Politics + Government
At MLK alma mater, Biden pitches Senate rule change to safeguard voting rights
ATLANTA — President Joe Biden called for an end to the Senate filibuster during a visit to Atlanta’s Morehouse College campus, arguing Senate Democrats can push past GOP opposition now blocking major voting rights legislation. The visit by Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to Atlanta was the latest sign of Georgia’ central role as […]
House Speaker Ron Ryckman denounces Kansas governor on tax, spending, policy fronts
Kansas House Speaker Ron Ryckman says the state needs to reduce the 6.5% sales tax rate, create a rainy-day fund and invest in stabilizing KPERS.
Kansas governor asks for simple food tax relief, resilience in State of the State speech
TOPEKA — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly on Tuesday used her annual State of the State address to propose eliminating the sales tax on food with a simple 13-word phrase, freezing college tuition rates, investing in law enforcement, and funding a state water plan abandoned by previous administrations. She provided encouragement to health care workers and […]
Supreme Court’s chief appeals for more reliable judiciary funding model, 23 new judges in Kansas
Kansas Supreme Court's chief justice requests budget reform, additional judges and lauds Legislature for upgrading salaries of judicial branch employees.
Kansas House energy panel switches leaders after letter to state utility regulator
TOPEKA — House leadership removed the chairman of the House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee after the panel’s former chairman escalated tensions with colleagues by sending a contentious letter urging Kansas regulators to delay utility rate increases from February’s polar vortex. House Speaker Ron Ryckman said the decision to remove Rep. Joe Seiwert, a Pretty […]
‘What a moron. Jesus Christ,’ Fauci mutters after terse exchange with Sen. Roger Marshall
WASHINGTON — Senators from both political parties expressed their frustration with the Biden administration coronavirus response team during a Tuesday hearing that keyed in on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidance on vaccines, as well as the shortage of COVID-19 tests available for Americans. The hearing also was highlighted by a tense exchange […]
Gubernatorial candidates Kelly, Schmidt raise combined $3.6 million during 2021
Campaign finance reports: Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's raised $2 million in 2021, outpacing GOP frontrunner Derek Schmidt's $1.3 million.
Don’t look up: Kansas conservatives ready destructive asteroid of proposals that threaten us all
What’s the difference between a Kansas-sized asteroid barreling toward our state and the latest conservative proposals for our new legislative session? The asteroid won’t insist it’s being helpful. The space rock has other benefits, too. It will definitely lower taxes, as Republicans say they want, by obliterating all taxpayers and services. It will reduce the […]
Kansas Legislature kicks off 2022 session as coronavirus, election-year politics flare
TOPEKA — The 2022 Legislature convened Monday in Topeka to begin policymaking with election-year politics looming large and coronavirus-related legislation, as well as redistricting, front and center over the coming months. The 125 representatives and 40 senators will begin committee deliberations this week, hoping to pass legislation Gov. Laura Kelly sees fit to sign. As […]
Legislators, governor agree to allocate $154 million in federal stimulus funding
Kansas political leaders allocate federal stimulus aid — $100 million to expand commercial building space and $50 million to help struggling students.
Conservative groups target state, local voter registration rolls with multiple lawsuits
North Carolina’s voter rolls are like a refrigerator that needs to be cleared periodically of rotting milk and other items past their expiration date, according to Jason Snead, director of the pro-Trump Honest Elections Project. Snead is an elections advocate supporting Republican plaintiffs in a lawsuit seeking to force the state to more regularly maintain […]
Kansas legislative session promises more debate on COVID-19, critical race theory
TOPEKA — As Kansas lawmakers converge Monday in Topeka to work out issues with the ever-present COVID-19 illness, election law and the state’s economic wellbeing, some advocates are hopeful humanity, not political gamesmanship, can shine through in 2022. An election year, mixed with public outcry over the handling of the pandemic, sets up a noteworthy […]