Johnson County faces challenges despite being one of the driving forces in the Kansas economy. The Kansas House passed a bill requiring the University of Kansas Medical Center to start a center focusing on stem cell research. The Missouri House approves a budgets but rejects Medicaid expansion.
Johnson County An Economic Engine With Challenges
Johnson County Commission Chair Ed Eilert says the county’s economic growth, employment, housing, and schools continue to make Johnson County the economic engine of Kansas. Eilert delivered his state of the county address in Overland Park. He says the county faces challenges from potential state budget cuts. Find out more here.
Bill Would Require Stem Cell Center At KU Med
The Kansas House has passed a bill requiring the University of Kansas Medical Center to establish a stem cell research center. The Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center would work only with adult stem cells. Supporters say the center could lead to new medical treatments, but opponents call it an unfunded mandate. Read more here.
Budget Item Would Help Kansas Hospitals
Hospitals in Kansas could lose some federal money if the state doesn't expand Medicaid services under the federal health care law. A lawmaker helping to draft the budget says the state needs to consider assisting those hospitals. Learn more here.
Missouri House OKs Budget But Rejects Medicaid Expansion
The Missouri House has given first-round approval to the state budget for Fiscal Year 2014, while House Republicans beat back three attempts to expand Medicaid. Read the whole story here.
Missouri House Targets Revenue Department For Cuts
The Department of Revenue was targeted during Tuesday’s budget debates in the Missouri House over its practice of scanning documents for driver’s license and conceal-carry applications. The GOP majority approved an amendment that would strip around $157,000 from the state agency’s budget, the estimated amount of money needed to scan source documents and retain electronic copies in a database. Learn more here.