Parsons S n u Page 4 Weekend, Saturday-Sunday, April 27-28, 2019 PUBLIC MIND: Letters may be emailed to: [email protected] or [email protected]. Please include your name, address and daytime phone number. Politics and poker, politics and poker. Shuffle up the cards and find the joker. Neither game’s for children; either game is rough. De- cisions, decisions, like who to pick, how to play, what to bet, when to call a bluff. Fiorello, 1959 Sixty years ago, “Fiorello,” the musical based on the career of New York city’s feisty mayor, Fiorello LaGuardia, premiered on Broadway. It was a smash hit, and six decades later, “Politics and Poker” remains its most memorable tune, catchy and true. Kansans can watch a classic poker game over the next couple weeks, a “Texas Hold’em” show- down between Gov. Laura Kelly and Sen. Presi- dent Susan Wagle. The results of this high-stakes game will determine, at least for 2019, whether Kansas will expand Medicaid or continue to reject the financial benefits that come with it. The governor and the senate president are wor- thy, veteran adversaries, with contrasting policy worldviews and very different political situations. Kelly, less than 11 months after announcing her candidacy for governor, won a clear victory over Kris Kobach, even though an independent si- phoned off 6% of the vote. Wagle observed that Kelly had not received more than half the vote, and thus had no mandate. Kelly smiled a knowing smile from Cedar Crest. Wagle’s political imperative derives from her desire to become a U.S. senator, replacing the retiring Pat Roberts. With her Wichita base and conservative record, she may be viable, but no shoo-in. And here’s the rub. Medicaid expansion — in various polls, in a host of editorials from around the state, and given the results of a solid favorable vote in the Kansas House — is downright popular. Moreover, it’s likely that there are at least 21 votes, a constitutional majority, to pass expansion in the Kansas Senate. And its chances increased this past week when the gov- ernor allowed a Farm Bureau “non-insurance bill” to become law, thus potentially winning additional backing. This is where another player comes into the game. Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley has essentially said, “let’s see what you’ve got,” by filing a motion to move the Medicaid bill out of committee. That takes 24 votes. No one knows if the votes are there, but Gov. Kelly, Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers and outside groups have pushed hard over the legislative recess to build support. While Wagle seems a clear “no,” other Republican senators under- stand that, per Kelly’s win and Sharice Davids’ victory in the KS-3 House race, the context of the 2020 election is changing, especially in Johnson County. And other highly conservative states, such as Indi- ana and Arkansas, have expanded Medicaid. So perhaps some senators might hedge their bets, explaining how small-town hospitals and rural areas will benefit. Moreover, Kelly is the state’s chief executive, with the ability to of- fer legislators inducements unrelated to Medicaid expansion. Overall, she holds better cards than does Sen. Wagle, whose only action is to obstruct. As the last cards flop on the table, both leaders have a lot at stake, but not everything. Gov. Kelly can live to fight another day, given that she is just in the first few months of her tenure. More importantly, Sen. Wagle does not actually need to win on this issue. What’s central is the position she takes in the fight. She needs the support of far-right Republicans to win the nomination for the U.S. Senate. Win or lose, if she holds tight to her opposing position, she likely maintains this base. Thus, there could be two winners: the governor on policy and the Senate president on politics. So, let’s see the cards. Burdett Loomis is an emeritus professor of political science at the University of Kansas. PUBLIC MIND Politics and poker WHERE TO WRITE: WASHINGTON, D.C. Rep. Steve Watkins, (Republican) 1205 Longworth House Office Building, Wash- ington, D.C., 20515; phone: (202) 225-6601; PITTSBURG: 402 N. Broad- way, Suite B, Pittsburg, KS, 66762; phone: (620) 231-5966. WATKINS Sen. Jerry Moran, (Repub- lican) Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 521, Washing- ton, D.C., 20510; phone: (202) 224-6521; PITTSBURG: 306 N. Broad- dway, Suite 125, Pittsburg, KS, 66762; phone: (620) 232-2286. MORAN Sen. Pat