Governor Kelly Issues Statement in Response to Judge’s Decision to Dismiss Attorney General’s SNAP Lawsuit

Topeka–In response to a Kansas court granting the Kelly Administration’s motion to dismiss the Attorney General’s lawsuit regarding the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) data request, on Tuesday, Governor Laura Kelly issued the following statement:

“It is unfortunate that Attorney General Kobach decided to engage in low-rent political theater, wasting taxpayer dollars, and spreading misinformation,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “I appreciate the court granting my administration’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit on the grounds that the Attorney General’s actions were premature as we continue through the USDA’s administrative review process and that my administration does not have a legal duty to turn over Kansans’ personal information at this time. Had the Attorney General met with my office prior to filing his lawsuit, as my office had requested, we could have explained the issue without having to go through the time and expense of the court. It is clear from the court’s order that the Attorney General’s arguments were without merit.”

Additionally, the Attorney General has, on multiple occasions, made false claims that the State of Kansas has lost $10.4 million in administrative funding for the SNAP program.

After the USDA rejected the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) Corrective Action Proposal, DCF filed an appeal with the USDA. The filing of that appeal immediately prevented the USDA from withholding the $10.4 million.

The State of Kansas has not lost any SNAP administrative funding, and the program continues to operate as usual.r