National politics

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.
Congress to consider addition to Fort Scott National Historic Site
By Peter Hancock
July 10, 2017
The U.S. House is set to vote on a bill Tuesday night that would allow the Fort Scott National Historic Site to acquire a Civil War-era blockhouse, which is located at the park but has been held in private hands for many decades. Second District Rep. Lynn Jenkins is sponsoring the bill.
Disabled school children caught in debate over repealing and replacing Obamacare
By Peter Hancock
July 2, 2017
Public schools in Kansas receive $46 million a year in Medicaid funds to provide services for disabled children like 7-year-old Franklin Fergus of Lawrence. But caregivers and health care advocates say that funding could be in jeopardy under plans that congressional Republicans are proposing to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as “Obamacare.”
U.S. Rep. Jenkins lands in national spotlight amid Trump tweets; Yoder and Moran also condemn president’s attack
By Peter Hancock
June 29, 2017
Kansas Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins drew national attention Thursday when she pushed back against President Trump over a tweet in which he made demeaning comments about a female TV news anchor.
Sen. Pat Roberts still defends GOP health plan; health care advocates say it’s terrible for Kansas
By Peter Hancock
11:29 a.m., June 28, 2017 Updated 06:43 p.m.
U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts said the bill would have been good for Kansas and that the Senate needs to act soon, “to prepare for Obamacare’s inevitable collapse.” Health care advocates in Kansas strongly disagreed with his statement.
Kansas’ Sen. Moran, target of protests, comes out against GOP health care bill
Staff and Wire Reports
June 27, 2017
Sen. Jerry Moran issued a statement Monday saying he would oppose the Republican-backed health care bill that would have repealed much of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. His statement came shortly after GOP leaders delayed a vote on the bill that had been expected this week.

loading...