Good morning everyone:
Well, that was the busiest week we’ve seen in a while. Things only figure to pick up speed as we get closer to a possible special session on redistricting and the end of the year when the Legislature will start work on next year’s budget. Yet Mrs. SSJ and I are locked in on at least two more trips before 2026 arrives, and we are inundated with political news that will include two primaries for governor, two primaries for secretary of state, a constitutional amendment on judicial elections, plus so much more that we can’t even fully absorb at the time of this writing. In short, 2026 will be overwhelming with political news, to say the least. That said, let’s move on to the significant news we published last week and other news you might have missed but need to know…
- A look at the Oct. 11 forum featuring eight Republican candidates for governor answering questions ranging from taxes and spending to abortion to the constitutional amendment on electing justices to the Kansas Supreme Court.
- Gov. Laura Kelly last week named two new members to the Kansas Board of Regents, replacing Carl Ice and Wint Winter.
- A former Democratic state lawmaker from Johnson County kicked off her campaign for secretary of state, building a campaign on protecting the fairness of Kansas elections as well as expanding voter education and voter participation.
- Just how secure does your license plate need to be fastened to your car if the police decide to pull you over suspecting that you committed a crime? It was an issue that a divided state Supreme Court wrestled with in deciding that a loose license plate hanging unevenly gave police reasonable suspicion to make a traffic stop that led to the discovery of drugs, drug paraphernalia and an open container of alcohol.
- U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids left open the possibility she could run for the U.S. Senate if Republican lawmakers draw her out of the 3rd Congressional District with a new map that could be considered during a special session next month.
- A federal judge last week sent back to state court a lawsuit challenging the repeal of the state’s three-day grace period for mail ballots to arrive at election offices after Election Day.
- The state’s Medicaid inspector general has launched an audit to determine whether Kansas is insuring women claiming to be pregnant who aren’t eligible for Medicaid benefits.
- Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Marla Luckert revealed that she’s on medical leave after being involved in a car crash that physicians attributed to a stroke.
- Johnson County businesswoman Sandy Spidel Neumann launched a campaign for U.S. Senate, becoming the fourth Democrat in a primary field seeking to challenge Republican incumbent Roger Marshall next year.
- Two leaders of the Kansas Young Republicans play a central part in a national story published by Politico, exposing thousands of private messages showing young GOP leaders laughing about gas chambers, slavery and rape.
- Senate President Ty Masterson repudiated a photo showing him at a campaign event with the two Young Republican leaders who had a predominant place in the Politico story exposing a racist chat with Young Republicans.
- Senate President Ty Masterson said last week that he’s “basically already there” collecting the signatures needed to call a special session to principally draw new election boundaries for members of Congress.
- A possible special session to draw new election districts for members of Congress could include legislation that would put a check on how the governor disperses money for a new federal rural health care program.
Congressional fundraising
Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids has slightly more than $1 million in the bank as she heads into a year when her congressional district could be redrawn to favor Republicans.
Davids reported raising $680,279 during the third quarter ending Sept. 30. She’s raised about $1.6 million so far for the two-year cycle overall.
By comparison, in the last off election year in 2023, she raised $579,421 during the third quarter and in 2021 she took in $828,547 during the quarter.
“I am incredibly grateful to the Kansans who have stood with me, supported our campaign, and shown that we will not be silenced by shady political power grabs,” Davids said.
“Our team’s momentum is a reflection of everyday Kansans who believe in fair representation, strong communities, and putting families first. I am ready to keep fighting for them every single day,” Davids said in a statement.
Republican lawmakers in Topeka are trying to muster enough signatures to hold a special session to redraw election districts for members of Congress at the behest of President Donald Trump, who is trying to maximize GOP control of the House ahead of 2026.
The Senate is believed to have enough signatures — two-thirds of its members — to call the Legislature into a special session. The House, meanwhile, is believed to be five to eight short of the 84 signatures it needs to call a special session.
It is not clear what Davids will do if her district is redrawn. She has indicated she might run for the U.S. Senate, although that remains to be seen.
Davids is outpacing other members of the Kansas congressional delegation, although her cash on hand is less largely because she faces more robust challengers each cycle.
Republican U.S. Rep. Derek Schmidt, who faced a tough primary election in 2024, reported raising $271,454 during the third quarter ending Sept. 30.
The 2nd District congressman has raised $624,838 for the cycle so far.
