Kansas’ handling of its disaster declaration has been something of a disaster itself — imperiling federal aid as well as every one of the governor’s emergency orders.
Thanks to stumbling by the Legislature and squabbling between lawmakers and the governor’s office, on Wednesday it appeared that no one in state government had clear authority to extend the March 12 coronavirus emergency declaration past its current expiration date of May 1.
Without an extension, $17 million at the very least, or at worst hundreds of millions, in federal disaster aid would be in serious question, and Gov. Laura Kelly’s emergency orders — such as her statewide order to stay at home — would expire prematurely.
