Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D. Gives Joint Address to Kansas Legislature

Press Release

Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D. today delivered an address to a joint session of the Kansas Legislature. Governor Colyer laid out key tenets of his agenda as the new Governor, including his plans for government reform, which included several high-level staffing changes, and an announcement of four new executive orders on transparency, which he will sign on Thursday, February 8, 2018.

"Transparency is key to better accountability," said Governor Colyer in his remarks, "And accountability is the key to real results."

Gov. Colyer also addressed the ongoing debate over school finance that has now spanned the last ten Governors' administrations. Colyer offered up his framework for how he hopes the legislature will create their plan for responding to the Supreme Court's ruling.

"This will not be easy," Colyer expressed, "but public servants and leaders are not called to make the easy choices. We're here to do the right thing, and the right thing is never easy."

Colyer's remarks also placed a definitive emphasis on protecting life in our state. The Governor criticized the courts manufacturing a non-existent right to an abortion in the Kansas Constitution, saying, "Our constitution does not mention a right to an abortion. This is violence against basic facts and it cannot stand!"
He went on to argue that on the matter of abortion rights in the state Constitution, "The people should have the final say."

Governor Colyer also announced other initiatives in the areas of jobs, and healthcare. The full text of the speech may be found on the Governor's website at the following link:
https://governor.kansas.gov/newsroom/speeches/

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