Kline cleared of ethics allegation

Here are today’s headlines from Kansas government:Attorney General(KTKA) Kline cleared on ethics allegation: Former Attorney General Phill Kline did authorize his staff to get e-mail addresses off state computers for use in his re-election efforts. But the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission decided unanimously to let him off the hook.Health care(Kansas Health Institute News Service) Bill aimed at keeping kids fit: Legislation requiring Kansas public schools to administer fitness tests to students was introduced Wednesday by the House Education Committee.(Kansas Health Institute News Service) Plan enrollment at issue: As expected, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ proposed budget for the coming fiscal year repeats her call to expand the state’s health-care coverage program for children ages birth to five. But though the governor is pushing for less restrictive eligibility for HealthWave enrollment, her budget does not include the dollars requested by the Kansas Health Policy Authority to hire outreach workers to bring more children into public health programs(LJW) Sebelius health plan under scrutiny: Kansas health officials Wednesday pushed for support of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ proposal to expand health care coverage for children, but were asked why thousands of children eligible for current programs weren’t in it.(LJW) Local businesses oppose statewide smoking ban: Lawrence bar and restaurant owners Wednesday brought their dissatisfaction with a Lawrence indoor smoking ban to the Capitol to fight against a proposed statewide ban.Other issues(AP) Sebelius supports ethics reform: Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is again backing proposals aimed at giving voters more timely information about who contributes money to candidates and how independent groups are trying to influence elections.(LJW) New chief counsel named: Sally Howard, currently chief counsel to the Kansas Department of Transportation, was named chief counsel to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.(LJW) TABOR backers switch strategy: Unable to push through a constitutional amendment to limit taxes and spending, the Kansas chapter of Americans for Prosperity on Wednesday set its sights on a number of other initiatives that it says will help businesses and streamline government.(Harris News Service) Vo-tech schools need more funds: About 80 percent of the state’s jobs require more education than a high school diploma but less than a four-year college degree, a technical college leader told lawmakers Wednesday. However, state institutions that provide technical training lack the capacity to churn out enough graduates to meet the state’s need for workers, Manhattan Area Technical College President Robert J. Edleston said.