Legislature

Committee hears cancer treatment parity bill

0 | Mar. 18, 2010 | Legislature, Health Care Delivery

Insurance lobbyists renewed their opposition Thursday to a bill that would require health insurers to cover oral chemotherapies the same way they do intravenous chemotherapies.

Menu labeling discussed

0 | Mar. 18, 2010 | Legislature, Nutrition

It's not clear what will happen to federal health reform legislation that would require chain restaurants to label menu items, but the Kansas Legislature won't take any action on the measure this year.

Compromise tax break bill on the move

0 | Mar. 18, 2010 | Legislature

A House-passed bill to expand a tax incentive for businesses that create or retain jobs in the state has been rewritten by a Senate committee to limit its cost and avoid a veto.

Tax proposals shot down by Senate panel

0 | Mar. 18, 2010 | Legislature

Plans to increase taxes on tobacco, alcohol, sugary drinks and general sales were each rejected by the Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee. Members even shot down a bill that would benefit retailers for fear it would be a vehicle for amendments on the Senate floor.

Advocates: Mental health system in crisis

0 | Mar. 18, 2010 | Advocacy, Legislature, Mental Health

About 300 people from across Kansas came to Topeka as part of Mental Health Advocacy Day.

Maneuvering on budget and taxes continues

0 | Mar. 18, 2010 | Legislature

House GOP leaders today released their plan for a balanced budget without tax increases, saying it would not require "draconian cuts." The plan relies heavily on reduced spending for highways and K-12 schools. It also counts on an influx of federal dollars for Medicaid that has not yet been finalized by Congress.

Changes sought in smoking ban law

0 | Mar. 17, 2010 | Legislature, Tobacco

A new proposal in the Kansas House would allow some bars to permit their customers to smoke indoors.

Committee shelves drug-testing bill

0 | Mar. 17, 2010 | SRS, Legislature

The Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee voted Wednesday to table a House-passed bill that would have exposed welfare recipients to random drug testing.

Proposal for soda pop tax gets hearing

0 | Mar. 17, 2010 | Legislature, Nutrition

Busloads of beverage workers helped fill the hearing room and the hallways of the Statehouse.

KHPA board members blast proposed salary cuts

0 | Mar. 16, 2010 | KHPA, Legislature

To accommodate $800,000 in salary cuts, the agency would have to lay off 45 of its 190 Medicaid workers.

House postpones debate on repealing sales tax exemptions

0 | Mar. 16, 2010 | Legislature

House members voted to wait until May 3 to consider tax legislation, saying that's when they would have a clearer idea of the state's budget needs.

Tax-break deal to be discussed

0 | Mar. 16, 2010 | Legislature

The Senate Commerce Committee is expected to discuss trading one tax break for another in an effort to expand a job-creation program at little or no additional cost to the treasury.

Legislature wades into tax bills this week

0 | Mar. 15, 2010 | Legislature

After weeks of talking about weak revenues and budget cuts, the Legislature this week takes up various tax proposals ranging from elimination of sales tax exemptions to a new tax on soda pop.

Chairman unveils $340 million tax package

0 | Mar. 15, 2010 | Legislature

The chairman of the Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee on Monday proposed a four-fold plan for raising more than $340 million for the state treasury.

Governor says votes there for major tax increase

0 | Mar. 15, 2010 | Legislature, Medicaid-CHIP

There are enough votes to pass a $300 million to $400 million tax increase, the governor told KHI News Service. Still uncertain, he said, is the specific mix of taxes legislators will settle on.

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