The Commerce Secretary gives up his job and crosses the river.

Kansas House leaders question secretary of commerce's departure to Missouri

The Republican leadership of the Kansas House is questioning the timing of former Kansas Secretary of Commerce David Kerr’s resigned to take a job as the director of the Department of Economic Development in Missouri. The Show-Me State is Kansas’ rival for a $414 million economic development project expected to create 4,500 jobs. [Read more...]

LAW: Judy Smith: 'Just because a person practices a certain sexual behavior shouldn’t make them a special class of citizen.'

Hate crime amendment could affect personal freedoms, opponents say

The Defense Authorization Bill passed the U. S. Senate Thursday on a vote of 68-29, and is now on its way to President Barack Obama, who is expected to sign the bill. The House passed the bill Oct. 8, 281-146. [Read more...]

HEALTH CARE: Amendment would protect state residents from federal penalties and allow doctor-patient choice.

State lawmakers push to preserve Kansans' right to decide on health care

Kansas House and Senate Republicans are joining together to promote an amendment that they say protects Kansans from any government-managed health-care reform that might come out of the U.S. Congress. [Read more...]

State GOP calls for Kansas Democrats to show their health care plans

Pelosi unveils final reform plans, Kansas Republicans opposed

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., unveiled the Democrat leadership’s final health-care product today, a reform that would cost approximately $894 billion, provide coverage to 36 million Americans through an expansion of Medicaid and create a government-run health-care option. [Read more...]

Plaintiffs, researchers argue there would be less funding for 'ethical and successful' adult stem cell research

Court upholds Obama's plan to use tax dollars for embryonic stem cell research

A United States district court judge dismissed a case Tuesday seeking to reinstate the ban of federal tax dollars being used to fund embryonic stem cell research. [Read more...]

SUNSHINE: Six says "open meetings" should be just that. JoCo DA says there are exceptions.

Despite AG's findings, Howe pledges to keep doors closed to some public meetings

Attorney General Steve Six, responding to an inquiry from state lawmakers about the scope of the Kansas Open Meeting Act, determined that taxes and budget issues cannot be discussed during meetings that are closed to the public, except in cases in which it is “burdensome and impractical, if not impossible” to do so. [Read more...]

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