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Legislators could soon take action aimed at slowing Governor Sam Brownback's plan to overhaul Medicaid in Kansas. That's according to Paul Davis, from Lawrence, the top Democrat in the Kansas House. Davis says he's talked to both Republicans and Democrats who have concerns about the proposal.00000184-7fa7-d6f8-a1cf-7fa7a9090000Right now it's unclear what action lawmakers would take. Governor Brownback's plan would create privatized managed-care programs, with the goal of improving patient outcomes and cutting costs. Earlier this month, the administration revealed that five companies had submitted bids. Medicaid provides health care for more than 300,000 aged, disabled and low-income Kansans.

Aerospace engineering students from the University of Kansas are cleaning up (once again) at an international aerospace design competition.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach has named a former state House member as the top elections official in one of the state's most populous counties. The appointment of 43-year-old Andrew Howell as Shawnee County election commissioner was announced Monday. Howell replaces Elizabeth Ensley Deiter, who stepped down last week to become a magistrate judge for four northeast Kansas counties. Shawnee County is home to the city of Topeka and the state Capitol. Howell runs a small home-renovation company in the Topeka area. He served in the Kansas House from 1995 through 2004. Like Kobach, Howell is a Republican. Elections in most Kansas counties are run by elected clerks. But Kansas law requires the secretary of state to appoint election commissioners for the state's four most populous counties.

The Lecompton Constitution, one of several constitutions proposed for the state of Kansas. (Photo by the Kansas Historical Society)Some lawmakers are questioning the number of constitutional amendments proposed this year. At least a half dozen amendments have been filed. They range from proposals to change the way judges are selected to putting term limits on lawmakers. The costs for publishing and public votes on the amendments could run into millions of dollars. The top Democrat in the Kansas House, Paul Davis from Lawrence, says lawmaker should only consider amending the Constitution in rare circumstances when there’s a great public need.00000184-7fa7-d6f8-a1cf-7fa7ba510000But House Speaker Ray Merrick, from Stilwell, say he doubts all the proposed amendments will pass the Legislature, meaning they wouldn't all need public votes.00000184-7fa7-d6f8-a1cf-7fa7ba510001To change the state Constitution, both chambers must pass the amendment with a two-thirds majority and it must be approved by voters.

Senate President Susan Wagle presides over the debate to confirm Caleb Stegall. (Photo by Stephen Koranda)The Kansas Senate has confirmed the nomination of Caleb Stegall to the Kansas Court of Appeals. The 32-8 vote will send Stegall to the state's second-highest court. Governor Sam Brownback chose Stegall, his administration's top attorney, for the seat. Senator Anthony Hensley, a Topeka Democrat, said he won’t support Stegall because the other candidates weren’t made public.00000184-7fa7-d6f8-a1cf-7fa7c3fe0000But Senator Terry Bruce, a Republican from Hutchinson, said Stegall can be compared to judges appointed to other courts in Kansas.00000184-7fa7-d6f8-a1cf-7fa7c3fe0001This is the first appointment under a new system where the governor chooses nominees for the Kansas Court of Appeals. The nominees must be confirmed by the state Senate.

Some legislators are hoping for quick action to avoid some furlough days ordered for the Kansas court system. The first of five furlough day was last Friday. The chief justice of the Kansas Supreme Court ordered the closings after a budget agreement in the Legislature fell apart. The budget would have provided more than a million additional dollars to help cover a shortfall facing the courts. The Senate’s top Democrat, Anthony Hensley, of Topeka, says he hopes lawmakers will pass a solution when they return to the Statehouse later this month.00000184-7fa7-d6f8-a1cf-7fa7abef0000House Speaker Mike O’Neal, a Hutchinson Republican, has said the courts have funds available they could use to prevent furloughs. Lawmakers will return to Topeka on the 25th.

Flickr photo by Jimmy EmersonThe Kansas House has passed a map redrawing districts for the state’s 40 senators. The House broke with tradition when it rejected a map the Senate drew. Generally, chambers draw maps for their own districts without input from the other chamber. The contention this year led the top Democrat in the House, Paul Davis of Lawrence, to offer an amendment to overhaul the redistricting process. It would have created a non-partisan commission to draw redistricting maps. Davis said it would also set deadlines for the process.00000184-7fa7-d6f8-a1cf-7fa7adb20000Some House members questioned if the change is needed. Clay Aurand (ARE-and) is a Republican from Belleville.00000184-7fa7-d6f8-a1cf-7fa7adb20001The House rejected the proposal, but did approve the overall bill. That vote sends the legislation to the Senate.

(Photo by Stephen Koranda)Kansas Governor Sam Brownback is proposing a 1.5 percent pay raise for classified state employees. It's one of the budget amendments he's suggesting for next fiscal year. Interim Budget Director Jon Hummell told the Senate's budget committee that the Republican governor has always wanted a smaller, better-paid state workforce.00000184-7fa7-d6f8-a1cf-7fa7c8f10000Senator Laura Kelly, from Topeka, is the top Democrat on the Senate’s budget committee. She is greeting the proposal with a degree of skepticism.00000184-7fa7-d6f8-a1cf-7fa7c8f10001Hummell says that if the proposal is approved, it would be the first time all classified state employees have received a raise in several years.

(FlickrPhoto by Jimmy Emerson)Top Democrats in the Kansas Legislature say lawmakers should have a hand in mediation talks over school funding. They say they'll file a motion making that argument this week. The Kansas Supreme Court ordered mediation between the parties, a move requested by Governor Sam Brownback. Democrats say they’ll request the State Finance Council be included in the process. The council includes both Democrats and Republicans. House Minority Leader Paul Davis, of Lawrence, says lawmakers have the power to appropriate money, so... they should have a seat at the table.00000184-7fa7-d6f8-a1cf-7fa7bcc70000A district court recently said the state needs to increase education funding. That order has been put on hold until the state Supreme Court takes up the case.

(Flickr Photo by J. Stephen Conn)Kansas lawmakers returned to the Statehouse on Wednesday, but reached the weekend having made little progress on the major issues that remain for this legislative session. It appears now that the real work on tax and budget issues is being tackled in negotiations between the governor and the top leaders of the House and Senate. The chambers are divided on whether to extend a temporary sales tax that’s set to expire later this year. Senate President Susan Wagle, a Republican from Wichita, says they can come to an agreement.00000184-7fa7-d6f8-a1cf-7fa7bfee0000The stalemate will mean the session will probably last longer than planned by legislative leaders. Officials chose to shorten the session this year to 80 days, down from the regularly scheduled 90. The 80-day deadline will come early next week.