Senate President Ty Masterson, seen during a Jan. 17, 2024, Senate session, joined other Republicans in a ceremony Tuesday to finalize paperwork for the GOP leaders’ tax cut plan. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)
Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins apparently doesn’t have the votes to override Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of the GOP’s flat tax package.
Why do I suggest this?
Because he hasn’t called the override vote yet. Last week , it was easy enough to dismiss the delay as the consequence of legislative absences. But now that another week has passed without the vote, it sure looks like Hawkins has a problem on his hands.
As I suggested previously, representatives may balk at taking a politically charged vote on a bill that could well fail in the senate anyway. They also might be cognizant of the organizations now working to strengthen moderate voices in the Statehouse.
With this being an election year, each and every legislator’s seat will be for a vote.
I fully expect an override vote to happen — eventually. I also have noted that Hawkins and Senate president Ty Masterson may not have another shot at passing such a bill for three years. Hawkins will have to take a deep breath and go for it. Whatever the outcome.