Kansas

Here’s why Kansas House speaker won’t allow a vote on Laura Kelly Medicaid expansion bill

Published

2 years ago

January 17, 2024

Here’s why Kansas House speaker won’t allow a vote on Laura Kelly Medicaid expansion bill

Medicaid expansion legislation has now been introduced in the Kansas Legislature, but it is unlikely to receive a floor vote in the House or Senate, let alone a committee hearing.

House Minority Leader Vic Miller, D-Topeka, introduced a Medicaid expansion bill Wednesday in the House Appropriations Committee.

House Appropriations Chair Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, said he believed the bill should be introduced in the House Health and Human Services Committee but held a vote on introducing it in appropriations. The committee ultimately voted to allow the introduction of the bill in a 9-8 vote.

Also on Wednesday, Sen. Pat Pettey, D-Kansas City, introduced a Medicaid expansion bill in the Senate Ways and Means Committee without objection.

By introducing the bills in budget committees instead of health committees, the bills are now exempt from session deadlines. But Gov. Laura Kelly wants the bills acted upon much sooner.

“The legislature should listen to the over 70% of Kansans who support Medicaid Expansion and give this bill a hearing by Kansas Day,” Kelly said in a statement.

GOP leadership won’t put Medicaid expansion up for a vote

Kelly, a Democrat, has claimed that there are enough supporters of Medicaid expansion that it would pass if Republican leadership allowed it to get a vote.

“I believe that if the issue were put to a vote today, the majority of you in this chamber would support it,” she told legislators in her State of the State address last week. “Yet there are some who are so adamantly opposed to expansion that they won’t even give you the opportunity to debate and to vote.”

House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, told reporters after the speech that he won’t allow a vote on Medicaid expansion.

“I know my votes,” Hawkins said. “I know the votes in the House, and I can tell you there is not enough votes to pass. People say, ‘Well, put it out for a vote.’ I never put anything up for a vote unless it’s going to pass. You don’t ever see us put stuff out there just to watch it die. We put things up that’s going to pass, and I can tell you right now there are not 63 votes for Medicaid expansion.”

He said he won’t put it up for a vote to prove the point because “we’re not in the business of proving a point.”

While the governor’s State of the State speech frequently elicited applause from Democrats, the clapping was often far more tepid on the Republican side of the aisle. That was especially the case with Medicaid expansion, which got a standing ovation from Democrats but nearly zero applause from Republicans.

Kelly’s Wednesday news release about the introduction of Medicaid expansion legislation did have supporting statements from five Republicans: Sens. Brenda Dietrich, of Topeka; Carolyn McGinn, of Sedgwick; and John Doll, of Garden City; and Reps. Susan Concannon, of Beloit; and David Younger, of Ulysses.

Democrats, Republicans disagree over benefits of Medicaid expansion

Kelly has argued that expanding Medicaid will provide access to health care for thousands of Kansans who have jobs, but their employer doesn’t provide health insurance and they make too much money to qualify for Medicaid, which can result in them having no coverage.

“Health care coverage for 150,000 Kansans,” Kelly said. “Cost-savings for most everyone. We protect our rural hospitals. And Kansas taxpayers pay nothing extra? That’s a deal just about anyone would take.”

While the governor has cited polls showing strong public support for expanding Medicaid, Masterson said the response depends on how the question is asked.

“If you had read me the question in whatever that Fort Hays (State University) poll was, I think I might have answered yes,” he said. “You skewed the question. You go out and ask the question the right way, it is not a majority of Kansans.”

“The problem is 90% of the people out there don’t even know what Medicaid expansion does,” Hawkins said. “They think it’s helping the elderly; they think it’s helping the disabled. It doesn’t. Those populations are already taken care of.”

Hawkins said there should instead be an increase in the Medicaid reimbursement rate, more funding for “safety net clinics” and addressing the intellectual and developmental disability waiver waiting list.

“There’s a lot of things that we want to do,” Hawkins said. “But Medicaid expansion is the governor’s deal. It’s not our deal. It’s just not.”

But Hawkins said GOP leadership isn’t introducing any bills on those issues. Masterson said those topics are generally addressed in the budget.

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Kansas

Kansas football transfer portal tracker: Jan. 4 developments for KU

Published

6 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Press Room

Kansas football transfer portal tracker: Jan. 4 developments for KU

LAWRENCE — The Division I transfer portal window for college football is open from Jan. 2 through Jan. 16, and that means Sunday is another chance for the Kansas football program to shape its roster.

