Washington – Wednesday evening before the Rules Committee, Congressman Huelskamp (KS-01) submitted an amendment to the Omnibus spending bill to defund President Obama’s Amnesty Order. Partnering with dozens of other members, Huelskamp testified before the committee on the urgent need to include the amendment.
Congressman Tim Huelskamp (KS-01) issued the following statement:
“As someone who has followed the immigration rules for my own family, it is unfair that President Obama’s amnesty rewards those that have broken the rules and punishes those that have followed them.
“At issue here is ensuring that this spending bill defunds Obama’s executive amnesty now rather than later. That is what I fought for in the Rules committee and what I will continue to fight for.
“I am very disappointed that the Republican leadership refused to allow us to even consider this amendment on the floor of the U.S. House.”
The veteran band is perched at #3 on the tally with earnings of a whopping $100 million, thanks to last year’s History of the Eagles tour.
The list is based on earnings between June 2013 and June 2014, taking into account tour receipts, record sales, merchandise sales, endorsement deals and other income.
Finishing in fourth place behind the Eagles is Bon Jovi, which brought in $82 million, thanks to its huge Because We Can tour.
Another New Jersey rock act, Bruce Springsteen, lands at #5 after his latest tour earned him an estimated $4 million per night.
Also making it into the top 10 was Paul McCartney, who came in at #8 while raking in $3.5 million per show. Sir Paul, who is 72, also is the oldest musician appearing in the top 10 of Forbes‘ tally.
Other veteran rockers on Forbes’ list include The Rolling Stones, at #19 with $47 million in earnings; Roger Waters at #20 with $46 million; and Elton John at #21 with $45 million.
Who’s #1 on the list? Rapper and music mogul Dr. Dre, who earned $620 million — the biggest single-year payday of any musician in history, according to Forbes — when Apple purchased Beats by Dr. Dre, the company he helped found, for $3 billion.
Cindy Luxem, chief executive of the Kansas Health Care Association.-KHI photo
By Andy Marso
KHI News Service
TOPEKA — Hundreds of nursing homes and other assisted living facilities in Kansas will be required to participate in a fund meant to spread the risk of malpractice lawsuits starting next month. Advocates for those facilities say the change is a positive, but it has insurance agents scrambling to find liability coverage for their assisted living clients in a limited market.
For more than two decades, health care facilities in Kansas have been required to participate in the Health Care Stabilization Fund, a pot of money derived from a surcharge on their private malpractice insurance that provides additional coverage for malpractice claims. The fund makes it less likely that a few expensive claims could sink a facility financially.
Until this year, nursing homes and other adult care facilities were not considered health care providers under the law. Cindy Luxem, president and CEO of the Kansas Center for Assisted Living, said that wasn’t good for the facilities or consumers who might file a claim.
“We had a lot of providers in Kansas that weren’t really able to provide anything (in compensation),” Luxem said. “And that doesn’t set up a good situation for the consumer.”
Luxem said she and other assisted living advocates wanted to be included in the stabilization fund for years. The opportunity presented itself this year when legislators reopened the statutes governing the fund in response to Kansas Supreme Court concerns over a long-static $250,000 cap on non-economic “pain and suffering” damages in malpractice suits.
Legislators voted to gradually raise the cap and to include nursing homes and other assisted living facilities in the stabilization fund.
Fred Benjamin, president of Coffeyville’s Medicalodges and chairman of the Kansas Health Care Association’s board of directors, called it a “positive change” that was overdue given the evolving ways that health care is delivered.
“People that were in hospital intensive care units 10 years ago are in skilled nursing facilities today,” Benjamin said.
‘Unexpected hurdles’
Hundreds of Kansas adult care facilities are now slated to come under the Health Care Stabilization Fund at the beginning of 2015. But some are still scrambling to find the necessary private liability coverage to do so.
