LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump and congressional Republicans have pledged to cut federal taxes to boost the economy. But some GOP-controlled states have already adopted similar strategies, only to see growth falter and budget gaps widen.
The situation is particularly worrisome in Kansas, Oklahoma and Indiana, where lawmakers are now debating whether to reverse course and raise taxes.
And in states that have seen expanded Republican control, such as Arkansas and Iowa, political leaders are signaling caution about any new tax-cut proposals.
The reforms show that tax changes always carry an element of uncertainty — about the economy, government needs and even the prices of commodities such as oil. Although the federal and state tax systems are significantly different, both are subject to forces beyond lawmakers’ control.
TOPEKA – During the cold winter months, heating a home can be a financial strain. In order to ensure Kansans keep warm this winter, the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) will begin accepting applications for its Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) on Tuesday, Jan. 17.
“Kansas winters have the potential to bring brutally cold temperatures, snow and ice,” said DCF Secretary Phyllis Gilmore. We want to make sure families don’t go cold due to financial concerns. Our LIEAP staff is trained and ready to begin processing applications, so families have warm homes this winter.”
LIEAP provides an annual benefit to help qualifying households pay winter heating bills. Persons with disabilities, older adults and families with children are the primary groups assisted. In 2016, nearly 44,000 households received an average benefit of a little under $500.
To qualify, applicants must be responsible for direct payment of their heating bills. Income eligibility requirements are set at 130 percent of the federal poverty level. The level of benefit varies according to household income, number of people living in the home, type of residence, type of heating fuel, and utility rates.
Applicants must demonstrate that they have made payments on their heating bill two out of the last three months. Those payments must be equal to or exceed $80 or the total balance due on their energy bills, whichever is less.
Applications for the program have been mailed to households that received energy assistance last year. LIEAP applications are also available at local DCF offices and through partnering agencies. They can be requested by calling 1-800-432-0043. For more information or to apply online, visit www.lieap.dcf.ks.gov.
Applications will be accepted from Jan. 17 to March 31.
WASHINGTON -President-elect Trump is working to reveal a replacement for “Obama Care.” that will cover everyone.
Votes in the House and Senate last week were the first steps to eliminate Obama’s health-care reform law.
Freshman Congressman Dr. Roger Marshall, an obstetrician, knows there are changes coming but some benefits from the old system will remain.
“I think we are very comfortable keeping kids on a parent’s plan until they turn 26,” he said. “We also have to help those with pre-existing conditions. We have to supply high-risk pools which most states have. The federal government will have to help fund those to help keep the cost down for those with pre-existing conditions.”
Marshall also made it clear that whatever happens with healthcare, Americans in need will not be forgotten. “We are not pushing anyone off the cliff or are we going to pull the rug out from under you,” he said.
He did say discussions among congressional leaders are focused on rising premiums for plans sold in state marketplaces, high deductibles and taxes.
GOP lawmakers are set to gather in Philadelphia later this month to discuss specifics for the alternative, according to Marshall.
PETTIS COUNTY, MO. – A Kansas man was injured in an accident just after 4:30a.m. on Monday in Pettis County Missouri.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Chevy Uplander driven by Ethan R. Jackson, 25, Warsaw Mo., was northbound on U.S. 65 just north of Anderson School Road.
The SUV rear-ended a 2011 Harley Davidson ridden by Richard J. Moore, 57, Shawnee, Kansas.
Moore was ejected from the motorcycle. Both vehicles became entangled and traveled into the ditch.
Moore was transported in serious condition to Research Medical Center in Kansas City, according to the MSHP.
Jackson was not injured. The accident remains under investigation.
Rodney Whittington, CEO of Villa St. Francis in Olathe, says Medicaid coverage delays would have sunk his nursing home if not for the financial backing of the Catholic Church ANDY MARSO / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE
The Brownback administration has increased advance payments to nursing homes while a backlog of Kansas Medicaid applications persists.
The administration instituted advance payments of 50 percent for nursing homes residents with pending applications last spring, when almost 11,000 applications backed up past the 45-day federal processing limit.
The backlog of application for the state’s privatized Medicaid program known as KanCare was whittled to about 1,500 in September but is on the rise again.
“That’s going into effect immediately,” Randol said.
The backlog started about a year ago after the rocky rollout of a new computer system, an executive order that funneled all applications through a single KanCare Clearinghouse and the Affordable Care Act’s 2016 open enrollment period.
Nursing homes have been hit particularly hard by coverage delays because about half of Kansans in nursing homes rely on KanCare to pay for long-term care.
The long-term care applications are the most complex within Medicaid, and Randol told legislators they make up most of the backlogged applications at this point.
“We’re successful with the other populations,” he said during a legislative hearing. “What we have to focus on is that different business model relative to the long-term care, and that’s our responsibility.”
