Statehouse Blend Kansas

Episodes

1. 20

   With Talk Of Shortened Session, Kansas Lawmakers Still Stuck on Abortion And Medicaid

   Kansas lawmakers are making contingency plans in case the spread of the coronavirus forces an early end to the 2020 legislative session. A shortened session would lessen the chances of lawmakers resolving their differences on abortion and Medicaid expansion before heading home. Susan Wagle, the...

   Mar 13, 2020

   16m
2. 19

   Kansas Officials Steel For Coronavirus; Lawmakers Seek End To Stalemate

   Kansas health officials say the state is ready to deal with the new coronavirus now that Kansans are starting to get sick. Lawmakers still aren’t ready to move past a dispute on abortion and Medicaid expansion that is blocking progress on both issues. Host Jim McLean talks with a legislator at…

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   Mar 6, 2020

   17m
3. 18

   Halfway Through But A Lot Left To Do - Plus, Getting Young Kansans To 'Nerd Out' On Politics

   Kansas lawmakers sped through dozens of bills this past week to keep them alive past a “turn around” deadline marking the midpoint of the session. Measures to legalize sports betting and to give citizens more control over property taxes were among bills that made the cut. Still, many of the…

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   Feb 28, 2020

   14m
4. 17

   How Abortion Battle Could Boost Wagle's Lagging U.S. Senate Campaign

   Conservative Republicans at the Kansas Statehouse are attempting to block passage of Medicaid expansion until lawmakers send a constitutional amendment on abortion to voters. The amendment, which would overturn a recent Kansas Supreme Court ruling that declared abortion a right protected by the...

   Feb 21, 2020

   14m
5. 16

   Abortion And Vaping Laws: The Latest At Kansas Legislature

   Kansas is slipping to the back of the pack on some critical economic measures. In this episode of Statehouse Blend Kansas, host Jim McLean talks with Kansas Department of Commerce Secretary David Toland about what the agency is doing to try to reverse those trends. McLean also hears from Kansas...

   Feb 14, 2020

   14m
6. 15

   Abortion Vote Fails, And A Look At The Kansas DOT

   The Kansas House of Representatives has stopped — at least temporarily — an all-out push by anti-abortion groups for a constitutional amendment that they say is needed to maintain the state’s ability to regulate the procedure.

   Feb 8, 2020

   16m
7. 14

   Abortion, Sports Gambling And Rural Kansas

   Kansas lawmakers are nearing decisions on two big issues — Medicaid expansion and a constitutional amendment on abortion. They’re also talking about how to raise more money without increasing taxes. One idea is to legalize wagering on sporting events. We talk about all that and with Republican...

   Jan 31, 2020

   13m
8. 13

   Medicaid Expansion, Abortion In The State Constitution And Taxing Streaming Services

   The legislative session in Kansas is just getting underway, but lawmakers are already at odds on the hot-button issues of abortion and Medicaid expansion. Republican leaders are pushing for quick passage of an anti-abortion amendment to the Kansas Constitution. Meanwhile, Democratic Gov. Laura...

   Jan 24, 2020

   14m
9. 12

   We'll Pick That Back Up In 2020

   Battles over a Republican tax cut proposal and Medicaid expansion persisted through the last day of the Kansas Legislature's 2019 session … and remain unresolved. Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning says he plans to address healthcare and tax policy next session, when maybe he'll be Senate President.

   Jun 1, 2019

   8m
10. 11

    All Wrapped Up — But Not With A Medicaid Expansion Bow

    All Kansas lawmakers really had to do to end the 2019 legislative session was pass a budget. They did that, with gusto. But also without passing Medicaid expansion. That's one of the items left on freshman Rep. Brandon Woodard's to-do list for next year.

    May 7, 2019

    9m
11. 10

    School Funding Passed, Commerce Secretary Confirmed, We Are Adjourned

    Things got a little chippy during the final week of the regular legislative session, but Kansas lawmakers came away with a school funding plan and a permanent commerce secretary. And now Sec. David Toland is ready to move on to reinvigorating the state's economic development efforts.

    Apr 7, 2019

    8m
12. 9

    Dollars Vs. Policy — A Clash Of School Finance Titans

    The Kansas Senate has agreed to give school districts raises. The House has not. Instead, negotiators are headed to the bargaining table with a stack of new requirements for reporting how schools spend their money. Rep. Kristey Williams is the one leading the charge for more accountability from...

    Mar 31, 2019

    7m
13. 8

    It's Not Really About The Tweets

    Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's new administration experienced some social media mishaps this past week, and conservative Republicans pounced. Washburn University political scientist Bob Beatty says there's more going on than meets the eye.

    Mar 24, 2019

    8m
14. 7

    Governor Kelly Keeps Her Veto In Her Back Pocket

    Just after approving the school funding Gov. Laura Kelly asked for, the Kansas Senate turned around and gave the final okay to a tax relief package she opposes, daring the new governor to issue her first veto.

    Mar 17, 2019

    8m
15. 6

    Round And Round On Medicaid Expansion

    Gov. Laura Kelly signed her first bill and school finance got some attention, but roundtable discussions on Medicaid expansion dominated a short week at the Kansas Statehouse. Sara Collins, a healthcare economist with the Commonwealth Fund, and Michael Cannon, health policy director for the Cato...

    Mar 10, 2019

    8m
16. 5

    Red Light, Green Light For Bills And Highways

    Kansas lawmakers have given the green light to a slew of bills to proceed past a mid-session break, while stopping other proposals in their tracks. Meanwhile, new KDOT Secretary Julie Lorenz is looking forward to getting the state highway program back on the road.

    Mar 2, 2019

    8m
17. 4

    Slow The Decline Of Rural Kansas How?

    Rep. Don Hineman got a new assignment this session to figure out how to sustain rural Kansas. The three things the chairman of the Rural Revitalization Committee says rural communities need most: broadband, housing, and, of course, health care.

    Feb 23, 2019

    7m
18. 3

    The Return On The Medicaid Expansion Investment

    The Kansas House has rejected Gov. Laura Kelly's plan to refinance pension debt. But the new governor says that won't tank the state budget or doom her priorities, including Medicaid expansion. Should expansion come to be, it'll be Health Secretary Lee Norman's job to implement it, and he says...

    Feb 16, 2019

    8m
19. 2

    The Senate Says 'Yes' To Tax Relief

    With Republican Senate President Susan Wagle leading the charge, the Kansas Senate sent a massive tax relief measure on to the House. Wagle says Kansas has to do something to make sure individuals and businesses don't get stuck with a bigger state tax bill after President Trump and Congress...

    Feb 9, 2019

    7m
20. 1

    Getting To Know Kansas' Medicaid Expansion Bill

    Republicans are pushing hard and fast for tax relief that could threaten Gov. Laura Kelly's budget priorities, including Medicaid expansion. The governor has unveiled her plan to extend Medicaid coverage to another 150,000 low-income Kansans. The plan might seem familiar. The official sponsor of...

    Feb 2, 2019

    7m