National politics

Former Sen. Bob Dole awarded nation’s highest civilian honor
By Peter Hancock
September 15, 2017
Foremer U.S. Sen. Bob Dole of Russel has been awearded the Congressional Gold Medal, one of the highest civilian honors the natiobn bestows.
Census Bureau: Minorities, young adults and the poor less likely to have health insurance in Kansas
By Peter Hancock
September 14, 2017
Young adults, low-income individuals and certain minority groups in Kansas are now more likely than their national counterparts to be without health insurance, the Census Bureau said Thursday. Those trends are fueling renewed debate in Kansas’ upcoming gubernatorial election over whether the state should expand its Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
Kansas uninsured rate falls only slightly since ACA took effect
By Peter Hancock
September 13, 2017
The percentage of Kansans without health insurance has fallen at a much slower rate than the nation as a whole since passage of the Affordable Care Act. The state’s refusal to expand Medicaid and its reluctance to promote other portions of the ACA are being cited as major reasons.
Insurers blame Washington politics for health care rate hikes; Colyer still blames Obamacare
By Peter Hancock
September 10, 2017
Officials from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas and Medica Insurance Company both said the Trump administration’s threats to de-fund part of the Affordable Care Act, and uncertainty over the future of the program, were factors that prompted them to seek premium hikes next year. But Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer issued a statement saying the increases were due to inherent problems with Obamacare itself.
U.S. House passes bill raising debt ceiling; three Kansas representatives vote no
By Peter Hancock
11:54 a.m., September 8, 2017 Updated 01:01 p.m.
Reps. Lynn Jenkins, Kevin Yoder and Ron Estes all voted against raising the nation’s debt ceiling, a measure needed to prevent the U.S. from defaulting on its debt. The measure was tied to a $15.25 billion disaster aid package, mainly for Texas, and a continuing resolution to keep the government operating through early December.
Moran votes no on raising debt limit
By Peter Hancock
September 7, 2017
U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran said raising the debt limit beyond $20 trillion without any changes in spending policy will cause long-term harm to the economy. But some experts say failure to raise the debt ceiling would have caused the U.S. to default on its debt, which would have had far greater consequences.
Trump’s decision to phase out DACA sparks partisan reactions in Kansas
By Peter Hancock
September 5, 2017
Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt and GOP members in Congress largely supported President Trump’s decision to end a program that has allowed thousands of undocumented immigrants to remain in Kansas without fear of deportation. But Democrats in the Kansas Legislature and a leading faith-based lobby group condemned the decision.
In Lawrence, Jenkins vents frustration with Congress, shares opinion of Trump
By Peter Hancock
August 24, 2017
U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins told a Rotary Club audience in Lawrence Thursday that she has “never been more frustrated in my life” because of the partisan gridlock in Washington. She also said President Donald Trump “was not my pick of the litter,” but she believes he is capable of doing good things for the country.
Kansas Rep. Yoder tries to balance GOP views, centrist tone
Associated Press
August 23, 2017
A Republican congressman in Kansas sought Tuesday night to sound bipartisan, centrist notes while defending the GOP’s approach on health care and other issues during a town hall meeting in a district that President Trump narrowly lost last year and with national Democrats already targeting him.
Health care, Trump comments dominate Sen. Moran’s town hall meeting in Topeka
By Peter Hancock
August 18, 2017
Republican U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas found himself on the defensive during a town hall meeting in Topeka Friday as constituents pressed him over his support for repealing and replacing Obamacare and why he hasn’t been more forceful in denouncing controversial statements by President Donald J. Trump about violence at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va.
Paul Davis launches bid for 2nd District congressional seat in Kansas
By Peter Hancock
August 15, 2017
Lawrence Democrat Paul Davis officially announced Tuesday that he will seek the 2nd District congressional seat in 2018, saying he wants to change the political culture in Washington.
Local Obamacare advocates share stories, urge action during town hall meeting
By Peter Hancock
July 20, 2017
About 70 people took part in a town hall meeting Thursday at the Lawrence Public Library to share their own health care stories and to organize a campaign to urge the Kansas congressional delegation not to repeal the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
Roberts: Fraudulent organic imports threaten U.S. producers
By Peter Hancock
02:08 p.m., July 13, 2017 Updated 06:06 p.m.
U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas said Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture should do more to protect domestic organic farmers from fraudulent organic imports. His statement came as the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee that he chairs opened a hearing on the needs of organic and specialty crop producers in advance of the 2018 Farm Bill.
Fort Scott expansion bill passes U.S. House
By Peter Hancock
July 11, 2017
The bill allows the Fort Scott National Historic Site to accept the donation of a Civil War-era blockhouse known as Lunette Blair, which stands next to the fort but has never officially been part of the park.
Congress about to consider tax overhaul similar to one Kansas just repealed
By Peter Hancock
July 11, 2017
Second District Rep. Lynn Jenkins serves on the Ways and Means Committee that will hold a hearing Thursday on a Republican tax plan that bears a striking resemblance to the state tax policies that the Kansas Legislature just reversed.

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