“The changes created some unexpected hurdles in the nursing home market,” said Stephanie Mulholland, a spokeswoman for the Kansas Association of Insurance Agents. “We know that several of them had to find new insurance carriers in a pretty short amount of time.”
All facilities within the stabilization fund must purchase private liability coverage from an “admitted carrier” approved by the Kansas Insurance Department. The insurance department vets the carriers’ financial information to ensure their solvency.
Previously, adult care facilities not in the stabilization fund were allowed to purchase coverage from “foreign surplus lines,” or carriers that the Kansas Insurance Department allows to do business in the state “if such coverages are not readily obtainable in the admitted market.”
Chip Wheelen, executive director of the Health Care Stabilization Fund, said a surprising number of the adult care facilities had obtained their professional liability coverage from the non-admitted carriers.
“I have to admit a lot of them have said, ‘Our insurance agent got our coverage from an excess and surplus lines carrier,'” Wheelen said.
Mulholland said the limited number of admitted carriers for adult care facilities has made it difficult in some cases to find affordable coverage that will satisfy the stabilization fund requirements. There are seven companies admitted in Kansas to provide liability coverage to adult care facilities.
“Insurance agents have quite a bit of experience finding coverage for those harder-to-place markets,” Mulholland said. “They’ve been able to do that in most cases, but in the long term I think we need to look at creating more competition within this particular market to drive rates down.”
Wheelen noted that adult care facilities that have been declined by at least two of the admitted carriers can purchase insurance from the Health Care Provider Insurance Availability Plan that will satisfy the requirements of the stabilization fund.
That public plan is administered on a third-party basis by Topeka-based Kansas Medical Mutual Insurance Company, or KaMMCO, one of the private commercial insurers that is an admitted carrier in Kansas.
Premiums for the availability plan are set at 120 percent of those for the commercial insurance policies, because Wheelen said the availability plan is not intended to be a competitor for the private sector, but rather a backstop for health care providers who are unable to get liability insurance there.
No extra cost expected
The long-term cost to the facilities now joining the Health Care Stabilization Fund is unknown.
Debra Zehr, president of LeadingAge Kansas, a group that represents 160 nonprofit assisted living providers, said she did not expect an increase for her members
“There really isn’t any extra cost necessarily for providers who have carried liability insurance historically, which is 100 percent of our members and a large percent of all providers,” Zehr said.
Zehr noted that when the state switched to managed care Medicaid under KanCare in 2012, the three companies administering the managed care contracts all required facilities to carry liability insurance to be in their networks.
“There may have been in the past some members, some years when rates really went up, they’d drop their coverage,” Zehr said. “But that’s not true anymore.”
The challenge now is making sure those policies come from admitted carriers, to satisfy the requirements of the stabilization fund.
Wheelen said the Kansas Association of Insurance Agents deserves credit for trying to educate agents about that change, including hosting a webinar about it as early as June.
“Unfortunately, I’m afraid a lot of them weren’t watching and they still got caught by surprise,” Wheelen said.
Wheelen said “a lot” of agents have contacted the stabilization fund to find out where to get the needed coverage. Those calls have a greater sense of urgency now.
“Beginning Jan. 1, the rules become more strict,” Wheelen said.
Lisa Ignoto, director of marketing and communications for KaMMCO, said any administrators at adult care facilities who are unsure if they’ve done what they need to do to comply with the Health Care Stabilization Fund requirements can contact advocacy groups like LeadingAge Kansas or the Kansas Health Care Association.
“As the deadline is getting closer, our underwriting department is prepared to step up its game,” Ignoto said. “There’s still time to get it done.”
Andy Marso is a reporter for Heartland Health Monitor, a news collaboration focusing on health issues and their impact in Missouri and Kansas
WASHINGTON, D.C.– At the weekly press conference with Republican leaders, Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) highlighted that despite the struggle many families are facing this Holiday season there is reason for hope. In January, America’s New Congress is ready to get to work on solutions to help hardworking Americans and get our economy moving again.
