January 2023

Food prices have risen an astronomical 12% over the past year. Many Kansans are juggling high food costs with other bills impacted by high inflation. Bringing down costs for all Kansans should be a priority.

Question for legislators I have questions for our state Republican legislators: Have you ever been in a position in which a desired benefit to you was dependent upon someone else’s decision? Conversely, have you ever been in a position to grant a benefit of significant value to someone else, but intentionally chose to withhold it? While these may sound theoretical, this is the situation facing about 150,000 low income Kansans who would benefit from an expansion of the Medicaid health insurance program. This could remove the dread of the devastation of a medical emergency, accident or illness for which there was no payment available.

Kansas Farm Bureau had a good 2022 as evidenced by the Pinnacle and New Horizon awards it received at the American Farm Bureau’s 104th convention recently. The Pinnacle award is the highest honor a state Farm Bureau can earn for program and membership achievement. KFB received the New Horizon award, which highlights innovative new programs, for the Casten Fellows Program, developed to honor the life of staffer Jill Casten-Downing through leadership development and international travel.