Kansas
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.
KISMET, Kan. (KWCH) – Last month, wildfires in southern Kansas raged, destroying farmer Randall Thorp’s property, tools and 960 acres of land.
As he handles the massive cleanup project, he knows he is not alone.
“It’s about the greatest show of love I’ve ever seen,” Thorpe said. “I didn’t realize that I would have all this support in my greatest time of need.”
The two main contributors to Thorp’s optimism are the community around him and his faith.
“I’ve seen a lot of darkness that, because of my faith in Jesus, I can see the light in my heart,” Thorp said. “And that’s what keeps me going.”
Throughout the past few weeks, friends, family and neighbors have come to his property to help sort out and clean up the debris.
“I come out here and I’m by myself and I find it hard to do anything, but when a group of people all shows up and they’re wanting to work, then I’m ready to get to work with them, and they’re all ready to help me,” Thorp said.
Even with all the uncertainty following the fire, Thorp has been able to feed the 150 cattle he has, a number that is now growing since it is calving season. Friendly helpers are providing free hay for his animals to eat.
There’s a long way until things will be back to normal, but Thorp is determined to get there.
“You know, I can see some light at the end of the tunnel, but I’ve got to stay strong and keep it going and make it through,” Thorp said.
The powerful show of dependability from fellow Kansans is something he will never forget.
“I’ve been shown lots of love,” Thorp said.
You can still donate to Thorp’s GoFundMe here.
Copyright 2026 KWCH. All rights reserved. To report a correction or typo, please email news@kwch.com
Kansas City International Airport in Missouri was partly evacuated over a “threat” Sunday afternoon but has since resumed “normal operations,” officials said.
“The security incident at [Kansas City International Airport] is now clear and normal operations are resuming,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote on X.
“I want to thank law enforcement including the FBI for their timely response. The safety of our passengers, airport staff, and crew members is always our number one priority.”
Airport representative Jackson Overstreet told The Associated Press in an email that the threat was reported at 11:50 a.m. local time, at which point an entire terminal was evacuated.
He said planes that landed after the threat were being held on the taxiway until it could be fully investigated.
FBI rep Dixon Land said the bureau was “aware of the incident” and worked with “law enforcement officials to determine the credibility of a threat.”
Passenger Logan Hawley, 29, told the outlet he was getting ready to board a flight to Texas when he saw police and K-9 units swarming the terminal.
“Suddenly there was an airport worker saying ‘immediately evacuate,’ people got up fast and rushed out of there,” Hawley said.
Roughly 2,000 people were ushered out of the terminal and onto the tarmac, he said.
Photos and video from the airport circulating online show large groups of passengers being led onto the tarmac or funneling out of the terminal.
With Post Wires
Kansas
Kansas family stranded in Iran with critical medical need makes it home through congressional intervention
SHAWNEE, Kan. – A Kansas family said a call to their congresswoman’s office helped bring their daughter and son-in-law home after they were stranded overseas with an unmet critical medical need.
Janet Fulgham said her daughter Laura and Laura’s husband Adam had been traveling in the UAE when an attack on Iran disrupted their plans to return home.
With their trip delayed and Laura facing a medical need that could not be met there, Fulgham said she contacted the office of Rep. Sharice Davids.
Fulgham said Davids’ office worked with the State Department to flag the emergency and secure a flight for the couple.
“The first thing that went through my mind was her medication. It is such a big part of her life. And then how do we get them out safely? How on earth do we get them out?” Fulgham said.
She said the experience prompted her to share a message with other families.
“Very often things are out of your control. But what I want everyone to know is, no matter what state you’re in, there are services to the American public that we may not know about,” Fulgham said.
Davids, who represents Kansas’ 3rd Congressional District, said the situation reflects the real-world impact of international crises.
“This is one of those areas where you really see how much we’re talking about real people. You know, Laura and Adam are real Kansans who are stuck in a situation that they did not ask to be in. I’m just so relieved and glad that they’re back home,” Davids said.
Fulgham said the relief of her daughter’s return is tempered by awareness of others still waiting.
“Happiness and my delight that they’re home. Mixed with my total exhaustion. But then there’s so many other parents and friends and family members who are waiting for their loved ones. It’s hard to really celebrate when you know there’s such a big need,” Fulgham said.
Davids is expected to visit the family later this week. Her office said it is still working to help other Kansas families who remain stranded.
Copyright 2026 KCTV. All rights reserved.
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