The Insurance Commissioner should support Medicaid Expansion

 

Two politicians in leadership positions in the Kansas Legislature are running against against each other for Kansas Insurance Commissioner.

Republican Speaker of the House Daniel Hawkins is running against Democratic Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes.

The election is for an open position, because incumbent Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt (R) ran for governor this year, where she was among the losing candidates in the Republican Primary.

The Insurance Commissioner leads the Kansas Insurance Department, which regulates insurance companies, educates consumers, and advocates for a competitive insurance market.

On the Issues

Both Daniel Hawkins (R) and Dinah Sykes (D) are members of the Kansas Legislature, so we can compare how they voted on key issues.

In 2021, Daniel Hawkins voted for a state constitutional amendment that would have given the Kansas Legislature the legal authority to ban abortion.

Dinah Sykes voted against the constitutional amendment.

Kansas voters rejected the amendment by 18%.

I discussed the anti-abortion constitutional amendment on my blog.

In 2023, Daniel Hawkins (R) voted for a Transgender Sports Ban.

Dinah Sykes (D) voted against the Transgender Sports Ban.

I discussed the Trans Sports Ban on my blog.

In 2024, Daniel Hawkins voted for a bill that would replace the progressive state income tax with a flat income tax.

Doing so would have primarily benefited the rich, and would have been a windfall for Billionaire Charles Koch, the wealthiest Kansas resident, according to an analysis by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP). 

Daniel Hawkins (R) even had the audacity to lie that the bill was, “purposely designed to primarily help those who are on the lower rungs of the economic ladder.”

One look at the graph above shows that Hawkins was telling an outrageous lie.

This story proves Daniel Hawkins (R) cares about helping the rich, not about helping you.

In the Senate, Dinah Sykes (D) voted against a different bill that would have replaced the progressive state income tax with a flat tax, which also would have primarily benefited the rich.

I wrote an article about the efforts by Kansas Republicans to enact a flat state income tax.

Daniel Hawkins (R) voted for a law that prevents transgender Kansans from obtaining identity documents that reflect their gender identity, and makes it illegal for them to use certain restrooms and locker rooms.

Dinah Sykes (D) voted against the anti-trans law.

I discussed the draconian anti-trans law in an article I wrote for my blog, Meticulous Musings.

Daniel Hawkins supports Trump’s immigration policies.

On his campaign website, Hawkins says that he, “banned sanctuary cities in Kansas, and put in place numerous provisions to help the Trump administration push back on illegal immigration.”

Medicaid Expansion

Kansas is one of only 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, which is also known as Obamacare.

Here is a map showing which states have and haven’t expanded Medicaid, which was created by KFF, a nonprofit that covers healthcare policy.

Expanding Medicaid would greatly benefit the people of Kansas.

Republican politicians, like Daniel Hawkins, are the reason why Kansas hasn’t expanded Medicaid, despite public support for the policy.

On his campaign website, Hawkins lists among his accomplishments that, “for over a decade, Dan has led the effort to prevent the expansion of Obamacare in our state.”

Dinah Sykes (D) supports expanding Medicaid in Kansas.

Kansas should have an Insurance Commissioner who supports expanding Medicaid.

Conclusion

Kathleen Sebelius (D), who served as Kansas Governor and Kansas Insurance Commissioner, has endorsed Dinah Sykes (D).

Former Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger (R) has endorsed Dinah Sykes (D) as well.

The choice is clear.

I strongly endorse Dinah Sykes (D) for Kansas Insurance Commissioner.

Daniel Hawkins’s record is terrible.

Let’s not reward him, by electing him Insurance Commissioner.

Additional Information

The Kansas News Service wrote a guide for the Kansas Insurance Commissioner Race.

Republicans generally win Kansas Insurance Commissioner elections by wide margins.

The Republican candidate has won each of the five most recent Kansas Insurance Commissioner Races by more than 20%.

Earlier this year, I discussed the competitiveness of statewide elections in Kansas. 

 

 

Ty Masterson: A Disaster for Kansas

 

Ty Masterson (R) is running against Cindy Holscher (D) for Kansas Governor.

Ty Masterson is the State Senate President.

Cindy Holscher is a State Senator.

 

The stakes of the Kansas Governor Race are incredibly high, as the candidates have strong differences of opinion on important issues facing the state.

