Topeka ? Gov. Kathleen Sebelius today vetoed bills that would have allowed the carrying of concealed guns and resulted in the reduction of benefits to some injured workers.

Sebelius said the concealed carry legislation would have made Kansas less safe.

“While every law-abiding Kansan has a right to keep and bear arms, hidden weapons make it harder for law enforcement to do its job, and they make Kansas’ workplaces less safe,” Sebelius said.

The measure adopted by the House and Senate would have allowed law-abiding Kansans to receive a permit to carry a hidden gun. Sebelius vetoed a similar measure in 2004.

On the workers’ comp bill, Sebelius said the legislation would have penalized injured workers. The measure expanded the definition of pre-existing condition that would in some cases lead to reduced benefits for injured workers.

Sebelius said the bill was unnecessary because workers’ comp benefits in Kansas were already among the lowest in the nation.

She also said the bill was over-broad.

“The Legislature’s proposal would also allow a worker to be terminated simply because of an injury on the job,” Sebelius said. “That’s a slap in the face to the men and women who work hard every day to do their jobs in a safe and efficient manner, and it’s simply wrong.”

To override a governor’s veto, the House and Senate must gain two-thirds vote. That would be 84 votes in the 125-member House and 27 votes in the 40 member Senate.