Kansas Policy Institute is helping Kansans amid the COVID-19 crisis by quickly becoming the go-to organization for strong economic policies, as well as a strong legal resource through their subsidiary, the Kansas Justice Institute. 

With an abundance of government action to keep up with the rapidly changing COVID-19 outbreak, KPI published a list of regulations and rules Kansas should suspend to combat COVID-19. These include the streamlining of medical licensure and loosening hospital regulations to meet emerging needs quickly.

KPI congratulated Governor Laura Kelly on waiving regulations that kept out-of-state doctors from providing services to Kansans, expediting emergency licenses to enable more healthcare workers to be available, and lifting burdensome regulations that made it harder to obtain needed supplies. 

While congratulating Governor Kelly, KPI also encouraged her to remove similar barriers for nurses, not just doctors, and other healthcare professionals now and into the future.

Kansas Justice Institute, KPI’s litigation center, has become a leading voice in Kansas amid a flurry of legal questions and concerns on the government’s actions regarding COVID-19. In an article the Topeka Capital-Journal, Kansas Justice Institute’s litigation director and general council encouraged Kansans to remember that our Constitution can handle these temporary challenges.

Governor Laura Kelly’s administration recently announced that the state was using a cell phone tracking system to monitor Kansans’ movements during the COVID-19 lockdown. Sam MacRoberts, litigation director of Kansas Justice Institute, sent a letter to Governor Kelly, demanding she discloses the legal justification and makes additional details available.

In a press conference the following day, Governor Kelly addressed KJI’s concerns, noting the state is using publicly available data which does not have personally identifiable data. KJI sent a follow-up letter to Governor Kelly confirming her statements, thanking her for the timely response, and renewing our state’s commitment to civil liberties. 

Additionally, the governor issued an executive order limiting church attendance. Kansas Justice Institute wrote a letter to the governor, stating: “In these trying times, vigilance is paramount. Flattening the curve is laudable and necessary. Reasonable action should be taken to ensure the public’s safety. As written, EO 20-18 strikes us as unreasonable and in our view, unconstitutional.” The view that this executive order was unconstitutional was also shared by Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt. Kansas’ Legislative Coordinating Council voted 5-2 along party lines to strike down the order. Republicans and the attorney general said it violated federal and state constitutional protections for freedom of religion.

In response to many questions regarding statewide and local orders, KJI provides insights into Kansas law regarding individual rights during a quarantine. It also sheds light on what government officials, including local health care officers, can and cannot do.

KPI’s news outlet, The Sentinel also strives to meet the demand for up-to-date information. The outlet created a data snapshot of COVID-19 tests, confirmed cases, and deaths while also comparing Kansas with other states and countries. 

Kansas Policy Institute and its subsidiaries, Kansas Justice Institute, and The Sentinel are a powerful force in defense of liberty in the midst of the COVID-19.