Olympics: U.S. leads in ice dancing See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER Monday, February 17, 2014
‘PINING’ FOR THE WIN
STATE
Lawmakers cool to Medicaid expansion By JIM McLEAN Kansas Health Institute
Cubs Scouts’ creations head to the pinewood derby By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Iola’s Cub Scout Pinewood Derby had its typical enthusiastic reception Sunday afternoon at Allen Community College. Fifteen Cubs unveiled racers they had constructed, ranging from sleek, laid-back cars to one made to look like a military tank. Each of the three dens, Tiger, Wolf and Bear, had several heats to determine winners. Then, overall Pack winners were determined. At the top of the heap in the Pack was Jarrod Powe, whose car averaged 227 mph on the short track of about 30 feet. Second place went to Konner Larney, 224.7 mph, and third to Keaton Larney, a smidgen back at 224.5 mph. Den winners were: See DERBY | Page A4
Watching as their cars streak across the finish line in Sunday’s Cub Scout Pinewood Derby were, from left, Lucas Maier, Everett Glaze, Alex Donnelly and Ethan Riebel. Above, Andy Dunlap, long a Scout activist, places cars at the starting line. REGISTER/BOB JOHNSON
‘Hurry up and wait’ in the House By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
The elephant in the Kansas Capitol every year is state funding for education. This year is no different and the elephant is getting restless. So are legislators. “School finance is hauntingly quiet,” Kent Thompson, 9th District representative, told the Register Sunday afternoon. The Supreme Court has yet to give its opinion on a lawsuit that claims Kansas is not adequately funding K-12 education. “We’d like to know where we stand,” Thompson said. For perspective, base state aid to education this school year is $3,838 per pupil, down from $4,400 in 2009-10. Also, the number would have been closer to $4,500 this year if the Legislature had adhered to promises made before the recession hit, when education funding fell victim to budget cuts. If the state’s high court decides funding is “not adequate,” legislators will be faced with deciding what is and how to fund it. More conservative members have railed about what they call the court’s interference and that they may fight a decision they find unacceptable. A show-down of monumental proportions may be brewing.
Quote of the day Vol. 116, No.78
Deciding funding is the Legislature’s job, Thompson maintained. “The Supreme Court can’t appropriate money, that’s the Legislature’s role.” It is the responsibility, however, of the high court to interpret the state constitution, to which legislators have pledged their support. “It’s been a matter of hurry up and wait,” on the court’s decision, as well as other issues that have surfaced since Thompson was appointed last fall to fill the 9th District vacancy created by the death of Ed Bideau, Chanute, who was elected in 2012. “Everything moves slowly, Kent Thompson slower than I had thought it would,” Thompson said. “That’s good, though. There’s a lot of committee work” that goes into the run-up to decisions on bills “and there’s a lot to learn.” He serves on Tax, Health and Human Services and Vision 20-20 committees. “The Vision committee has been very interesting. We’re looking at things that may happen 10, 20, even 50 years from now. It gives an interesting view of the future.” See HOUSE | Page A4
TOPEKA — Kansas policy makers are generally opposed to expanding Medicaid unless a more private-sector approach is used, according to a briefing paper written by a consulting firm headed by former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt. The 40-page paper written by Leavitt Partners for the Kansas Hospital Association finds that widespread opposition to the Affordable Care Act in Kansas extends to the issue of Medicaid expansion. It would be “extremely difficult and likely impossible” for expansion supporters to win legislative approval for any “proposals that resemble ‘Obamacare,’” the report states. But, it goes on to say that the Legislature is “much more open to market-based solutions” for extending coverage to tens of thousands of low-income adults not eligible for Medicaid. Kansas is one of 23 states that have not chosen to expand Medicaid to include adults earning below 138 percent of the federal poverty line — $15,856 for individuals and $35,325 for a family of four. Tom Bell, president of the KHA, said the Leavitt Partners report confirms what he already knew, that opposition from Gov. Sam Brownback and Republican legislative leaders to Obamacare is the biggest barrier to expanding Medicaid eligibility in Kansas. See EXPANSION | Page A4
HUMBOLDT HOMECOMING 2014
Justice Gillespie and Zack Osborne were named the 2014 winter homecoming king and queen Friday night at the Humboldt High School basketball game against the Fredonia Yellowjackets. REGISTER/STEVEN SCHWARTZ
“A simple grateful thought turned heavenwards is the most perfect prayer.” — Doris Lessing, British novelist 75 Cents
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