Members Appointed to Health Care Costs Panel

The first of three legislative roundtable discussions on health care costs will focus on insurance issues. The meeting, to be conducted by a special subcommittee of the House Health and Human Services Committee, is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 22 at 9:30 a.m. in room 711 of the Docking State Office Building. The subcommittee appointed Wednesday includes five Republicans and three Democrats.  The Democrats are Reps. Geraldine Flaharty of Wichita, Dolores Furtado of Overland Park and Cindy Neighbor of Shawnee.

House moves coal to final vote

The House gave first-round approval to a bill that would make it possible for Sunflower Electric Power Corp. to build a $3.5 billion coal-fired utility plant at Holcomb. The final vote on House Bill 2014, would send the energy measure to the Senate, where it is expected to pass. The House rejected an amendment offered by Rep. Cindy Neighbor, D-Shawnee. At the core of Neighbor's amendment was a provision solidifying the authority of state regulators to weigh potential health risks of carbon dioxide emissions when evaluating proposals for new coal power plants. She said new coal plant constru...

Kansas House cives initial approval to coal bill

Legislators who support a plan to build two coal-fired power plants in western Kansas say they're ready to take on Gov. Kathleen Sebelius for a second year. The chamber gave first-round approval to the bill Thursday, with a final vote expected Friday. Rep. Cindy Neighbor called it "basically last year's bill with some sections worst for Kansans." The Shawnee Democrat said the federal government plans to make grants available to states for energy projects and the bill "puts us at the back of the line."

House Democrats Announce Proposals to Help Kansans Without Costing State

The House Democratic Caucus Thursday announced a series of revenue neutral policy proposals to help Kansas consumers, communities and businesses. "In times of economic downturn, we've got to think out of the box to accomplish anything helpful and affordable," said House Democratic Policy Chair Cindy Neighbor, Shawnee, "but we can enact sound, productive policy without dipping into the State General Fund."

SMSD incumbents seek re-election

Shawnee Mission USD 512 Board of Education elections are three months away, but the races already are heating up. Cindy Neighbor, Position 6 member and state representative for the 18th District, is currently in her 12th year on the board. Neighbor said her work in the Legislature and school board contributed to her run for re-election. "I think there are a lot of challenges out there right now concerning the financial side and funding of educators," Neighbor said. "And being part of the Legislature, I think I can have an impact on that."

How local lawmakers did in KS legislative leadership races

State lawmakers from Johnson and Leavenworth counties won a handful of key legislative posts Monday when Kansas lawmakers returned to Topeka to pick new leaders. Rep. Cindy Neighbor, a Shawnee Democrat, was elected policy chairwoman for the House Democrats.

Neighbor relieved to win 18th District after tough campaign season

Cindy Neighbor is breathing a sigh of relief after winning re-election Tuesday to the 18th District State House seat with 52.3 percent of the vote. This time, facing Republican political newcomer John Rubin of Shawnee, Neighbor said it was still a busy campaign season. Neighbor gained 6,130 of the ballots cast to Rubin's 5,592. "I think both of us tried to be as positive as we could and keep it out of the negative light, and I think the voters appreciated that..." Neighbor said.

Kansas Families for Education Endorses Cindy

After reviewing candidate questionnaires and evaluating voting records, Kansas Families for Education recently endorsed Cindy Neighbor for Kansas House District 18.

New Attorney General Steve Six

Friday, February 1, a new career began for the next Kansas Attorney General, Stephen N. Six. Citing his experience as an attorney and district judge, Governor Sebelius named Judge Stephen Six as Kansas' new attorney general. Representative Cindy Neighbor attended the swearing in of Attorney General Stephen Six.

Obama forms Kansas committee

The Obama for America Campaign has appointed a 29-member State Leadership Committee to lead grass-roots organizing efforts for Barack Obama's Kansas campaign. "We have an outstanding list of leaders across Kansas who are committed to helping Obama win the Kansas caucus," said Jill Docking. Appointments to the committee included Representative Neighbor of Shawnee

Research triangle clears first hurdle; two to come

Lawmakers in Topeka cleared a hurdle to upgrade Johnson County's standing as a health and safety research center last week. "What this will do is create a bioscience area," Rep. Cindy Neighbor, D-Shawnee, said.

Jackpots or Crackpots

Bowing to gambling interests to raise money for the state goes too far, Sen. Julia Lynn, R-Olathe, charged after lawmakers approved Kansas casinos. Rep. Cindy Neighbor, D-Shawnee, said the bill would not hurt Johnson County. "All of those people that are gambling already from Johnson County are going over to Missouri and gambling right there," she said. "What this is going to do is keep our people in our state, and hopefully those dollars in our state."

Cloning receives new life

Proposals to restrict cloning, thought dead just a month ago, may have renewed life in this last week of the regular legislative session. Two bills made it through the committee process a month ago but were referred back to committee just days later. "They didn't have the votes," said Rep. Cindy Neighbor, D-Shawnee, a member of the House Health and Human Services Committee.

GOP health care plan falls short on numbers, details

House Republicans injected their four-part KanCare health care overview into the thinking of fellow lawmakers Monday in Topeka. The plan is short on numbers and makes broad suggestions about health care, with promises of details next week. "As far as in-depth details, I don't see a lot of them there," Rep. Cindy Neighbor, D-Shawnee, said.