Kansas City Week in Review - January 4, 2013

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>>> FIRING AND HIRING AT THE CHIEFS IS BIG NEWS THIS WEEK. ALSO THIS HALF HOUR, KANSAS
 
BECOMES THE FIRST STATE IN THE NAILINGS -- NATION TO PRIVATIZE ITS MEDICAID PROGRAM.
 
WE LOOK AT WHAT'S AT STAKE. IN MISSOURI, LAWMAKERS PUSH FOR A BILL TO ARM TEACHERS AS A
 
RESULT OF THE SHOOTING AT SANDY HOOK. PLUS, ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT
 
DRONES OVERHEAD? A STATE LAWMAKER FILES A BILL THAT WOULD BAN THEM FROM FLYING
 
OVER OUR AREA. THOSE STORIES AND MORE COMING UP.
 
>>> HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE. I'M NICK HAINES, AND IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK WITH YOU BRIGHT EYED
 
AND BUSHY TAILED IN 2013 READY TO HELP YOU CONNECT THE DOTS ON SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
 
STORIES IN OUR METRO AND OUR REGION, JUST AS ENERGIZED AS I AM TO PULL THROUGH THE STORIES
 
ARE KCTV'S CHIEF INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER STACEY CAMERON, FROM THE EDITORIAL BOARD OF YOUR
 
KANSAS CITY STAR, BARBARA SHELLEY, FROM THE REPORTING DESK AT NEWS RADIO 98.1 F.M., KMBZ
 
BILL GRADY, AND STAR REPORTING, BLOGGER AND COLUMNIST, DAVE HELLING.
 
NOW, IT WAS NOT A GREAT STAR FOR THE YEAR FOR ROMEO CRENNEL OR SCOTT PIOLI, THE COACH AND
 
GENERAL MANAGER OF THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS. THEY ARE NOW BOTH OUT OF A JOB
 
THIS WEEK. AS WE TAPE THIS PROGRAM 11 A.M. FRIDAY MORNING, FORMER
 
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES COACH ANDY REID LOOKS LIKE THE MAN PICKED BY TEAM OWNER CLARK HUNT TO LEAD
 
THE CHIEFS OUT OF WHAT MANY OF ITS FANS BELIEVE HAS BEEN ITS PAINFUL FOOTBALL WILDERNESS.
 
WE ARE NOT A SPORTS STATION AND ARE NOT A SPORTS PROGRAM, BUT IS IT FAIR TO SAY, FIRST OF ALL,
 
THIS IS THE BIGGEST NEWS STORY OF THE WEEK IN KANSAS CITY OR AS A NEWS MEDIA, ARE OUR PRIORITIES
 
MISPLACED, BILL? >> I DON'T THINK THEY ARE, REALLY, BECAUSE IT IS AS YOU
 
MENTIONED A BIG STORY, AND THE CHIEFS ARE A BIG REVENUE GENERATOR FOR THE CITY.
 
SO THERE A LOT OF INTEREST FROM THE SPORTS FANS AND BUSINESS COMMUNITIES AS WELL.
 
>> IT IS A PSYCHOLOGICAL SORT OF PSYCHE ISSUE FOR THE COMMUNITY, ISN'T IT, THE SUCCESS OF OUR
 
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS FRANCHISES, BARBARA? >> ABSOLUTELY.
 
I'VE FOUND IT RIVETING. THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IS IF THEY HAD JUST
 
DONE NOTHING AND LET THE SITUATION SIT AS IT IS. >> DAVE.
 
>> I THINK THERE IS A DANGER TO ALL OF THE ENTHUSIASM THAT WE'RE ALL FEELING THIS WEEK AS WE
 
COVER THIS STORY, BECAUSE I DO THINK BARBARA IS RIGHT. THE COMMUNITY REALLY WANTED TO
 
GET RID OF SCOTT PIOLI AND ROMEO CRENNEL, BUT JUST AS DISAPPOINTED AS THE COMMUNITY
 
WAS IN THAT SITUATION, EXPECTATIONS OF A CURE OVERNIGHT MAY BE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN
 
THEY NEED TO BE. I REMEMBER IN TELEVISION ALL THE TIME, NICK, THEY WOULD SAY,
 
WELL, OUR RATINGS ARE DOWN. LET'S CHANGE THE ANCHOR, CHANGE THE SET AND THAT WILL EXPLODE IN
 
VIEWERSHIP. IT'S MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT, AND SO IS PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL.
 
ANY SPORTS FRANCHISE OF ANY SPORT, AND SO I THINK WE SHOULD TEMPER OUR ENTHUSIASM WITH AN
 
UNDERSTANDING THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE FOR THIS TEAM TO BOUNCE BACK FROM A HORRIBLE,
 
HORRIBLE SEASON. >> BUT AS WE START ON BRAND NEW YEAR, PEOPLE WERE LOOKING FOR
 
CHANGE. THIS IS A GOOD START TO THE METROPOLITAN AREA THEN?
 
