Government

After making little progress for weeks, public negotiations on taxes have continued in the Kansas Statehouse. Legislative leaders and the governor had been meeting behind closed doors, but this week it appeared those talks had stalled. House and Senate negotiators held a public meeting Wednesday, and House members offered a new compromise.

A bill is on its way to Governor Jay Nixon that would forbid the Missouri Department of Revenue from scanning and storing source documents of driver’s license and non-driver’s license applicants. 

Last month, Governor Nixon ordered the agency to cease scanning documents of conceal carry weapons applicants, but scanning for other license applicants continues. 

The bill approved Wednesday was sponsored in the Senate by Republican Will Kraus of Lee’s Summit.  He says he thinks the Nixon will sign the bill.

Ethics bills continue to stumble in the state capitols, but Kansas City, Missouri's ethics code is about to get an update.

Legislation to redefine the relationship between liquor distributors, wholesalers and retailers has stalled in the Missouri Senate.

The chief justice of the Kansas Supreme Court and a prominent legislator are butting heads. At issue are allegations made the the justice. He says the legislator, who's an attorney, tried to make a deal tying a pay raise for court workers to a constitutional amendment.

Early this morning, the Missouri Senate passed legislation that would fix the state's ailing Second Injury Fund.

The fund is designed to help disabled workers who suffer a second work-related injury.  It began running out of money after lawmakers eight years ago capped the surcharge businesses have to pay into it.  Senate Bill 1, sponsored by State Senator Scott Rupp, a Republican from Wentzville, would temporarily increase the surcharge.