The daunting challenge of passing health reform during the next legislative session is setting in, more than a month after the Kansas Health Policy Authority delivered its 21 proposals to the governor and Legislature. Covering the cost ($30 million in the first year), passing a cigarette-tax increase, and satisfying legislators’ concerns about the “premium assistance†program are among the hurdles, as is the authority’s preference for one big bill rather than separate measures.
“It’s hard to see the House passing a tax increase in an election year,†said state Rep. Jeff Colyer, R-Overland Park. “Tax, insurance, Medicaid, smoking ban — there’s enough there for multiple committees,†said Rep. Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita. “There’s not one committee in the House that would have the time to do due diligence on a bill that big.â€
But lawmakers and the governor should continue to make reform a priority, even if politics requires the change to be incremental. The issue is too pressing for too many Kansans.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
The Senate passed an energy bill Thursday that contained a long-sought boost in car and truck fuel-efficiency standards, from 25 to 35 mpg — a 40 percent gain and the first real increase in 30 years. The measure is expected to save more than 1 million barrels of oil a day by 2020. This is a real accomplishment for Congress and a major step forward in weaning the nation from its addiction to foreign oil.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
Listen to our annual satirical Christmas carols. The topics spoofed this year include the casino, Wild West World, Brownback’s presidential run and the Wichita Wingnuts. Enjoy.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
Among Reason magazine writer David Weigel’s list of “six botched predictions†for 2007 was this at No. 4: “Sam Brownback will matter.†Weigel said the reason “Kansas’ born-again Catholic fundamentalist†fizzled in the GOP presidential race, ceding his presumed base to Mike Huckabee, is that “Brownback had no personality, and Huckabee could sell bottled water to Amy Winehouse. Republicans proved more interested in an evangelical candidate they liked than an evangelical candidate with ideas.â€
Posted by Rhonda Holman
That American dream about how anybody can grow up to be president badly needs an asterisk these days. As Money magazine notes, each of the seven leading candidates (Mike Huckabee was not included) is worth more than $1 million, which 90 percent of American households are not. Here’s the breakdown of net worth, from most to least: Mitt Romney, $202 million; John Edwards, $54.7 million; Rudy Giuliani, $52.2 million; John McCain, $40.4 million; Hillary Clinton, $34.9 million; Fred Thompson, $8.1 million; Barack Obama, $1.3 million.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
