My Fellow Kansans

Kansas lawmakers are back from spring break with nothing but big issues to deal with before the end of the session: taxes, budget and school finance. When will it all get done? Two panels of legislators sat down with us live in the Capitol to work through the issues as we head toward the end of this legislative session. Subscribe to Statehouse Blend Kansas, and stay up to date with the latest news from the Kansas Legislature: iTunes , Google Play , and on the NPR One app . Guests: Jim Ward,

Some have said Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has been largely absent from this legislative session, but the power of his veto has loomed large. As we begin to come to the close of this session, KPR's Stephen Koranda reports on the relationship between the Governor and the Legislature. Subscribe to Statehouse Blend Kansas, and stay up to date with the latest news from the Kansas Legislature: iTunes , Google Play , and on the NPR One app . Guests: Stephen Koranda , Politics Reporter, KPR

When a number of moderate Republicans joined the Kansas Legislature after the 2016 election, many were talking about a possible coalition with the Democrats. As the 2017 legislative session starts to near its end, we explore whether that coalition ever became a reality. Subscribe to Statehouse Blend Kansas, and stay up to date with the latest news from the Kansas Legislature: iTunes , Google Play , and on the NPR One app . Guests: Sen. Barbara Bollier , Senator ( R-Mission Hills ), Kansas

Kansas lawmakers have a plan for school funding, but they still have to pass it, and agree on some mix of spending cuts and revenue increases to close the giant budget gaps projected for the next two years. Kansas News Service editors Amy Jeffries and Jim McLean joined Statehouse Blend host Sam Zeff to talk about how lawmakers might ultimately solve the state’s budget problems. Subscribe to Statehouse Blend Kansas, and stay up to date with the latest news from the Kansas Legislature: iTunes ,

David Howard, Superintendent of the Basehor-Linwood school district, and David Smith, Chief of Public Affairs for Kansas City Kansas Public Schools, react to a school funding formula that has been proposed in the Kansas Legislature. Subscribe to Statehouse Blend Kansas, and stay up to date with the latest news from the Kansas Legislature: iTunes , Google Play , and on the NPR One app . Guests: David Howard , Superintendent, Basehor-Linwood School District David Smith , Chief of Public Affairs,

As the K-12 Budget Committee in the Kansas Legislature holds hearings on a proposed school funding formula, Rep. Melissa Rooker ( R-Fairway ) is uncertain the plan puts enough money back into schools. Subscribe to Statehouse Blend Kansas, and stay up to date with the latest news from the Kansas Legislature: iTunes , Google Play , and on the NPR One app . Guests: Rep. Melissa Rooker , Representative ( R-Fairway ), Kansas Legislature Barb Shelly , Freelance Columnist, KCUR and The Pitch

Sen. John Skubal, R-Overland Park, and Ed DeSoignie, Executive Director of the Heavy Contractors Association, discuss where Kansas could find funding for infrastructure projects as the legislature continues to talk about borrowing more money from KDOT's budget. Subscribe to Statehouse Blend Kansas, and stay up to date with the latest news from the Kansas Legislature: iTunes , Google Play , and on the NPR One app . Guests: John Skubal , Senator ( R-Overland Park ), Kansas Legislature Edward

As a source says that Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback could be leaving the statehouse, Senate President Susan Wagle ( R-Wichita ) talks about how a new Governor could change this legislative session. Subscribe to Statehouse Blend Kansas, and stay up to date with the latest news from the Kansas Legislature: iTunes , Google Play , and on the NPR One app . Guests: Susan Wagle , Senator ( R-Wichita ), Kansas Legislature Jim McLean , Reporter and Editor, KCUR

Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning ( R-Overland Park ) lays out why a veto override of major tax legislation failed in the Senate and how he expects the Supreme Court's Gannon ruling to affect the rest of the session. Subscribe to Statehouse Blend Kansas, and stay up to date with the latest news from the Kansas Legislature: iTunes , Google Play , and on the NPR One app . Guests: Jim Denning , Senator ( R-Overland Park ), Kansas Legislature Jim McLean , Reporter and Editor, KCUR

On this week's Statehouse Blend Kansas , Rep. Susan Concannon ( R-Beloit ) talks about passing Medicaid Expansion out of the Kansas House and its prospects both in the Senate and on the Governor's desk. Subscribe to Statehouse Blend Kansas, and stay up to date with the latest news from the Kansas Legislature: iTunes , Google Play , and on the NPR One app . Guests: Susan Concannon, Representative ( R-Beloit ) , Kansas Legislature Dan Margolies , Health Editor, KCUR