Black lawmakers slam Dem government for shutting down Dem-backed Underground Railroad project that defected over trans issue

Two black Kansas lawmakers, a Democrat and a Republican, target their state’s Democratic governor after she torpedoes a project that would restore and expand a significant portion of the Underground Railroad.

Governor Laura Kelly shut down the project, which had been championed by Democratic state Rep. Marvin Robinson, after Robinson opposed the governor in key votes involving abortion and transgender athletes. Kelly used his veto to remove the project from the state budget.

The project would have received $250,000 in the next state budget for the development of a state plan to develop and restore the ruins of Quindaro in Kansas City, Kansas, which Robinson represents. Quindaro was a town and station on the Underground Railroad that helped slaves escape to Canada.

KS GOVERNMENT. LAURA KELLY VETOS FUNDING FOR QUINDARO RUINS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Robinson told Fox News Digital in an interview that Kelly’s veto was “cruel”.

“To me, it was like cruel and tortured, I don’t know much about recovery and all the other unfortunate terms that people were using,” Robinson said, wondering how the funding almost caught on before d being abruptly interrupted by the Governor.

Despite the “mean things that were done during the legislative session, a lot by Democrats, mostly by Democratic-elected House legislators,” Robinson told Fox News that “it wasn’t bigger than God.” . One of Robinson’s fellow Democrats had called him a “house nigger” for siding with Republicans in key votes.

Kansas Democratic Governor Laura Kelly’s decision to veto funds from the state budget for a project to develop and restore part of the Underground Railroad in the state was considered by several media outlets as a political reward for Representative Marvin Robinson, who sided with the Republicans. several problems this year. (Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images)

Republican Kansas State Rep. Patrick Penn, who like Robinson is black and helped secure funding for the Underground Railroad project, was scathing in his rebuke of Kelly and other Democrats in the ‘State.

“Diversity of thought exists in the black community like any other. No other race expects white liberal elites to line up and vote for Democrats like the black community does,” Penn told Fox. News Digital in a video. interview. “Such sectarian expectations are both unfortunate relics of a petty past and simply unconscionable.”

“Marvin Robinson, as the newest State Representative, has been nothing but the most honest, caring and gentle, and most passionate about his people here in the House 35th District,” he said. he continued. “He cares about their vision, their values, and he votes accordingly.”

GOVERNMENT OF KANSAS. KELLY ISSUES PARTIAL VETO OF GOP EDUCATION PLAN, SETTING UP POTENTIAL LEGAL BATTLE

“He understands that the ruins of Quindaro, the site and the burial grounds and everything, is a good Kansas story because it tells the story of how this state was created in 1861. It’s a free state to oppose to the tyranny of racism and slavery, and that is his passion,” Penn added of Robinson.

“The Democrats owned Marvin’s great-great-grandfather in Texas, so it’s no small feat that they think they own his vote in the Kansas legislature as well,” Penn added. “Marvin showed them on their feet that they absolutely don’t.”

Kansas Republican Rep. Patrick Penn said State House Democrats wanted Robinson’s “vote and demanded it.” (Patrick Penn)

Kelly told lawmakers in his veto message last week that the Quindaro site is a “fundamental piece of Kansas history,” but noted that Republicans added the money to the budget in their final days of session this year. Kelly said the idea did not pass and her veto will stand as lawmakers adjourned for the year.

“Advocates should go through the appropriate channels to seek funding for this measure and ensure it receives the recognition it deserves,” Kelly wrote in her post. She made virtually the same statement to Fox News Digital when asked for comment, noting that her administration “recognizes the significance of this culturally significant site” and that it “will support efforts to elevate this piece.” cornerstone of Kansas history and to honor the surrounding community”.

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Robinson told Fox News Digital he hasn’t spoken with Kelly since she cut funding from the state budget, insisting she “has the right to do what she has to. do”.

“I feel a little sorry for her because it reflected a very petty, almost unbelievable depth of misunderstanding” the significance and significance of the Quindaro ruins, Robinson said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report