He reported having $451,937 on hand as he seeks a second term in a district that, too, could be reconfigured if the Kansas Legislature draws new maps.
Meanwhile, Schmidt’s Democratic challenger, Don Coover, reported raising about $140,400 during the third quarter. He had about $106,000 in the bank at the end of the quarter.
U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann, who represents the sprawling 1st District, reported raising $279,636 during the quarter. He had about $2.2 million in the bank as of Sept. 30.
He’s raised $735,884 for the cycle so far.
Mann has an opponent who filed for office with very little notice.
Democrat Colin McRoberts of Lawrence, who filed last month, raised about $13,000 in the third quarter and had about $12,400 on hand at the end of the reporting period.
A graduate of Harvard Law School, McRoberts teaches law at the University of Kansas School of Business.
“A lot of people, even Republicans, are angry at what’s being done to and in the name of Kansans,” McRoberts posted on LinkedIn.
“I’m a Democrat, but I’m not running to be anyone’s retribution or revenge. I’m running as every Kansan’s neighbor,” he wrote.
“Our job will be to rebuild a functioning Congress so we can rebuild businesses.”
McRoberts said he was motivated to run after attending U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall’s town hall meeting in Oakley where the senator was confronted by a group of angry residents.
It was reported that Marshall was shouted down, causing the senator to end the meeting early.
“I saw him walk away from his own town hall because he could not answer obvious, important questions from his own constituents,” McRoberts wrote on his campaign website.
“I saw him refuse to talk to Kansans, or even care about Kansans, just like Tracey Mann and other incumbents. It was time to do something.
“I’m just a regular person, not a politician or a wealthy man. But it’s time for regular people to stand up and create a change, because we can’t trust our politicians to do it for us,” McRoberts wrote.
In other fundraising news, U.S. Rep. Ron Estes, who represents the 4th District, reported raising $248,416 during the quarter and had about $1.5 million in the bank as of Sept. 30.
He’s raised $897,176 for the cycle so far.
Senate fundraising
U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, who will be running for a second term next year, raised $681,719 for the quarter, edging out Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, who has signaled she might run against him if her congressional district is redrawn.
Marshall reported having about $3.37 million in cash on hand going into an election in which four Democrats have lined up to oppose him.
Four candidates — Sandy Sidel Nuemann, Christy Davis, Anne Parelkar and perennial candidate Michael Soetaert — have filed to run against Marshall.
None of them reported raising any money for the third quarter in a race that could cost upward of $30 million.
Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, who is not up for reelection next year, reported raising $228,234 during the third quarter. He had $5.2 million in cash on hand.
Gubernatorial fundraising news
Johnson County businessman Philip Sarnecki has a fundraiser planned this week in the St. Louis suburb of Clayton. The host committee includes Ray Wagner, the husband of Missouri U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner.
The Sunflower State Journal also has learned that the Sarnecki campaign has enlisted Karen Mohan Day, a high-powered fundraiser from Missouri who founded Capital Enhancement.
Over the years, Mohan Day has raised money for former Sens. John Ashcroft and Jim Talent and former Gov. Matt Blunt, as well as former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s 2008 presidential campaign in Missouri.
She’s also worked for former U.S Sen. Roy Blunt and former Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler. It’s not clear how much of a role she will have with the Sarnecki campaign outside of Missouri.
The St. Louis fundraiser follows up on one he held in August in Houston that was hosted by Jeff Reeter, managing partner at Northwestern Mutual.
Meanwhile, Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt held a fundraiser last week in Lenexa.
The hosts included former state Reps. Linda Gallagher, Terrie Huntington, Barbara Allen and Stephanie Sharp. Also on the host list was Mary Birch, a longtime player in Kansas City-area politics and former head of the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce.
The event was held at The Mint in Lenexa.
Colyer hits the road…
Former Gov. Jeff Colyer has a series of planned events in the next two weeks across the state, including one that is explicitly a fundraiser. He has events planned in Tonganoxie, Garden City and Olathe. The Tonganoxie event is set for Tuesday and it’s hosts include state Rep. Tim Johnson, former state lawmaker and current Leavenworth County Commissioner Willie Dove and former state Sen. Steve Fitzgerald. The Garden City event is scheduled for Wednesday and its hosts include Mike and Judy O’Brate. Another event is planned for Oct. 28 in Olathe and its hosts include Michael and Marlys Haverty.
Conservative commentator from Kansas
in ailing health
Ramesh Ponnuru, a Prairie Village native who is now editor of National Review and a columnist for The Washington Post, wrote last week he’s been diagnosed with cancer.
