Rep. Straub misses Medicaid expansion vote

March 24-- Mar. 24--On Tuesday, state Rep. Alicia Straub, R-Ellinwood, was sworn in after receiving a gubernatorial appointment to fill the 113th Kansas House District seat. Straub was selected at a Republican convention in the 113th to succeed Greg Lewis, R-St. John, who resigned for health reasons.

But Straub, opposed to Medicaid expansion, was absent from the House Chamber on Wednesday when the issue was debated. She also was absent Thursday, when the House voted 69-54 for expansion. Rep. Lonnie Clark, R-Junction City, also missed the vote.

On Friday, the House had limited action scheduled, and 107 of the 125 members showed up. Those not present Friday included Straub and two members of the Reno County delegation, Reps. Joe Seiwert, R-Pretty Prairie, and Jack Thimesch, R-Spivey.

House Assistant Majority Leader Les Mason, R-McPherson, said he understood the Straubs had a prospective college visit set up for a child and that pre-dated her entry into the Legislature. They couldn't undo that, Mason said. Mason missed part of the debate Wednesday because he attended services in McPherson for the late U.S. Congressman Dick Nichols.

Straub will be back and ready to go Monday, Mason said.

The News was unable to reach Straub on Friday afternoon.

GOP members for expansion

Some western Kansas Republicans joined House Democrats in voting to expand access to Medicaid.

"It has been said in Kansas a person's zip code is a greater determinant of health outcomes than genetics. For rural Kansans, HB 2066 gives hope that it need not always be so," said an explanation entered into the record by western Kansans and Medicaid expansion proponents Reps. Don Hineman, Dighton; Brad Ralph, Dodge City; Boyd Orr, Fowler; and Leonard Mastroni, LaCrosse.

"Uncompensated emergency care is one of the largest issues plaguing rural hospitals," said Rep. Adam Smith, R-Weskan, also voting for expansion.

Other Republicans in the region voting for Medicaid expansion were: Reps. Russ Jennings, Lakin; Steven Johnson, Assaria; and Martin Long, Ulysses.

The region's two Democrats, Reps. Jason Probst, Hutchinson, and Tim Hodge, North Newton, also supported Medicaid expansion, with Probst urging passage in remarks on the floor in Wednesday's debate.

House members from the region voting against it were: Reps. Tory Marie Arnberger, R-Great Bend; Shannon Francis, R-Liberal; Kyle Hoffman, R-Coldwater; Les Mason, R-McPherson; Stephen Owens, R-Hesston; Ken Rahjes, R-Agra; Joe Seiwert, R-Pretty Prairie; Jack Thimesch, R-Spivey; Paul Waggoner, R-Hutchinson; Barbara Wasinger, R-Hays; and Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill.

"I find it irresponsible to take a population of which 45 percent currently have private health insurance and turn them into government dependents. This bill will increase total Kansas spending on Medicaid by nearly a billion dollars. By passing HB 2066, we have increased the federal deficit by over $10 billion in the next decade. The best interests of Kansas taxpayers were at odds with the needs of the special interests, but the special interests won," said a statement from Hutchinson's Waggoner and State Reps. Bill Rhiley, R-Wellington, and Leo Delperdang, R-Wichita.

Salary hikes

The budget that passed the Senate last week did not contain pay hikes for state employees, including corrections officers.

State Sen. Ed Berger, R-Hutchinson, voted for the budget and said salary increases typically are handled in the omnibus bill that will be voted on during the wrap-up session in May.

Berger has called for increasing pay for prison guards and he sounded confident that would be included in legislation.

Bowlers

On Wednesday, Sen. Ed Berger, R-Hutchinson, introduced Senate Resolution No. 1722, commending the Buhler High School girls bowling team for winning the 2019 Class 5-1A State Bowling Championship.

Named in the resolution were bowlers Mary Chambers, Mallory Cross, McKinley Cross, Alyssa Herl, Adria Huiett, Jaiden Montandon and Sidney Ropp, with Emily Morton as manager. Coach Skip Wilson and assistant coach Terry Story also were named in the resolution.

In addition to being introduced on the Senate floor, the contingent from Buhler, which included principal Mike Ellegood, took a tour of the Capitol and even ventured up to the dome, according to Berger.

Scholar

Braxton Moral, the Ulysses High School senior who will graduate in May from high school and from Harvard University with a bachelor's degree, was recognized in the House on Thursday. Rep. Martin Long, R-Ulysses, made the introduction.

"His ability to complete this task is a testament to his intellectual abilities as well as the enjoyment he has with the educational process. He is intellectually gifted, but he truly loves the educational process and challenging himself," Long said.

Moral's parents, Carlos and Julie Moral, were present, along with school officials from Ulysses USD 214, and from the Kansas State Department of Education. Some members of the Kansas State Board of Education attended, too.

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