COVID-19 Archives - Kansas Policy Institute

Mask mandate made unnecessary as Kansans mask-up voluntarily 0
- Featured, Tax & Spending
- October 28, 2020
Governor Kelly’s administration has engaged in questionable tactics to prove that mandates are needed to combat COVID-19. They’ve manipulated data, publicly shamed companies, and repeatedly scolded the general public. The Governor’s seemingly endless call for a statewide mask mandate demonstrates a belief that Kansans cannot make wise decisions independently. However, two independent surveys find at
READ MORE
Gov. Kelly’s COVID testing strategy won’t end restrictions 0
- Tax & Spending
- October 12, 2020
Gov. Kelly and officials around the state won’t restore COVID-19 freedoms until the state’s positivity rate is below an arbitrary threshold. However, Kansans should have skepticism when public health officials focus entirely on mass COVID testing and lowering positivity rates. COVID testing in Kansas is replete with false positives, skewed testing samples, supply chain issues,
READ MORE
It’s Official: Lockdown made Kansans poorer 0
- Tax & Spending
- October 7, 2020
The economic shock of COVID-19 and government actions to “stop the spread” is officially here. Not surprisingly, the verdict is that the U.S. economy fell like a sack of potatoes. In Kansas, economic prosperity shrank by roughly a third. Moreover, state comparisons make it evident that Governor Kelly’s restrictions and lockdown, intended to preserve our
READ MORE

COVID policy backlash, Kansans relocate to No-Lockdown states 0
- Tax & Spending
- October 2, 2020
Interstate migration is an honest perspective of how Americans view the economic opportunities in their state. Patterns and trends of Americans moving serve as evidence that people prefer states that are economically dynamic, vibrant, with plenty of opportunities. Moreover, this relationship doesn’t fade but rather, becomes more prominent under COVID-19. Updated research on moving van
READ MORE
COVID-related reduction in student enrollment will not impact school financing 0
- Education
- September 28, 2020
Contrary to what many people might believe, a reduction in public school enrollment will not have an impact on the amount of funding a district will receive. Not this year and likely not even next year. To say the formula for determining how much exactly each district receives in state and local funding is complex
READ MORE
Kansans’ earnings growth near the worst in the Plains 0
- Tax & Spending
- September 25, 2020
Official estimates show Kansans fared worse than their peers during the COVID pandemic and government lockdowns. Kansans’ personal income growth was the 9th slowest in the nation and 2nd slowest in the Plains region. Even without federal assistance, Kansans’ earnings growth was near the worst in the Plains. It’s an unfortunate sign Kansas families’ economic
READ MORE