“Declining health in late summer led to tests and scans, and about five weeks ago, to a cancer diagnosis,” he wrote last week.
“My excellent medical team said I had an excellent prognosis — still says so — but fast action was warranted. I spent nine hours on the table and the bulk of the last month recovering in hospital rooms. I am writing from one now.
“Throughout this ordeal I have had many blessings: chiefly my beloved family, and especially my wife April, whose steadfastness has shone forth every day; close friends who have brought us food and help of all kinds; kind and accommodating colleagues.
“I can’t adequately thank all those, near and far, who have been praying for my family. If you, readers, are so moved, please add your prayers to theirs.”
Ponnuru was raised in Prairie Village. He attended Briarwood Elementary School and Mission Valley Middle School.
He skipped the eighth grade and directly entered high school. He graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School at 16 and went to Princeton University, where he earned a bachelor’s in history.
A fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, Ponnuru has appeared on CBS News’ “Face the Nation,” NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” ABC News’ “This Week with George Stephanopoulos,” “PBS NewsHour,” CNN and NPR’s “All Things Considered.”
Lobbyist transactions
Here are the latest lobbyist transactions from the secretary of state’s office:
New registrations
Cale Beam, Butler National Corporation
John Federico, TerraPower
John Federico, KBTA
Michael Kapsa, Community Action for Responsible Hospitals
Megan Leopold, Kansas Action for Children
John Monroe, Corterra
Chad Austin, Kansas Hospital Association
Brenda Bandy, Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition
Emily Beam, Butler National Corporation
Lindsay Callender, ACLU of Kansas
Justin Cobb, Kansas Farm Bureau
Gabrielle Cosel, Novo Nordisk Inc.
Shayna DeGroot, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers
Logan DeMond, ACLU of Kansas
Harrison Dollar, American Association of Nurse Practitioners
Harrison Dollar, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers
Harrison Dollar, Americans for Fair Energy Prices
Harrison Dollar, Behavioral Health Solutions
Harrison Dollar, Bristol Myers Squibb
Harrison Dollar, Casey’s General Stores
Harrison Dollar, Centurion of Kansas LLC
Harrison Dollar, Communications Coalition of Kansas
Harrison Dollar, Community Choice Financial Inc.
Harrison Dollar, Cottonwood Inc.
Harrison Dollar, Critical Response Group
Harrison Dollar, Fuel True Independent Energy and Convenience
Harrison Dollar, Kansans for Lower Electric Rates
Harrison Dollar, Kansas Association of Nurse Anesthetists
Harrison Dollar, Kansas Fine Wine and Spirits
Harrison Dollar, Kansas Quarter Horse Racing Association
Harrison Dollar, Kreidler Consulting Group
Harrison Dollar, LivaNova
Harrison Dollar, Maxim Healthcare Services
Harrison Dollar, Northwest Technical College
Harrison Dollar, Pace-O-Matic
Harrison Dollar, Rainbows United Inc.
Harrison Dollar, Varidon Strategies
Audrey Dunkel, Kansas Hospital Association
James Eckles, TC Energy
Ryan Flickner, Kansas Farm Bureau
Leah Fliter Kansas Association of School Boards
Coni Fries, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City
Rachel Merlo Hack, Google LLC and its affiliates
B.J.Harden, American Association of Nurse Practitioners
Ashley Hernandez, Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth
Claudia Hissong, Kansas Farm Bureau
David Hulcher, Kansas Association of Insurance Agents
Dennis Hupe, Kansas Soybean Association
Ashley Hutchinson, Salina Regional Health Center
Matt Jackson, Kansas State Council of Fire Fighters
Marina Jenkins, National Redistricting Action Fund
Clark Kaericher, DoorDash Inc.