Rob- erts, (Repub- lican) 109 Hart Senate Office Building, Wash- ington, D.C., 20510; phone : (202) 224-4774; TOPEKA: Frank Carlson Federal Building, 444 S.E. Quincy, Room 392, Topeka, KS, 66683; phone: (785) 295-2745. ROBERTS President Donald Trump, (Republican) 1600 Penn- sylvania Ave. N.W., Wash- ington, D.C., 20500; phone (switchboard): (202) 456-1414; ( comments) (202) 456-1111; Comment page: https://www. whitehouse.gov/contact#page TRUMP Bloodmobile receives 97 units To The Sun: The American Red Cross blood drive took place April 18 and 19 at First Christian Church in Parsons with a total of 97 units of blood donated. The drive did not reach the goal established by the Red Cross, which is based on the number of appointments scheduled, but the event was still a success. The 97 units of blood may save as many as 291 lives. The Red Cross staff was again efficient, and the event flowed (pardon the pun) smoothly. I wish to thank the Elks Lodge auxiliary for supplying the deli- cious homemade cookies for this drive. They were enjoyed by all who sampled them. Even though sandwiches are always a part of the snacks at the canteen area for donors to enjoy, the homemade cookies add a special touch. Thanks again. There are several volunteers who help to make the blood drive a successful event. Many thanks to them for their efforts. Those reaching gallon levels at this event were: Morris Cares, 29 gallons; Lyle Lomas, 15; Juanita Alloway, 14; Laura Hummer, nine; Brian Collins, six; Amy Janssen-Montee, four; Allison Ibbet- son, three; and Joe King, one. I congratulate you on your continued support of this important program. The next blood drive will be from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 18, and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 19, at the First Christian Church, 29th and Southern. Please plan to make time to support this important program and make an appointment to donate blood to help those in need. To make an appointment, please call 1-800-REDCROSS, or go on-line to www.redcross.org. If you need assistance in making an appointment, please call me at (620) 778-6483, leave a message, and I will return your call to make arrangements. It is easy for each of us to save lives by doing such a simple thing. If you have never participated, please come to the event to see how it all takes place. I hope to see you there. — DEAN CRAMER, Par- sons bloodmobile coordinator The people of Kansas need Medicaid ex- pansion to increase access to care for mental health or substance use treatment. This is needed for economic development, delay- ing inevitable closures or consolidations of health care organizations like community mental health centers or hospitals and to become part of the majority of states in our country that have chosen to expand Medic- aid. But this issue is really about access to care. Mental health treatment providers in Kansas need the Kansas Legislature to pass legislation allowing our state to expand the Kansas Medicaid program. Mental health and substance use treatment are no differ- ent from any other part of health care. When someone presents for treatment, we need to take advantage of the opportunity to do what we can to help him or her. According to the Mayo Clinic, “mental illness refers to a wide range of mental health conditions that affect your mood, thinking and behavior” and can be caused by inherited traits from family members, environmental exposures before birth, or brain chemistry. Americans are seeking behavioral health treatment at high- er rates than in the past, and Kansas is no different. For example, Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) are treating more Kansans than ever before with an increase of over 10% in the last five years and 27% in the last 10 years. Medicaid expansion in Kansas will save money in the long-term through timely ac- cess to care. If we think about treatment for mental health issues and the relationship be- tween mental health and physical health, the sooner patients access mental health treat- ment, the healthier they will be physically. Think of the connection between anxiety and hypertension or high blood pressure that results in heart disease as an example. If this patient has health insurance, she or he will be more likely to seek treatment for her or his anxiety, which could help lower her or his blood pressure and prevent heart disease. