Government

The Missouri House has passed legislation that would allow motorcyclists to ride without wearing helmets.

House Bill 555 would lift the mandatory helmet requirement for motorcycle drivers and passenger who are at least 21 years of age or older.  It would remain in effect for those under 21.  The sponsor is Republican Rep. Eric Burlison from Springfield, he says the data he’s seen indicates that most motorcycle deaths are from torso injuries, not head trauma.

In a letter to Gov. Sam Brownback, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder says a new Kansas gun law is unconstitutional, and the federal government is willing to go to court to prove it.  

The bill makes it a crime for federal officials to enforce U.S gun laws in Kansas. It also says the federal government cannot regulate guns made, sold and kept in Kansas.

Holder says federal law trumps state law and Kansas can't make it a crime to enforce federal regulations. Some Second Amendment Advocates call Holder’s letter a shot across the bow.

Members of U.S. House and Senate committees are about to start work on a new farm bill. And with a mood to cut spending in Washington, some things could be on the chopping block.

Kansas Senator Jerry Moran says the next federal farm bill is likely to cut back or eliminate some farm subsidies.

The federal investigator who requested Missouri’s list of conceal carry weapons holders testified under oath Wednesday before a State Senate committee.

Keith Schilb of the Social Security Administration's Inspector General's office told the Senate Appropriations Committee that part of his job is to seek and develop projects that could indicate whether there is enough evidence of fraud to warrant an investigation.  He says that’s how the inquiry into Missouri’s conceal carry database began.

Legislation has stalled in the Missouri Senate that would allow investor-owned electric companies to charge consumers for infrastructure improvements.

Opponents argued that Ameren Missouri, Empire District and Kansas City Power and Light (KCP&L) make enough money to pay for improvements without levying an Infrastructure System Replacement Surcharge (ISRS) on their customers.  Several Senators are blocking the measure, including Republican Rob Schaaf of St. Joseph.

Kansas Citians can expect the picture to get sharper on Channel 2, the city government's cable TV channel.

The station is preparing to go digital HD. The city council finance committee has endorsed a $300,000 expenditure for new equipment to replace the 20-year-old control room equipment that is the backbone of the city's cable television communication system.

KCCG Channel 2 broadcasts council legislative and committee meetings and other city government related programs. It also rebroadcasts some meetings of the Jackson County Legislature.