Shannon Kimball, Kansas Association of School Boards
Gavin Kreidler, American Association of Nurse Practitioners
Christie Kriegshauser, Kansas Chamber of Commerce
Andrew Le, Kansas Sorghum Producers
Matt Lindsey, Kansas Independent College Association
Francisco Litardo, Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools
Kaleb Little, Kansas Soybean Association
Laura Lutz, Evergy
Alan Mantel, TruArc Partners
Tara Mays, Kansas Hospital Association
Katharine McAden, Google LLC and its affiliates
Bradley Mears, Kansas Municipal Utilities
Carmen Miller, Ducks Unlimited
Darin Miller, AT&T and its affiliates
Heather Morgan, Kansas Association of Community Colleges
Christina Morris, CVS Health
Stephanie Mullholland, Kansas Contractors Association
Charlotte Peyser, Teaching Strategies
Charlotte Peyser, Wonderschool
Dennis Phillips, Kansas State Council of Fire Fighters
Andrea Richmond, Hot Girls Love Animals Club
Eric Rogers, BikeWalkKC
Elizabeth Schwab, Google LLC and its Affiliates
Bay Scoggin, The Innocence Project
Douglas Scott, Textron Aviation
Riley Scott, AFLAC
Riley Scott, Alibaba.com US E-Commerce Corp
Riley Scott, AT&T and its affiliates
Riley Scott, BlackRock Funds Services Group LLC
Riley Scott, Cimarron Valley Railroad
Riley Scott, Cisco Systems
Riley Scott, CoreCivic
Riley Scott, Delta Dental of Kansas
Riley Scott, Dillons
Riley Scott, Evergy
Riley Scott, Graduation Alliance Inc.
Riley Scott, H&R Block
Riley Scott, HF Sinclair
Riley Scott, Kansas Association of Multi-Line Pools
Riley Scott, Kansas Entertainment
Riley Scott, Kansas Farm Bureau
Riley Scott, Kansas Speedway Corp.
Riley Scott, Lewis Legal News
Riley Scott, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp
Riley Scott, Pittsburg State
Riley Scott, PMI US Corporate Services Inc. & affiliates
Riley Scott, QTS
Riley Scott, Recovery Solutions
Riley Scott, Scoop and Score, Inc.
Riley Scott, Scott Consulting
Riley Scott, State Farm Insurance
Riley Scott, Tata America International Corp.
Riley Scott, UnitedHealthcare
Riley Scott, Watco
Riley Scott, Zero eyes Inc.
Meghan Shreve, InterHab
Martha Neu Smith, Kansas Manufactured Housing Association
Elizabeth Smoller, Kansas Association of Insurance Agents
Liz Sosa, Kansas Beverage Trade Association
Norine Spears, CBD American Shaman
Angie Stallbaumer, Kansas Association of School Boards
Ron Thornburgh, Special Olympics Kansas Inc.
Brenna Visocsky, Kansas Appleseed
Taylor Walker, Barry Goldwater Institute for Public Policy Research
Andrew Wiens, Starkey
Andrew Wiens, Support for Catholic Schools Inc.
Andrew Wiens, Wichita Affordable Housing LLC
Robert Wing, Kansas State Council of Fire Fighters
Adam York, Kansas Sorghum Producers
Terminations
Spencer Duncan, Capitol Connection
Craig Sepich, National Insurance Crime Bureau
Juliet Abdel, Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce
Governor sharpens criticism
Gov. Laura Kelly last week stepped up the criticism of her Republican foes, suggesting they might look in the mirror when condemning the racist comments voiced by Young Republicans, including two from Kansas, that were exposed by Politico last week.
“While I appreciate the words of condemnation expressed by several Republican leaders and their expulsion of the Young Republicans chapter from the Kansas Republican Party, their words ring hollow when some of them repeatedly post content on social media that directly contradicts their statements condemning racism,” the governor said.
“I would encourage those leaders in the Republican Party to reflect on their own language and behavior to determine if they have provided license to younger followers to engage in such overtly racist dialogue,” she said in a statement.
“Those in positions of leadership have a responsibility to lead by example in both word and deed. They also need to remember that they represent our state and that Kansans celebrate diversity, not mock or condemn it,” she said.
She wasn’t more specific, but her comments came after the Kansas Republican Party posted on Facebook a photoshopped image of the governor with a sombrero and a “Frito Bandito” mustache.
The party also posted a GIF image with a picture of social services director Laura Howard that gradually changes into a picture of a lucha libre Mexican wrestler.
The post criticized Kelly for not turning over to the Trump administration the personal information of applicants and recipients of the federal food-assistance program.
The Kansas Republican Party fired back. The party called Kelly’s comments “ridiculous.”
“Laura Kelly should realize she lives in a glass house,” said Rob Fillion, executive director of the Kansas Republican Party.
“Her party calls everything racist and sexist, desensitizing people to those terms and making it almost impossible to be believed when racism and sexism actually occur,” Fillion said in a statement posted on social media.
“As a national Democrat leader, she has a responsibility to lead by example in both word and deed,” he said.