The Jayhawks already gained one public addition earlier this offseason in Grand Valley State transfer Jibriel Conde — whose signing was announced Dec. 4. Conde, who is making the jump up from Division II, is a 247Sports-rated three-star defensive lineman in the portal and is listed by KU as a defensive tackle. On Saturday, a number of current Kansas players — including redshirt freshman quarterback Isaiah Marshall, redshirt sophomore wide receiver Keaton Kubecka and redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Blake Herold — also outlined in social media posts on X that they are locked in with the program for the 2026 season.

Marshall is set to compete for the starting quarterback job next season. Kubecka has the chance to step up into a more significant role at wide receiver. Herold is in line to be a key part of Kansas’ defensive line.

Those positives, though, don’t outweigh the fact that there has been a sizable group of players who have revealed their intentions to transfer away. Looking overall, when it comes to those whose decisions became public before and after the portal opened, the significant names to know include redshirt senior safety Lyrik Rawls, redshirt junior linebacker Trey Lathan and freshman quarterback David McComb. Lathan led KU in tackles in 2025.

Check in here for more updates during this transfer portal window about a KU team that finished 5-7 during the 2025 season, with transfer ratings as outlined by 247Sports.

Kansas football transfer portal additions

Jibriel Conde (3-star defensive lineman from Grand Valley State) — KU lists him as a defensive tackle

Kansas football transfer portal departures

Joseph Sipp Jr. (linebacker)

Jacoby Davis (cornerback)

Dylan Brooks (defensive end)

Jaidyn Doss (wide receiver)

Carter Lavrusky (offensive lineman)

Trey Lathan (linebacker)

Tyler Mercer (offensive lineman)

Harry Stewart III (running back)

Caleb Redd (3-star edge) — KU lists him as a defensive end

Aundre Gibson (3-star cornerback)

David McComb (3-star quarterback)

Kene Anene (3-star interior offensive lineman) — KU lists him as an offensive lineman

Laquan Robinson (3-star safety)

Jameel Croft Jr. (3-star cornerback)

Logan Brantley (3-star linebacker)

Greydon Grimes (3-star offensive tackle) — KU lists him as an offensive lineman

Jon Jon Kamara (3-star linebacker)

Lyrik Rawls (3-star safety)

Damani Maxson (3-star safety)

Jaden Hamm (tight end)

Bryce Cohoon (wide receiver)

JaCorey Stewart (linebacker)

Johnny Thompson Jr. (running back)

Efren Jasso (punter)

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

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Kansas

Hundreds celebrate Kwanzaa at Kansas City’s Gem Theatre

Published

6 days ago

December 29, 2025

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Hundreds celebrate Kwanzaa at Kansas City’s Gem Theatre

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Hundreds of people packed the Gem Theatre over the weekend to celebrate Kwanzaa.

The celebrations run nightly through January 1. Each night highlights a different core value, including unity, cooperation and faith.

The event features local vendors and performances. Organizers say it’s a great way to start the new year.

The Kwanzaa celebration is free and open to everyone.

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Kansas

Kansas Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for Dec. 27, 2025

Published

1 week ago

December 28, 2025

Press Room

The Kansas Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 27, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Dec. 27 drawing

05-20-34-39-62, Powerball: 01, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 27 drawing

Midday: 9-8-9

Evening: 6-5-8

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning 2 By 2 numbers from Dec. 27 drawing

Red Balls: 01-23, White Balls: 12-15

Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 27 drawing

08-12-24-26-42, Lucky Ball: 17

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from Dec. 27 drawing

08-10-20-47-50, Star Ball: 04, ASB: 05

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Super Kansas Cash numbers from Dec. 27 drawing

03-07-17-20-27, Cash Ball: 24

Check Super Kansas Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Kansas Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599. For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at select Kansas Lottery offices.

By mail, send a winner claim form and your signed lottery ticket to:

Kansas Lottery Headquarters

128 N Kansas Avenue

Topeka, KS 66603-3638

(785) 296-5700

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a claim form, and deliver the form along with your signed lottery ticket to Kansas Lottery headquarters. 128 N Kansas Avenue, Topeka, KS 66603-3638, (785) 296-5700. Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Kansas Lottery.

When are the Kansas Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3 Midday/Evening: 1:10 p.m. and 9:10 p.m. CT daily.
2 By 2: 9:30 p.m. CT daily.
Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Super Kansas Cash: 9:10 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Kansas editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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