCare. Kansans expect their governor and their legislators to stop making political excuses and act. Let’s do what’s right for Kansas and expand KanCare.”