Health insurance ‘a contentious issue’

Here are today’s headlines from Kansas government:Health care(LJW) Governor sets high goal on health care: Gov. Kathleen Sebelius crammed a whole laundry list of initiatives into a 25-minute State of the State address, but she received the most attention over what seemed a we’ll-go-to-the-moon moment, a call for universal health coverage.(LJW) Doctor looking at state efforts on health care: A Lawrence physician, who is involved in medical politics at the international level, is closely watching how the state handles health insurance. “It’s going to be a contentious issue,” said Donald Hatton, 64, who soon will hold a top post with the American College of Physicians. He has been an internist with the Reed Medical Group in Lawrence for 32 years.Listen to “Capitol Report” discussion of the obstacles facing universal health insurance in Kansas.Legislative issues(AP) Kansas phone fees pay for a variety of things: A decade ago, Kansas established a multimillion dollar fund financed by telephone customers to help pay for installing high-cost phone service in rural areas. Over time, the Kansas Universal Service Fund has expanded beyond subsidies for phone service in isolated areas to aiding the disabled with phone service and providing assistance to rural classrooms.(Hutchinson News) House Democrats diverse but united: Some Democrats in the Kansas House represent sprawling rural districts while others come from densely populated urban centers. The 47-member caucus includes those who support gun owners’ rights or oppose abortion, as well as those who favor abortion rights and oppose law allowing concealed carry of weapons.Gov. Sebelius(Kansas City Star) Carlin predicts tough second term for Sebelius: First came an embrace and then a quick kiss on the cheek. With that, the last Democratic governor to win a second term in Kansas – John Carlin, who served from 1979 to 1987 – congratulated the latest Democrat to accomplish that feat – Kathleen Sebelius.Etc.(LJW) News tidbits from the 2007 Legislature: On his last work day as attorney general, Phill Kline appointed journalist John Marshall to the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission. This and other news in the Journal-World’s weekly Capitol Briefing.