Laura Kelly

Laura Kelly (born January 24, 1950) is a Democratic member of the Kansas Senate, representing the 18th District since 2005. She is currently the Senate Minority Whip.^[1]

Personal life

Kelly was born in New York City. She studied at Bradley University where she earned a BS in Psychology, and at Indiana University where she earned a MS in Therapeutic Recreation.^[2]

Political career

In late 2009 Kelly briefly considered a run for Kansas's 2nd congressional district.^[3] During the 2011-2012 Legislative Sessions, she served as the Kansas Senate Assistant Minority Leader^[4]

Issue positions

Priority issues for Kelly include:^[5]

• Education
• Lower health care costs
• Working with the public and with all levels of government for job creation

Committee assignments

Kelly serves on the following legislative committees:^[1]

• 2015 Special Committee on Foster Care Adequacy
• Financial Institutions and Insurance
• Health Care Stabilization Fund Oversight Committee
• Joint Committee on Pensions Investments, and Benefits
• Joint Committee on State Building Construction
• Legislative Budget Committee
• Legislative Post Audit Committee
• Public Health and Welfare (Ranking minority member)
• Robert G. (Bob) Bethell Joint Committee on Home Community Based Services and KanCare Oversight (Ranking minority member)
• Senate Select Committee on KPERS
• State Employee Pay Plan Oversight
• Ways and Means (Ranking minority member)

Sponsored legislation

Legislation co-sponsored by Kelly includes:

• A bill regarding the income tax^[6]
• A bill regarding retirement pensions^[7]
• A resolution supporting a U.S. laser program^[8]

Group ratings

Abortion:

• Senator Kelly supported the interests of the Kansans for Life 17 percent in 2005.^[9]

Budget, Spending, and Taxes:

• Supported the interests of the Kansas Taxpayers Network 15 percent in 2005.^[10]
• Supported the interests of the Kansas Taxpayers Network 20 percent in 2006.^[10]
• Senator Kelly received a rating of 16.7 from the Kansas Taxpayers Network in 2007.^[10]
• Senator Kelly received a rating of 9.1 from the Kansas Taxpayers Network in 2008.^[10]

Business and Consumers:

• Senator Kelly supported the interests of the Kansas National Federation of Independent Business 100 percent (2005–2006) ^[11]
• Senator Kelly received a rating of 67 from the Kansas National Federation of Independent Business (2007–2008) ^[11]

Education:

• Senator Kelly supported the interests of the Kansas Association of School Boards 80 percent in 2005.^[11]
• Senator Kelly supported the interests of the Kansas Association of School Boards 67 percent in 2006.^[11]

Past endorsements

• Kansas Sierra Club (2008) ^[12]
• Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-America Missouri (2008) ^[13]
• Greater Kansas City Women's Political Caucus (2008) ^[14]
• Kansas National Education Association (2008) ^[15]

Major donors

Some of the top contributors to Kelly's 2008 campaign, according to the National Institute on Money in State Politics:^[16]

Senate Democrats of Kansas, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee of Kansas, Laura Kelly (self-finance), American Federation of Teachers, Astrazeneca, Kansas National Education Association, Kansas Trial Lawyers Association

Political parties were her largest donor group.

References

External links

• Kansas Legislature - Laura Kelly official government website
• Senator Laura Kelly official campaign website
• Project Vote Smart - Senator Laura Kelly (KS) profile
• Follow the Money - Laura Kelly
  • 2008 2006 2004 campaign contributions