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in January 2017, in states that expanded Medicaid the unin- sured share of substance use or mental health hospitalizations fell from about 20% at the end of 2013 to about 5% by mid-2015. Health care insurance coverage under Medicaid ex- pansion will expedite access to treatment by allowing for more focus on outpatient treat- ment when inpatient costs for treating unin- sured Kansans drop. Opponents of Medicaid expansion regu- larly refer to the example of an unemployed 26-year-old who chooses to sit in his grand- mother’s basement eating pizza and playing video games rather than working and ob- taining his own health insurance. In visiting with many of our state mental health leaders who have decades of experience providing treatment and therapy in Kansas, not one of them told me that this is just a lazy guy who chooses not to work. They each said some- thing along the lines of, “There is something going on with that guy, and we could help him.” Whether it is an anxiety disorder or major depression, case management could connect him to treatment and also potential- ly employment, at which point he no longer needs Medicaid as his primary insurance. As I conclude, we have to keep in mind the number of lives our state is losing to a suicide epidemic that is nothing short of a crisis. According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Sum- mary of Vital Statistics, suicide is the second highest cause of death among people from age 15 to 44, and those numbers have been going up the last five years. This is higher than heart disease, cancer, or homicide, and I have confidence that expanding Medicaid to provide coverage and access to more young people could help prevent this loss of life our state is experiencing at an alarming rate. Not participating in a program that would increase access to mental health treatment and make Kansans healthier with funding from the federal government is like turning down federal highway money that improves roads and makes travelers safer, or turning down agricultural subsidies that help make food safer and cheaper. Surrounding states are all participating in federal programs that provide greater access and funding for be- havioral health. Nebraska, Colorado, Iowa and Arkansas have all expanded Medicaid programs, while Missouri and Oklahoma are participating in a behavioral health specific federal program that Kansas chose not to pur- sue four years ago. Medicaid expansion is the only door remaining open to increasing ac- cess to mental health care through which we cannot only improve lives but also save them, and we as a state should walk through it. Kyle Kessler is executive director for the Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas. BURDETT LOOMIS Insight Kansas Mental health needs medicaid expansion in Kansas WHERE TO WRITE: KANSAS LAWMAKERS REP. RICHARD PROEHL, (Republican, District 7) Address: Room 581-W, Statehouse, Topeka, KS 66612-1504; Phone: (785) 296-7639; E-mail : [email protected] PROEHL 113 112 116 114 101 108 104 73 93 90 69 71 80 79 85 72 74 77 65 70 68 75 51 76 60 50 45 54 59 38 43 10 7th House District GODDARD SEN. DAN GODDARD, (Republican, District 15) Address: Room 541-E, Statehouse, Tope- ka, KS 66612-1504; Phone: (785) 296-7742; E-mail : [email protected] 33 22 24 35 17 19 2 3 37 12 13 34 31 14 32 15th Senate District HILDERBRAND SEN. RICHARD HILDERBRAND, (Republican, District 13) Address: Room 224-E, Statehouse, Tope- ka, KS 66612-1504; Phone: (785) 296-7370; e-mail : [email protected] 22 2 18 20 19 17 24 35 36 33 34 26 32 16 31 14 15 12 37 9 3 1 13th Senate District COLLINS REP. KEN COLLINS, (Democrat, District 2 ) Address: Room 167-W, Statehouse, Topeka, KS 66612-1504; Phone: (785) 296-7698; E-mail : [email protected] 113 112 109 116 114 101 108 104 73 93 90 69 71 80 79 85 72 74 77 65 70 68 75 51 76 60 50 45 54 59 38 43 10 2nd House District HOUSER REP. MICHAEL HOUSER, (Republican, District 1 ) Address: Room 179-N, Statehouse, Topeka, KS 66612-1504; Phone: (785) 296-7679; E-mail : [email protected] 73 93 90 80 79 85 72 74 77 75 76 60 1st House District OTHER CONTACT INFORMATION: 3420 Mosher Road, Parsons CELL PHONE: (620) 423-0407 OTHER CONTACT INFORMATION: 510 Pine Ridge Road, Parsons CELL PHONE: (620) 423-1133 OTHER CONTACT INFORMATION: 10337 S.E. 107th Terrace, Galena OTHER CONTACT INFORMATION: 102 E. First, Mulberry PHONE: (620) 240-0778 OTHER CONTACT INFORMATION: 6891 S.W. 10th, Columbus PHONE: (620) 704-3817 www.kslegislature.org