The following are Congresswoman Jenkins’ remarks “A recent article from CNBC stated this, ‘Santa Claus is going to bring lots of presents in a couple weeks, but lower health-insurance costs for most Americans won’t be one of them.’
“There is no doubt that families continue to struggle with healthcare costs in this economy and in fact, healthcare costs now outpace the growth of household wages. Clearly our healthcare system is broken and is in need of repair.
“But there is no reason to be down during the Holiday season, there is great hope. America’s new Congress in 2015 is eager to get to work on solutions that empower all Americans and help everyone get ahead and achieve a better life.
“I am confident in our efforts to pass legislation with bipartisan support and find solutions to get our economy moving again and put more money in people’s pockets.
“We will work to put solutions on the President’s desk for his signature. We intend to lead, and we hope the President’s New Year’s resolution will finally be to work with us.”
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Police continue to search for a man who stole hundreds of thousands of dollars of collectible comic books from a northwest Wichita store.
Police say the man broke into the store on Nov. 19 and made several trips while he carried away about 40 items such as Avenger and Hulk comic books.
Mark Rowland, owner of River House Traders, says he lost more than $300,000 in the theft. But Rowland says he’s more upset because he’s owned some of the items for more than 50 years.
KAKE-TV reports (https://bit.ly/1yDyaI8 ) there is no description of the suspect, only that he left in a dark-colored car.
Rowland now has a security system and says he will store some of his more valuable collectibles elsewhere.
Marleah Augustine is Adult Department Librarian at the Hays Public Library.
Randall Munroe left NASA in 2005 to start up his hugely popular site XKCD, which offers a witty take on the world of science and geeks. It’s had over a billion page hits to date. A year ago Munroe set up a new section – What If – where he tackles a series of impossible questions: If your cells suddenly lost the power to divide, how long would you survive? How dangerous is it, really, in a pool in a thunderstorm? If we hooked turbines to people exercising in gyms, how much power could we produce? Far more than a book for geeks, WHAT IF explains the laws of science in operation in a way that every intelligent reader will enjoy and feel the smarter for having read.
I’ve read XKCD a few times and have been impressed by Munroe’s wit and unapologetic geekiness, so I looked forward to reading this collection. This book is definitely scientific, but don’t be intimidated: while you’ll learn plenty about ideas ranging from putting a submarine into orbit around the earth to the Richter scale to how much actual power Yoda can produce, you thankfully don’t have to be a rocket scientist to enjoy the humor found here. The most enjoyable portion for me was the “Weird and Worrying Questions” section, in which you do have to wonder what happened to make the submitter think of that particular query.
Folks who are regular readers of the webcomic will find new entries here, and those who haven’t visited the site will likely do so after getting a taste in this book.
PRATT–You don’t have to be a seasoned birder, or even own an expensive pair of binoculars to participate in a Christmas bird count. In fact, an identification book and a bit of free time will do the trick. Birders of all skill levels will spend the next few weeks during organized bird counts recording sightings of resident and migratory birds in an effort to compile as much data as possible about Kansas’ winged species. If you have an interest in birds and don’t mind weathering the elements, consider participating in a Christmas bird count this season. It’s fun and a great way to learn more about birds in Kansas.
The Hays bird count is Sun., Dec. 14, starting at 7:30 a.m. Participants will meet at the south entrance of Albertson Hall, Fort Hays State University. More information is available from biology professor Dr. Greg Farley, [email protected], (785)-656-3701.
Christmas bird counts have been conducted for more than 100 years, and more than 2,000 counts are held across the nation each year. Each winter, about 50 individual count events occur in Kansas. More than 40 are scheduled so far this year with others to be announced. Count locations are scheduled in all corners of the state and points in between. Christmas bird counts are typically conducted in traditional circular census areas, each with a 7.5-mile radius. This consistency ensures data collected is comparable for population trends over time.There are many count compilers in Kansas who send data to the Kansas Ornithological Society (KOS), and there is no charge to participate. The KOS will accept data collected on counts conducted from Dec. 13 through Jan. 11, 2015. The 115th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count period is Dec. 14 to Jan. 5 and participation is also free of charge.
