Kelly Continues Budget Tour in Emporia, Hears Education, Healthcare Priorities
Governor's sixth listening tour stop draws nearly 80 residents who donated 179 pounds of food to local pantry.
EMPORIA, Kan. — Governor Laura Kelly hosted nearly 80 Kansans Thursday evening for the sixth stop of her statewide "The People's Budget" listening tour, where residents emphasized continued priorities of fully funding public education and expanding healthcare access in rural communities. Joined by Budget Director Adam Proffitt, Kelly heard familiar themes from across the state, including requests for increased special education funding, Medicaid expansion, transportation investments, free school lunches, and support for Kansans with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The town hall event doubled as a food drive benefiting the Salvation Army Food Pantry, with attendees contributing 179 pounds of non-perishable items through Kelly's partnership with Kansas Food Bank and Harvesters. The governor's remaining tour stops include Pittsburg on November 10 and Wichita on November 12, both beginning at 6 p.m., with entry on a first-come, first-served basis due to limited venue capacity.