Tax Fighter Takes On Mayor Q Amid KCMO Discrimination Lawsuit

First, let's share some context and background regarding the current sitch . . . 

The federal lawsuit against Kansas City, Missouri, challenges its Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) contracting program, claiming it constitutes unlawful race- and sex-based discrimination. Filed by Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, the suit seeks a permanent injunction to block the city from considering race and gender when awarding public contracts.

The state argues that the city's percentage-based participation goals—which aim to allocate 14.7% of contract dollars to minority-owned firms and 14.4% to women-owned businesses—violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The lawsuit targets the city's own May 2026 disparity study. The Attorney General claims the study failed to provide a "compelling state interest" or legal basis to continue the 30-year-old program, instead finding that minority firms were "overutilized" in several sectors relative to their market availability.

City leadership chose to maintain the policy unchanged following the May study, and the Mayor has openly expressed disagreement with recent federal court rulings that restrict affirmative action and race-conscious policies. The city has stated its intent to fully fight the charges in federal court.

But better than than . . . 

CHECK THIS CLASH OF THE TITANS WHEREIN POLICY EXPERT PATRICK TUOHEY TAKES ON MAYOR Q OVER RACIAL QUOTAS & LOCAL BIZ AS USUAL!!!

Here's how we see the argument . . . 

Patrick Tuohey argues the Attorney General's lawsuit highlights a lack of justification for Kansas City's discriminatory contracting policies, noting consultants found no evidence to support them. Conversely, Mayor Quinton Lucas dismisses the lawsuit as a politically motivated, frivolous stunt, defending the city's programs while criticizing the Attorney General's focus.

Mr. Tuohey supports the Attorney General's lawsuit against Kansas City, citing consultants who found "no evidence to support the need for the city’s race- and sex-conscious contracting preferences" and criticizing Mayor Quinton Lucas for offering the "novel legal theory: 'The courts suck'". Conversely, Mayor Lucas dismisses the lawsuit as "politically grandstanding" and a "frivolous and a waste of time."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Show-Me Institute Shines Light on Kansas City's Discrimination Policies

Patrick Tuohey highlights a lawsuit against Kansas City for violating anti-discrimination laws, stemming from problematic contracting policies.

Mayor Lucas says lawsuit over Kansas City contracts is political stunt, frivolous

Quinton Lucas accused Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway of engaging in a "culture war issue" and a "political stunt."

Missouri AG claims Kansas City, Missouri, commits race-, sex-based discrimination

The Missouri attorney general filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the City of Kansas City, Missouri, for alleged race- and sex-based discrimination when it comes to public contracting.

Developing . . .