Count events are easy to prepare for; the best tools are a pair of binoculars, a good field guide, and appropriate clothing and footwear for possible extreme weather. For those counting in an area with a lake, a spotting scope may be necessary to identify birds at long distances. It’s also a good idea to study up on species expected in your location.
Information about Kansas Christmas bird counts can be found at the KOS website, www.ksbirds.org. For details, just click “2014/15 Kansas Christmas Bird Counts.”
LONDON (AP) — Swiss researchers have suspended the testing of one of the leading Ebola vaccine candidates after some volunteers reported unexpected side effects.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Hopitaux Universitaires de Geneve said the trial had been suspended “as a precautionary measure.” The study involving 59 people began in November.
Researchers reported four cases of mild joint pain in the hands and feet in people who got the shot 10 to 15 days earlier. Officials will stop giving the vaccine next week to get more data and liaise with others who are testing the vaccine in the U.S., Canada, Germany and Gabon.
The vaccine was developed by the Canadian government and is licensed to two U.S. companies, NewLink and Merck
The trial is scheduled to resume in January in Geneva.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A University of Kansas fraternity will remain on interim suspension as the school continues an investigation of alleged sexual assaults occurring at the house.
Kappa Sigma had asked the university to remove it from suspension, arguing that it did not represent a threat. University and fraternity representatives met Nov. 24 to discuss the request.
The Lawrence Journal-World reports university procedures require a decision within 10 business days of the meeting. But the university said Wednesday that deadline was extended and Kappa Sigma’s interim suspension will continue indefinitely.
The suspension was imposed Sept. 30 after the university received allegations of sexual assault during a party at the fraternity the previous weekend.
Lawrence police are conducting a separate investigation. A spokesman said Wednesday no arrests have been made.
BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — University of Vermont Police say three students are accused of stealing a chicken from a Burlington fraternity house, killing it and eating it at a dormitory.
The Chittenden County prosecutor says he has declined to prosecute the students and all three cases have been referred to an administrative board.
Police said they received a report of trespassing and larceny on Sunday at a private residence where members of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity live.
The president of the fraternity, which is for those interested in agriculture or food industries, said they have decided not to pursue charges.
Police say they don’t know the motive for the theft.
The Ellis County Law Enforcement Center at 1205 Fort soon will be almost empty when the entire judicial department makes its move this weekend to join the Hays Police Department and the Ellis County Sheriff’s Offive at a temporary location at the former N.E.W call center building, 3000 New Way.
The HPD and the ECSO made their move over the weekend — a process Sheriff Ed Harbin said has been “hectic” but will be worth it in the end.
“It’s nice knowing when we move back to our other LEC that is going be something that is a lot more workable … and the added jail space will be nice,” he said.
The departments are moving to make room for renovations to the LEC expected to last approximately a year.
Ellis County Sheriff Ed Harbin shows off the jail last week at the temporary LEC building, 3000 NEW Way.
Until then, the former N.E.W. building is now a maze of cubicles, with each department separated from the other.
The site has three holding cells where people who have been arrested will stay an average of three hours until being relocated to jails in other counties.
Harbin said his department’s fuel and transportation costs will definitely increase, noting his team has been shuttling inmates for nearly two weeks, sometimes spending 11 hours a day going from one county to another.
“We try to do everything in one big sweep. … If we take one to Trego County, to Ford or Graham counties, we try to do that all at one time,” he said. “However there will be exceptions if we take someone to Trego county … then within a day or so they are to bond out, so we have to pick them up again and bring them back so they can bond out.”