>> RIGHT. FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE CITY, THEY MAY NOT IDENTIFY THAT
 
MUCH WITH THE CHIEFS, BUT FOR THOSE WHO LIVE HERE, THE CHIEFS ARE OUR IDENTITY.
 
I'LL GO BACK TO THE MEDIA COVERAGE OF THIS. IT'S NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT
 
RESOURCES IN THE CITY, BUT THE RESOURCES THE MEDIA GIVES TO THIS, IT'S KIND OF SHAMEFUL.
 
IF WE GAVE AS MUCH TO THE CRIME RATE, MURDER RATE, MAYBE THERE COULD BE A POSITIVE CHANGE
 
EFFECTED INSTEAD OF COVERING SPORTS. >> I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT
 
TRADITIONALLY IS SLOW NEWS TIME OF THE YEAR DURING THE HOLIDAYS. THERE IS A GOOD LIKELIHOOD THAT
 
BECAUSE OF THAT THIS TOOK A MUCH HIGHER PROFILE THAN HAD IT HAPPENED AT A DIFFERENT POINT IN
 
THE YEAR. I'M NOT REALLY SURE THAT IT WAS TOTALLY OUT OF BALANCE.
 
I AGREE WITH WHAT STACEY SAYS. THERE ARE OTHER IMPORTANT STORIES OUT THERE.
 
THEY WILL START SURFACING AS THE YEAR GOES FORWARD. >> IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE
 
MOST READ ITEMS ON KANSAS CITY DOT COM, DAY IN AND DAY OUT, IT'S USUALLY SPORTS.
 
PEOPLE, THEY'RE JUST A MAGNET TO IT. >> THE OTHER THING I WOULD THROW
 
IN IS SOMEHOW THE IDEA THAT THE MEDIA DOESN'T COVER MURDERS IS PROBABLY A LITTLE STRETCH.
 
I WORKED IN TELEVISION. EVERY MURDER IS COVERED A LOT. IN FACT, AS STACEY KNOWS, ONE OF
 
THE CRITICISMS IS THAT WE SPEND TOO MUCH TIME COVERING MURDERS. WHAT I THINK HE'S TALKING ABOUT
 
IS WE DON'T COVER THE ROOT CAUSE OF THAT. >> THE RESOURCES PUT INTO
 
COVERING THIS STORY FROM EVERY ANGLE AND ASPECT ARE FAR GREATER THAN WE DO A MURDER.
 
A MURDER, WHETHER IT'S IN THE PAPER OR WHETHER IT'S ON MY TELEVISION STATION OR THE OTHER
 
THREE, IS SIMPLY SOMEBODY'S NAME, WHERE IT HAPPENED, AND THEN IT'S GONE.
 
WE DON'T GET INTO REAL SOCIAL ISSUES LIKE WE SHOULD IN THE MEDIA LIKE WE WILL IN SPORTS.
 
I DON'T CARE WHAT TIME OF THE YEAR THIS WAS COVERED. THIS WAS THE CHIEFS.
 
THE MEDIA IS GOING TO COVER IT, BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE IN THE CITY DO CARE ABOUT THE CHIEFS THAN
 
THEY DO CARE ABOUT SOMEBODY GETTING KILLED ON THE EAST SIDE. THAT'S A FACT, A SAD FACT OF
 
REALITY. >>> WE WANT TO TRACK SOME OTHER ISSUES.
 
KANSAS CITY HOMICIDE RATE DROPS WAS A FRONT PAGE HEADLINE THIS WEEK.
 
IT MAY SEEM HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT THE CITY ENDED THE YEAR WITH 108 MURDERS, 6 FEWER THAN LAST YEAR.
 
IS ANYONE PATTING THEMSELVES ON THE BACK THIS WEEK, BILL GRADY, FOR THAT DECLINE?
 
>> ALVIN BROOKS WITH THE AD HOC GROUP AGAINST CRIME HELD A VIGIL THE OTHER DAY NEW YEAR'S DAY,
 
AND HE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, AND HE SAID THERE IS ENOUGH CREDIT TO GO AROUND AND
 
PEOPLE WILL STEP TO THE FLOOR AND TAKE THAT, BUT IT MAY HAVE TO DO WITH THE CHIEF DESIGNATING
 
HOT SPOTS, MORE COMMUNITY OUTREACH, MORE TRYING TO CATCH THESE GUYS BEFORE THINGS DO
 
HAPPEN, BUT IT'S NOT ONE OF THOSE QUANTIFIABLE THINGS. >> SURPRISING STATISTICS WERE
 
BURIED IN THOSE NUMBERS, STACEY. KANSAS CITY SAW A RATE OF 23 HOMICIDES PER 100,000 RESIDENTS.
 
THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE STAR REPORT. THAT'S WELL ABOVE CHICAGO'S 19
 
PER 100,000 RESIDENTS AND ABOUT ON PAR WITH PHILADELPHIA AT 22 PER 100,000.
 