“She has yet to condemn her party’s nominee for Virginia attorney general, Jay Jones, who said his political foe ‘gets two bullets to the head.’ Republicans police our own. Laura Kelly should clean up her own house before casting stones at ours.”
Kelly’s comments reflected remarks she made less than a week earlier when she admonished her Republican critics for “childish” conduct and “idiotic” memes.
“As public officials, we should be bigger than that. Kansans face serious challenges — many are just trying to make ends meet — and they expect us to be focused on their problems, not wasting time on idiotic memes,” the governor said.
“I expect nonsensical outbursts from my 3-year-old granddaughter, not from grown adults who hold leadership positions in our state,” she said.
Young Republican fallout
Here’s a look at the national fallout after Politico exposed racist chats by Young Republicans, including two from Kansas who played a prominent role in the story.
- From NBC News: The New York Republican Party on Friday voted to suspend the state Young Republicans. The Young Republicans group has been dissolved in Kansas.
- From Politico: A Vermont legislator snared in the Politico story announced he was resigning Friday after the state’s governor called for him to step down. Politico reported that state Sen. Sam Douglass was the only elected official caught up in the story, although four others worked for elected officials including William Hendrix, who worked for Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach but was let go on Oct. 9.
- From Politico: At least four Young Republicans, including one from Kansas, have lost their jobs following the Poltico story.
Democrats home in on Masterson
redistricting comment
Democrats are zeroing in on comments Senate President Ty Masterson made last week suggesting that an out-of-state group would draw any new maps for congressional districts in Kansas.
“There’s a misunderstanding out there of what’s happening,” Masterson told reporters at the Capitol last week. “I’m not drawing a map. It will be a national drawing outfit that’s working on it from a federal perspective.”
The Senate’s top Democrat, Dinah Sykes of Lenexa, jumped on Masterson’s comment.
“Not only is Republican leadership ignoring the voices and real, everyday concerns of actual Kansans, but they admit to letting the Trump Administration draw our map from ‘a federal perspective,’” Sykes said in a statement.
“Kansans are not calling for a new Congressional map, much less a map drawn by a faceless ‘national drawing outfit’ that will further infect our state with federal toxicity.
“What Kansans are concerned about is the cost of groceries, access to health care, property taxes, and rising political violence. And they deserve elected officials who are focused on addressing those issues, not scoring political points with the White House.”
U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, the lone Democrat in the Kansas congressional delegation, also targeted Masterson’s comment in a virtual call with reporters.
“Who are these experts?” asked Davids, whose district is likely to be redrawn in a way that would favor Republicans.
“Extreme D.C. politicians who have never stepped foot in Kansas, who don’t know our way of life, who don’t know our values,” she said.
When pressed further about who would draw the map, a spokesperson for Masterson said, “A group of federal redistricting experts are working on a map that will come through our federal delegation. I do not have any specifics beyond that.”
Moran, Marshall call on FDA to reconsider
abortion drug decision
U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall joined a letter with other Republican senators urging the Food and Drug Administration to reconsider its approval of the generic version of the abortion-inducing drug mifepristone.
“We are deeply concerned about the FDA’s approval of a new generic version of mifepristone,” the letter says.
“While we recognize the FDA’s statutory responsibility in evaluating drug applications, the timing of this approval appears inconsistent with the comprehensive safety reassessment your agencies have prioritized.
“Out of respect for this important review, and with full confidence in your dedication to protecting women’s health, states’ rights, and unborn life, we urge you to take decisive action to reevaluate whether this generic version of mifepristone is suitable to enter the market,” the letter said.
In his newsletter last week, Moran said the abortion-inducing drug “can pose serious health risks to women and have led to tragic outcomes.”
“Despite these dangers, the Biden-Harris administration removed long-standing safeguards that once required in-person medical oversight and allowed these drugs to be distributed through the mail,” Moran said.
In the letter, the senators recommended the following:
- Suspend the approval of any new generic versions of mifepristone pending the outcome of any risk evaluation and mitigation strategy safety reviews.
- Commit to ensuring that all generic versions of mifepristone are included in the ongoing reevaluation of prior risk evaluation and mitigation strategy safety reviews.
- Reinstate the in-person dispensing requirement for mifepristone and its generic versions.
- Suspend the distribution of mifepristone and all generic versions as an “imminent hazard.”
Proctor secretary of state campaign
Republican state Rep. Pat Proctor of Leavenworth has put together the team that will guide his campaign for secretary of state next year.