Brownback Tax Cuts

Under Gov. Sam Brownback, Republicans approved large income tax cuts, which wreaked havoc on the state budget. 

Among other things, the tax cuts meant the state had to subsequently cut funding for education and infrastructure.

Brownback’s tax policies failed to boost the economy, as its supporters said it would.

Inside the Kansas Legislature, Ty Masterson supported the Brownback Tax Cuts.

Within the Kansas Legislature, Cindy Holscher helped repeal the Brownback Tax Cuts.

Cutting Taxes for the Rich

 

In 2024, Republicans in the Kansas Legislature attempted to replace the state’s progressive income tax rate with a flat income tax.

The flat income tax would primarily benefit the rich, and would have been a windfall for Charles Koch, the wealthiest Kansas resident, according to an analysis by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP). 

 

Senate President Ty Masterson even had the audacity to lie that the law was, “geared toward helping retirees, homeowners, and those living paycheck to paycheck.”

The Kansas Senate subsequently voted on a different flat income tax proposal, which would also primarily benefit the rich.

Ty Masterson (R) voted for the flat income tax.

Cindy Holscher (D) voted against the flat income tax.

I wrote an article about Republicans’ unsuccessful attempt to enact a flat income tax in Kansas.

A Corrupt Arrangement

Cindy Holscher has accused Ty Masterson of having a “no show job.”

Last year, Masterson received $163,000 as the Director of GoCreate at Wichita State University.

GoCreate is a community workshop funded by the Billionaire Koch Family.

The Kansas City Star has reported on the controversy surrounding Masterson’s role.

This summer, Masterson said the flexible nature of the job allows him to work “on site a couple days a week.”

“Some weeks, I do two to three (days of in-person work) and some weeks I won’t,” Masterson said in an interview.

The Kansas City Star cited an analysis from the Kansas Legislative Research Department that said the GoCreate Director, like every other employee, is paid from an operational budget that “includes funding from the Koch Foundation and revenue generated by GoCreate streams,” such as rentals and membership fees.

At most, it appears Masterson’s role as GoCreate Director is a part-time job.
$163,000 a year is a lot to make for a part-time job in Kansas.

The Kansas City Star reported Masterson received more than $1.1 million from Wichita State University over the last decade, according to state records.

It appears the job is a way for the Koch Family to buy political influence with a powerful Republican in a leadership position in Topeka.

Masterson’s support for a flat income tax, which would have saved Charles Koch $875,000 a year, appears to show that Koch’s investment in Masterson’s side hustle has been an effective way to buy influence in Kansas Government.

 

Clay Wirestone at the Kansas Reflector is among those upset by the apparent corruption of Ty Masterson's side gig.

Medicaid Expansion

 

Kansas is one of only 10 states that haven’t expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

Here is a map showing which states have and haven’t expanded Medicaid, which was created by KFF, a nonprofit that covers healthcare policy.

I discussed the debate surrounding Medicaid Expansion in Kansas, and previous attempts to expand the state’s medicaid program, in an article I wrote in 2022.

Cindy Holscher (D) supports expanding Medicaid.
Ty Masterson (R) opposes expanding Medicaid.

 

The Manhattan Mercury asked Ty Masterson, “As governor will you actively champion Medicaid expansion? Why or why not?”

Masterson replied, “Medicaid should serve the people it was designed for: the elderly, the disabled and low-income mothers and children. Expansion adds able-bodied adults without dependents while those Kansans sit on waiting lists.”

Masterson continued, “My priority is shortening those waiting lists. As federal changes take effect, I will protect services for the most vulnerable Kansans first, root out waste and errors, and make sure federal decisions don’t shift new costs onto Kansas taxpayers.”

Let me translate that into plain English: Ty Masterson opposes expanding Medicaid in Kansas.

Masterson supports tax cuts for the rich, and opposes expanding Medicaid, which would help the poor.

That's exactly what you would expect from a Kansas Republican politician.

Masterson’s Priorities

In 2021, Ty Masterson (R) voted for a state constitutional amendment that would give the Kansas Legislature the legal authority to ban abortion in the state.

Cindy Holscher (D) voted against the anti-abortion amendment.

