National politics

Majority of judicial rating committee says Kansas attorney not qualified for federal bench
By Peter Hancock
10:26 a.m., November 8, 2017 Updated 12:34 p.m.
The judicial nomination of Johnson County attorney Holly Lou Teeter was dealt a setback this week when a majority of members on an American Bar Association rating committee gave her a “not qualified” rating for a seat on the federal bench.
GOP tax plan draws partisan praise and criticism from Kansans
By Peter Hancock
November 3, 2017
Kansas Republicans in Congress are praising a tax overhaul bill that was introduced this week while Democrats say it’s only a national version of Gov. Sam Brownback’s tax policies, which they argue caused direct harm to families and children in the state.
U.S. Senate panel delays votes on judicial nominees, including one from Kansas
By Peter Hancock
November 2, 2017
Holly Lou Teeter of Johnson County was one of several federal judicial nominees whose appointments were delayed Thursday when Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee objected to the fact that they had not yet received ratings on all the nominees from the American Bar Association.
Next version of KanCare may include work requirements for some
By Peter Hancock
October 27, 2017
State officials in Kansas are preparing to ask the federal government for a new waiver to change how the state’s privatized Medicaid system operates. “KanCare 2.0,” as it’s being called, would expand the types of services people can receive through Medicaid, but it would also impose a work requirement on some individuals, an idea that some health care advocates contend is illegal.
Rollback of livestock rules divides Kansas ag community
By Peter Hancock
October 23, 2017
The Trump administration this week blocked new rules from taking effect that were intended to protect poultry producers from unfair commercial practices by food processing giants like Tyson. U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas, who chairs the Senate agriculture committee, praised the decision. But some Kansas producers are calling it a slap in the face to rural America.
Yoder hears complaints of negative tone in Washington toward teachers, public schools
By Peter Hancock
October 17, 2017
Members of the Kansas State Board of Education told U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder on Tuesday that they sense a negative attitude coming out of Washington toward public education in general, and teachers in particular. Yoder came to the board to talk about federal education funding programs and to hear the board’s concerns.
Federal officials approve 1-year extension of KanCare
By Peter Hancock
October 16, 2017
Federal health officials have agreed to extend for one more year a waiver that allows Kansas to operate its Medicaid program as a privatized managed care system known as KanCare.
Trump’s Obamacare order not expected to create insurance chaos in Kansas
By Peter Hancock
October 13, 2017
President Donald Trump on Friday issued an executive order halting payment of cost sharing subsidies for lower-income people who buy Obamacare insurance policies on the online exchange markets. But officials at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas say that will have little impact on the more than 48,000 Kansans who qualify for those subsidies because insurance companies here were allowed to raise their premiums for next year in anticipation of those subsidies ending.
Kansas delegation fully behind tax reform plan similar to Brownback policies that were repealed
By Peter Hancock
October 1, 2017
The framework for a federal tax overhaul announced this past week is similar in many ways to the tax plan that Gov. Sam Brownback championed at the state level in 2012. All six members of the all-Republican delegation from Kansas are backing the idea.
Kansans pressuring Moran, again, on upcoming Obamacare repeal vote
By Peter Hancock
September 24, 2017
The U.S. Senate is preparing for a vote this coming week on yet another bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. And once again, Republican Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran finds himself under intense pressure on both sides.
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.

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