The temporary location off of Commerce Parkway and south of Old U.S. 40 has three courtrooms to be used for district court cases, and the district magistrate judges are holding municipal court in the Court Services Building, 1204 Fort.
The Rural Fire Director, IT Director and Dispatch Center will not be moving to the temporary site, instead staying in their current locations in the basement of the LEC during construction.
Harbin said there may “be some issues to work through” regarding dispatch and law enforcement officers not having as much face-to-face contact.
However, Harbin said so far everything is running smoothly — a tribute he says is due to the LEC employees.
“I can’t tell you enough good about theses guys,” he said. “They have taken care of business, haven’t grumbled … did what needed to be done..so it’s all worked well.”
OtherWords columnist Jim Hightower is a radio commentator, writer and public speaker.
An old bumper sticker offered a stinging response to the Bush-Cheney regime’s enthusiasm for waterboarding: “Impeach Bush,” it urged. “Torture Cheney.”
Bush and Cheney escaped unscathed. The Senate has just released an astonishing report detailing the depths of their depravity, but neither is likely to end up before a judge.
Yet stunningly, there’s a new debate — this time within the Obama administration — about whether anti-torture treaties apply to U.S. troops and intelligence agents overseas.
Once upon a time, Barack Obama himself took a firm stand against torture. As a U.S. senator in 2005, he strongly supported a bill by his Republican colleague John McCain to prohibit American officials from engaging in cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment of detainees — not just on U.S. soil, but anywhere in the world.
Then, on his second day as president in 2009, Obama proudly signed an executive order banning torture.
Well done.
But now, military and spy agency lawyers are pushing the administration to embrace a loophole that Bush created after Congress passed the McCain bill.
Goaded by his snarling, autocratic vice president, George W. claimed that as commander in chief, he could override the torture ban if the cruelty took place in detention camps and other “black site” facilities on foreign soil.
Even though Obama’s 2009 executive order directly refuted the Bush “overseas” loophole, hawkish forces now want the White House to refute its own refutation, leaving wiggle room for torture in U.S. foreign policy.
Unfortunately, the Obamacans are wobbling, with some aides calling this change a “technical” issue.
Hardly! A ban is a ban — not a matter of fleeting policy, but of settled moral principle. It’s a statement to the world of who we Americans are.
Please call the White House comment line to tell Obama to stick to moral principle over the imagined convenience of torture tactics. The number is 202-456-1111.
OtherWords.org columnist Jim Hightower is a radio commentator, writer, and public speaker.
PRATT – It’s a new year, you’ve got your tackle bag in order, your reels all have new line, and your buddy just called saying he found a school of fish and he’s catching them faster than he can reel them in. You hightail it to the lake and begin to unload your gear only to realize you forgot to buy your 2015 fishing license. So much for hitting that honey hole. Most annual licenses and permits expire Dec. 31, but you can avoid missing out on another fishing hot spot by buying early. Licenses and permits for the 2015 hunting, fishing seasons, as well as park permits, go on sale Dec. 15, 2014 and are valid through end of 2014 and all of 2015.
Licenses and permits can be purchased online at ksoutdoors.com, at any Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism state park or regional office, and at any license vendor.
Still have a few people on your Christmas list to buy for, but are stumped on what to get them? Consider giving the gift of a permit or license. It’s a gift that will last all year long, and make memories that will last even longer.
Licenses and permits that will go on sale Dec. 15 include:
-Hunting licenses and annual permits
-Fishing licenses and annual permits
-Furharvesting licenses
-State park vehicle, camping, and trail permits
For more gift ideas, including magazine subscriptions to Kansas Wildlife & Parks magazine, visit the KDWPT Outdoor Store online at ksoutdoors.com/outdoor-store. And, the state’s premier travel magazine, Kansas!, is available at www.travelks.com/ks-mag.
To purchase a license or permit online, visit ksoutdoors.com and click “Licenses/Permits.”
