By: NICOLAS FIERRO
Salina Post
After Attorney General, Kris Kobach sued the Kelly administration for not sending basic information of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients to the federal government, the Shawnee County District Court has granted a dismissal of the lawsuit.
According to the Kelly administration, the court granted the Governor a motion to dismiss AG Kobach's lawsuit regarding the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) SNAP data request on Tuesday.
Governor 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 Gov. 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.”
ORIGINAL: DCF in full support of not releasing personal info of SNAP recipients following lawsuit from Kobach
The Kelly administration added that AG Kobach has 'made false claims' that Kansas has lost $10.4 million in SNAP funding.
"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," said the Office of Governor Kelly.
According to the Kansas Department for Children and Families, the state 'has not lost any SNAP administrative funding' and will continue to operate as normal.
The following is a statement from AG Kobach:
“We disagree with the judge’s interpretation of ripeness and are considering an appeal. Regardless, the governor continues to defy Kansas law. Needy Kansans have now lost $10.4 million in food assistance because of her political theatrics. That money is not coming back. It is laughable to suggest that she will be able to persuade the USDA to change its decision. And now, because of the governor’s desire to thumb her nose at the Trump administration, needy Kansans will lose another $10.4 million of food assistance in December.”