He’s hired Vanessa Reid, a Leavenworth County commissioner and school board member, as his campaign manager.
His southeast Kansas campaign chair is Jonathan Spear, a Pittsburg State student. His Johnson County campaign chair is Republican activist Koko Cooper.
Proctor’s fundraising chair is Brianna Rahn from Skye Strategic Group.
Rahn was a deputy state director for President Donald Trump’s campaign in New Hampshire and worked as deputy finance director for U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker’s reelection campaign in Mississippi.
Proctor’s general consultant is Brian Seitchik of RDP Strategies. He ran Trump’s campaign in Arizona in 2016 and Trump’s campaign in the Western United States in 2020.
His communications director is Garrett Nelson, who has been involved in grassroots political efforts across Kansas. Proctor said Nelson has worked on the campaign for Wichita Mayor Lily Wu and state Reps. Kyler Sweely and Sandy Pickert.
Medicaid dispensing fees audit
The state’s Medicaid inspector general is reviewing pharmacy dispensing fees for over-the-counter medications that are filled by prescription and dispensed to Medicaid beneficiaries.
Steve Anderson told lawmakers last week that he wants to look at how the payments flow from the company that administers the state’s Medicaid program through the pharmacy benefit manager to the dispensing pharmacy.
To the surprise of at least one legislator, Anderson said pharmacy benefit managers are getting a portion of the $10.50 dispensing fee for over-the-counter medications prescribed by doctors and sold by the pharmacy. 
He said a prescription that costs $3 goes to $13.50 once the dispensing fee is added.
Anderson said most of that $10.50 dispensing fee is going to the pharmacy benefit managers, which are intermediaries in the prescription pharmaceutical industry between prescription drug plans, pharmacies and drug manufacturers.
He said his staff is still in the preliminary stages of its work but added that “oftentimes the money never makes it to, or very little of the money, makes it to the pharmacy.”
The inspector general wants to know how much the state pays in dispensing fees for over-the-counter medications and how many of those prescriptions are filled each year by Medicaid.
He also wants to know which medical providers are prescribing Medicaid beneficiaries the highest number of over-the-counter drugs.
Republican state Rep. Bill Sutton of Gardner asked Anderson how the pharmacy benefit managers were able to get a portion of the dispensing fee.
“I was under the impression that the dispensing fee went straight to the pharmacy,” he said. “Where does the PBM get involved in that transaction that they would be able to take some of the dispensing fee?”
Anderson said his staff was surprised to learn that the pharmacy benefit managers get a share of the dispensing fee.
“Our auditor’s looking at that trying to see how they’re doing that and what the process is,” Anderson told the legislative committee that oversees the state’s Medicaid program.
Sutton said he understood that the dispensing fee was supposed to go to the pharmacy.
“I was under the impression that was highlighted as going to the pharmacy,” he said. “I’d be very interested in seeing what your auditor comes up with on that.”
Royals update
Some news emerged last week about Royals stadium plans for the future — and it wasn’t great news for Kansas.
It was widely reported that the Royals are having “substantial” discussions about building a baseball stadium in North Kansas City.
“The City of North Kansas City continues to have conversations with the Kansas City Royals regarding the possibility of a stadium and related development in Kansas City,” North Kansas City Mayor Jesse Smith said in a news release.
“These discussions are substantial and will ultimately involve collaboration among the State of Missouri, Clay County, and the City in any final framework.
“A portion of these discussions will need to be kept confidential for a limited time period,” Smith said.
He added that the Royals project “must serve as a catalyst for citywide improvements.”
“We have master plans for upgrading water, sewer, and other infrastructure systems. If this project moves forward, it will bring outside funding to support the long-term infrastructure investments our community needs,” he wrote.
Last July, Kansas legislative leaders voted to extend the sunset of tax incentives intended to entice the Royals and the Kansas City Chiefs to move to Kansas.
They agreed to extend the incentives package until June 30, 2026, although lawmakers said they want a deal completed by either one of the teams by the end of this year.
Under the law, lawmakers were required to extend the incentives for a year, although they could arbitrarily set an earlier deadline if it wanted. They set the deadline for Dec. 31.
It has been reported that the Royals were considering the former site of the Sprint campus in Overland Park as a possible location for a new baseball stadium.
Here’s the coverage last week from The Kansas City Star, KSHB 41 in Kansas City, Fox 4 in Kansas City and KMBC in Kansas City.
