Governor Laura Kelly today joined a group of Wichita community leaders at the Kansas Black Leadership Council sponsored luncheon held Wed., July 13 at the Scotch and Sirloin. Kelly’s remarks covered voting rights, economic viability, and health care – issues she’s worked on advancing during the past four years.
Many of these issues including the elimination of sales tax on food have consistently been on KBLC’s annual legislative agenda. The sales tax on food bill, approved by the legislature and signed by the governor earlier this year, calls for a phase out of the sales tax over until it reaches 0% in 2025.
At the luncheon, Kelly says if reelected, she would fight to get the sales tax cut to zero immediately.
In addition to Kelly, State Treasurer Lynn Rogers, a Wichitan, also addressed the group about programs and services implemented in his office including a program that recconects Kansas citizens with loss money and property. If you want to check to see if you have any unclaimed money, go to kansascash.ks.gov.
About 100 guests attended the event including a number of elected officials and community leaders from across the state who were in Wichita for the regional conference of the Council of State Governments.
Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple and County Commissioner Lacey Cruse also addressed the group.
The primary goal of the Kansas Black Leadership Council is to advocate for the adoption of policies on a state and local level that positively impact Kansas’ African-American community. Formed in 2015, the 501c3 nonprofit, adopts, presents an annual legislative platform, sponsors the Kansas Black Legislative Day, and advocates for and against the adoption of policies on a state and local level. They work closely with some of the state’s leading community organizations and businesses including The Community Voice newspaper, the Kansas Black Legislative Caucus, the Kansas African American Affairs Commission and the NAACP Kansas State Conference.
Membership is open to any African American resident of Kansas who is interested in advancing the lives’ of African Americans across the state.