TOPEKA (KSNT) – Gov. Laura Kelly has asked the Kansas Supreme Court to quickly decide whether she has the power to file lawsuits on behalf of the state, a question that’s taken on new urgency as she seeks emergency federal funding for food assistance.

Benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are not being distributed in November due to the month-long federal government shutdown.

Kelly wants Kansas to join a multi-state lawsuit to restore the funding, but Republican Attorney General Kris Kobach has refused. The state says about 188,000 Kansans will go without food assistance unless the issue is resolved.

Kelly filed a lawsuit against Kobach on Friday seeking clarification of her constitutional authority.

“The lawsuit is necessary due to Attorney General Kobach’s failur

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