Randol said the state is making a number of changes to smooth communication with long-term care applicants, including bringing in help from Kansas Department for Children and Families employees who processed those applications before the clearinghouse was established.
Nursing home representatives told legislators they’ve been due hundreds of thousands of dollars for care of residents awaiting Medicaid coverage for more than a year.
They said they’ve had to take out lines of credit, absorb penalties for late payments to vendors who provide food and other essentials, and find temporary sources of emergency cash.
Rodney Whittington, the CEO of Villa St. Francis, said his 170-bed facility in Olathe has leaned heavily on its affiliation with the Catholic Church.
“We’re indebted to them for $1 million now, for things not to make our building beautiful but simply to make payroll, keep the lights on and buy groceries,” Whittington said. “We wouldn’t have made it without that safety net.”
Andy Marso is a reporter for KCUR’s Kansas News Service, a collaboration of kcur.org, Kansas Public Radio and KMUW covering health, education and politics in Kansas. You can reach him on Twitter @andymarso.
Crews working in Ford County to restore power-image courtesy Victory Electric
STAFFORD COUNTY – Officials in many areas of southwest Kansas are working to help citizen keep warm while energy company crews work to restore power.
Stafford County Emergency Management opened up a temporary shelter at the First Christian Church 100 block of North Boston in Stafford. They encouraged residents to bring blankets and snacks.
Victory Electric, that serves Ford and Gray Counties and parts and portions of Kiowa, Edwards, Hodgeman, Finney, Haskell, Meade, and Clark counties reported they are getting hundreds of messages that customers cannot through to them on phone lines.
The company said they have more than 5000 outages right now, maybe closer to 10,000.
The damages are so bad that it’s likely going to be a while before power is restored.
Outside crews and contractors are helping.
It might be 2 hours or 2 days before power is restored, according to Victory Electric.
They advised that Dodge City Community college dome is open as a warming station for anyone who needs a place to go.
Approximate location of Sunday’s fatal shooting in Winfield-google map
COWLEY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Cowley County are investigating a Kansas man for the murder of his wife.
Just after 6:30p.m. on Sunday, police responded to report of a shooting at a home in the 500 Block of East 4th Avenue in Winfield, according to a media release.
First responders found the victim identified as 33-year-old Melissa Gardner.
Police arrested Zachary Gardner, 32, and booked him into the Cowley County Jail on requested charges of second-degree murder.
Cowley County Dispatch reported additional details may be released on Monday afternoon.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Think it’s hard for firefighters to rescue a cat in a tree? Try a cow in a swimming pool.
Firefighters in Oklahoma City were summoned Sunday morning after a homeowner reported hearing some sort of “snorting” coming from his swimming pool area. Watch the rescue here.
Emergency responders arrived and discovered a hole in the swimming pool’s liner and a cow trapped in the water.
Oklahoma City Fire Department Battalion Chief Benny Fulkerson says firefighters used their pumps to remove about 5 feet of water from the pool so the cow wouldn’t experience hypothermia. Crews then brought in a wrecker to hoist the nearly 1,500-pound animal from the pool and to safety.
Fulkerson says the cow appeared to be uninjured after its ordeal.
FORD COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Ford County arrested a suspect after a high-speed chase.
Just after 11 p.m. Saturday, Sheriff’s Deputies in Ford County chased the unidentified suspect east on G Road and 219th.
The suspect vehicle passed the Hodgeman County Sheriff and a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper at the intersection of G Road and U.S. 283, according to a social media report.
As the pursuit came to the intersection of G and 219th, the vehicle turned north.
Hodgeman County Undersheriff Channell set up spike strips North of K Road and 219 Road.
The vehicle crossed the spikes and the deployment was successful.
The pursuit continued North to 219 and Bramley and the vehicle turned west toward Jetmore.
As the pursuit entered town Sheriff Walker struck the suspect vehicle with his patrol vehicle at the intersection of Bramley and Howard.
The vehicle turned North on Eakin from Bramley and continued north. As the pursuit turned back west at Eakin and Wash the Ford County deputy’s vehicle struck the suspect’s vehicle and the pursuit turned into the alley east of the post office and into a backyard.
Deputies removed the suspect from the vehicle for transport back to Ford County Jail.
No names or additional details were released on Sunday.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas election officials threw out thousands of ballots cast in November, mostly because the state had no record those residents were registered voters.
Some local officials are now voicing concerns about numerous documented instances of lost voter registrations from people who had filled out applications on the state’s online site and at motor vehicle offices. Those names never showed up on any poll books despite the fact these voters had date-stamped, computer screenshot confirmations.
The secretary of state’s office says there was a technical problem with the motor vehicle department computer system that handles online registrations that was corrected days after being discovered.
Numbers obtained from county election offices and the League of Women Voters for 11 largest counties show that 8,864 ballots cast were not counted. The reasons vary.
