Kansas governor Sam Brownback has allowed a bill created to keep concealed guns out of public hospitals and mental health centers to become law without his signature.
It extended the right of people who are otherwise qualified to own a gun to carry concealed firearms into virtually any public facility, except K-12 public schools, unless there is adequate security to prevent anyone from bringing weapons into the building.
He can sign the measure, veto it, or let it become law without his signature.
Now that the bill has become law, Rupe said he expects the supreme court to set up a process for the state to demonstrate how the measure complies with the constitutional requirement. But the conservative governor also faced strong pressure from hospitals and the University of Kansas Health System.
University of Kansas graduate student Megan Jones is shown in this file photo from January 26, 2017, testifying at a Kansas Senate committee hearing in favor of a bill to allow colleges, universities and local governments to continue banning the carrying of concealed weapons in public buildings.
Play ball! GOP, Dems to battle as 1 _ Team Scalise
Aguilar plays outfield for the Democratic team; before the shooting, Scalise was slated to play second base for the Republicans. The game, which pits Congressional Democrats against Republicans, begins at 6 p.m.at Nationals Park in Washington , D.C.
"My concern was if that money was spent, it would take away from direct patient care", he said.
"Rather than investing limited resources in games of chance, our goal is to help low-income Kansans find a path to self-reliance and independence through education, work and savings", his veto message said. Under the bill, new revenue from automated vending sales of lottery tickets would have provided $4 million this year and as much as $8 million annually in the future to community mental health centers in Kansas. "The state should not encourage behavior that undermines our efforts to encourage upward economic mobility and long-term financial security and thrift".
The bill passed with veto-proof majorities in both houses, but it isn't clear if legislative leadership will attempt an override when lawmakers return for sine die on June 26.
The bill will raise $1.2 billion, which will greatly aid in covering the projected $889 million shortfall for the next two fiscal years - 2018 and 2019. State officials said failure to pass the bill could have jeopardized Kansas' share of the tobacco master settlement, which pays for children's programs.
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