In August 2022, Kansas voters rejected the proposed anti-abortion amendment by 18%.

On his campaign website, Ty Masterson (R) highlights an endorsement from Kansans for Life, an organization that opposes Abortion Rights.

Masterson also highlights an endorsement from President Donald Trump.

Currently, Abortion Rights in Kansas are protected by a Kansas Supreme Court decision.

If Masterson is elected governor, he will make appointments to the Kansas Supreme Court to fill vacancies that arise, from a shortlist of three candidates chosen by the Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Commission.

After 4 to 8 years as governor, it’s possible Masterson might be able to appoint enough justices to overturn the state-level equivalent of Roe v. Wade.

Last year, Republicans in the Kansas Legislature voted to advance a proposed constitutional amendment that would replace the current merit-based process for selecting members of the Kansas Supreme Court, with direct elections.

Masterson supported the proposed amendment, because he hoped that if it was approved, the Kansas Supreme Court would stop requiring the Legislature to spend more on K-12 education.

Masterson also hoped electing state supreme court justices would lead to the overturning of Abortion Rights in Kansas.

Ty Masterson (R) voted for the constitutional amendment to elect state supreme court justices.

Cindy Holscher (D) voted against the amendment.

I wrote an editorial opposing the proposed amendment earlier this year.  

In August, Kansas voters rejected the proposed constitutional amendment by 23%.

 

In 2023, Ty Masterson (R) voted for a Transgender Sports Ban.

Cindy Holscher (D) voted against the Transgender Sports Ban.

I wrote an article about the Trans Sports Ban in Kansas.

Transgender Bathroom Ban

This year, the Kansas Legislature approved a law that prevents transgender people from obtaining identity documents that reflect their gender identity, and makes it illegal for them to use certain restrooms and locker rooms.

Gov. Laura Kelly (D) vetoed the bill, but Republicans in the Legislature overrode Kelly’s veto, passing the bill into law.

Ty Masterson (R) voted for the draconian anti-trans law.

Cindy Holscher (D) voted against the anti-trans law.

NBC News interviewed Kansas Transgender Men who protest the Bathroom Ban, by following it.

Many people don’t like when Trans Men, who look like Men, use a Women’s Restroom, as the law requires.

NBC News identified Ty Masterson (R) as the author of the Transgender Restroom Ban in Kansas.

I discussed the provisions of the anti-trans law in an article I wrote earlier this year.

Kansas Republicans have been single-mindedly focused in recent years on passing anti-trans legislation into law.

To block future anti-trans laws, Democrats need to win the Governor’s Race, and break the Republican Supermajority in the Kansas Legislature.

If Republicans win the Governor’s Race, only a simple majority would be needed to pass anti-trans legislation through the Kansas Legislature, which Republicans will easily be able to do.

Cindy Holscher

Cindy Holscher (D) is a great candidate, with a lot of good ideas.

Holscher wants to increase the state minimum wage to $16 an hour, fully fund special education, and provide free school lunches for all students.

She wants to legalize marijuana for both recreational and medical purposes.

Holscher wants to eliminate taxes on diapers and feminine hygiene products.

She also wants to create an independent panel to oversee redistricting, and prohibit mid-decade redistricting.

I wrote about Cindy Holscher in an article I wrote about the Democratic Primary for Kansas Governor.

In September, Holscher gave a speech at the Rally for Democracy in Manhattan, Kansas.

Conclusion

 

By and large, Kansas voters pay exceedingly little attention to state politics.

They only pay attention to state politics when things get really bad, as they did under the Brownback Tax Cuts, or when the stakes are really high, such as when Republicans try to amend the State Constitution to overturn abortion rights.

Voters pay virtually no attention to the state legislature, and almost certainly wouldn’t be able to name the Republican Senate President or Republican Speaker of the House.

Even I wouldn’t be able to name them, off the top of my head, before researching this article.

Both Ty Masterson, who is running for Governor, and Daniel Hawkins, who is running for Insurance Commissioner, have abysmal records in political leadership in the Kansas Legislature.

But Kansas voters appear likely to elevate both to statewide elected office.

I strongly and enthusiastically endorse Cindy Holscher (D) for Kansas Governor.

Ty Masterson (R) has already been a disaster for the state.
Don’t give him more power, by electing him governor.