Kansas governor, Senate Republican leader to stump together for Medicaid expansion

Kansas Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and Senate Republican Leader Jim Denning will jointly campaign for Medicaid expansion on Monday as their compromise proposal remains stuck in the Legislature.

Kelly and Denning will appear at two events in Wichita to promote expansion, which would provide health coverage to some 130,000 Kansans. The governor’s office announced the events on Friday.

The officials will participate in two roundtable discussions. The first, at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis, will include hospital administrators. The second, at First Presbyterian Church in Wichita, will involve faith leaders.

The events will come as expansion supporters try to rally support for the Kelly-Denning compromise proposal that was first unveiled in January. The legislation is being blocked in the Senate by Senate President Susan Wagle, a Wichita Republican.

Wagle is refusing to allow debate over health bills until the House passes an amendment that asserts the state constitution doesn’t guarantee the right to an abortion. During a February vote, the House fell short of the two-thirds support needed to place the measure on a statewide ballot.

This past week, the chairman of the Senate health committee, Sen. Gene Suellentrop, a Wichita Republican, said he wouldn’t advance expansion out of his committee until the House approves the amendment.