Sebelius lays out priorities – but will GOP go along?

Here are today’s headlines from Kansas government:State of the State(LJW) Sebelius sets goal of universal coverage: Gov. Kathleen Sebelius on Wednesday set a bold destination – providing health care for every Kansan – but no road map on how to get there.(KTKA) Governor sets agenda for 2007: The Governor wants to reduce taxes, grow the state’s economy, and make sure every Kansan has health insurance. And those are just a few of the goals she outlined during her State of the State address Wednesday night.(KTKA) GOP ready to work with Sebelius: Republicans didn’t have a lot of negative things to say about the Governor’s State of the State address. In fact, they seem to agree with her on many of the proposals she made.Kansas prisons(LJW) Prison population nearing capacity: Kansas lawmakers reaped the political benefits of passing tough-on-crime legislation last year. Now they must pay the bill. The state inmate population is expected to exceed the system’s capacity within two years, officials said Wednesday. Some say that means lawmakers must now plan to build more prison space.(Kansas Health Institute News Service) Jails filling up with mentally ill: State hospitals for the mentally ill are full, leaving former and prospective patients in jail or on the streets.Legislative issues(Topeka Capital-Journal) Lottery wants permanence: The Kansas Lottery is up for renewal this year, but if the agency’s executive director has it his way, the lottery won’t have to be extended again. Ed Van Petten told the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee on Wednesday that a proposal the lottery will put forward this year would remove the sunset provision.(Garden City Telegram) GOP takes aim at illegal immigrants: House Republican leaders targeted immigrants and, in some cases, their employers with several bills they plan to introduce this session. The legislation will seek harsher penalties for hiring illegal immigrants or selling fake documents. Another bill aims to declare English the state’s official language.Abortion(Wichita Eagle) D.A. says Tiller obeyed law: George Tiller complied with the law in reporting underage girls who entered his Wichita clinic for abortions, the Sedgwick County district attorney said Wednesday.Kansas Board of Education(Capital-Journal)State board to review sex program in February A day after taking steps to revise its science standards, the Kansas State Board of Education agreed Wednesday to tackle sex education requirements installed by the board’s previous conservative majority.