DENVER AND INDIANAPOLIS, TWO CITIES OFTEN USED TO COMPARE WITH KANSAS CITY ON CIVIC
 
MEASURES, EACH HAVE PER CAPITA HOMICIDE RATES FAR BELOW THOSE FOUND HERE, ABOUT 6 AND 11 PER
 
100,000 RESIDENTS RESPECTIVELY ACCORDING TO THE STAR REPORT. THE QUESTION IS, WHAT KANSAS
 
CITY IS DOING ABOUT THAT. ANYTHING? >> WELL, YOU'RE SEEING THE
 
HOTSPOT POLICING, AND YOU'RE SEEING MORE GROUPS PUT TOGETHER TO STUDY THE ISSUE.
 
BUT THIS ISN'T A SUCCESS. YES, 6 PEOPLE LESS IS GREAT. ONE PERSON LESS IS GREAT.
 
BUT LOOK AT THE AVERAGE MURDER RATE. IT'S 109 PEOPLE.
 
WE WERE AT 108. THIS ISN'T SOME GREAT SUCCESS TO TOUT.
 
YOU LOOK AT 42% OF THE MURDERS, I THINK IT IS, IS IN THE EAST PATROL DISTRICT.
 
70% OF THE PEOPLE KILLED IN THIS CITY A -- ARE BLACK. THERE IS NO SUCCESS TO TOUT, A
 
LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE. ALL WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS POLICING, NOT THE SOCIAL ROOT
 
CAUSES OF THIS. UNTIL WE GET TO, THAT I DON'T CARE WHAT THE POLICE DO, THEY'RE
 
NOT GOING TO CHANGE THAT RATE MUCH MORE THAN MAYBE 6, MAYBE 10 A YEAR.
 
>> BARBARA, YOU'RE ON THE EDITORIAL BOARD OF THE STAR. ALL OF THESE CITY LEADERS AND
 
CIVIC LEADERS WALK INTO THE EDITORIAL BOARD MEETINGS AND TALK ABOUT THESE ISSUES.
 
WHY IS THAT THEN? WHY DON'T WE GET A FIX ON THIS ISSUE?
 
>> IT'S JUST HARD. YOU KNOW, I THINK SOMEHOW A SITUATION HAS DEVELOPED IN
 
KANSAS CITY WHERE YOU HAVE HOME NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE AWASH IN GUNS AND A LIFESTYLE IN WHICH
 
YOUNG PEOPLE GROWING UP SEE THEIR FATHERS, BROTHERS, COUSINS CARRYING GUNS AND USING THEM TO
 
SETTLE SCORES AND ARGUMENTS, AND WE GO ON AND ON AND ON WITH IT. THEY TALKED ABOUT SOME TIME
 
DURING 2012 ABOUT A NO VIOLENCE ALLIANCE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A CONCERTED EFFORT WHERE YOU
 
ACTUALLY -- THE POLICE ACTUALLY IDENTIFY WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO CAUSE A CRIME, GET SOME DATA AND
 
ACTUAL SURVEILLANCE ON THEM AND THEN CONFRONT THEM AND SAY, WE'RE WATCHING YOU, IF YOU STEP
 
OUT OF LINE, WE'RE GOING TO ARREST YOU. AND THEN THEY DO.
 
AND THEN THEY TAKE OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE SOMEWHAT AT RISK AND TRY TO INTERVENE WITH THEM EARLIER,
 
AND YOU KNOW, GET THEM THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO, YOU KNOW, NOT PULL OUT A GUN TO SETTLE AN ARGUMENT.
 
I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR THEY'VE GOTTEN WITH THAT SO FAR, BUT I KNOW IT'S STILL ALIVE.
 
I THINK IT IS GOING TO TAKE A CONCERTED EFFORT OF POLICE, PROSECUTORS, THE COMMUNITY,
 
EVERYBODY. CHRIS KOSTER, THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL, SAYS HE'S GOING TO
 
START AN INITIATIVE TO REALLY LOOK AT URBAN VIOLENCE IN KANSAS CITY AND ST. LOUIS, AND THERE
 
MAY BE SOME THINGS ON THE STATE. >> HAVEN'T WE HEARD THIS TIME AND TIME AGAIN, THOUGH?
 
>> AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN A REPORTER IN THIS COMMUNITY SINCE THE MID 1980'S, YES, WE HAVE.
 
IN FACT, JUST FOR CONTEXT, OUR MURDER RATE, WHILE BAD, IS NOT AS BAD AS IT WAS IN THE MID
 
1990'S WHEN YOU WOULDRY TEAM HAVE 130, 140 MURDERS PER YEAR. >> ONE TIME 150.
 
>> SO IT WAS VERY, VERY BAD IN THE MID 90s, GONE DOWN SINCE THEN.
 
BUT I DO THINK KANSAS CITY HAS A REASON FOR CONCERN. FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD MORE MURDERS
 
IN KANSAS CITY THIS YEAR THAN WASHINGTON D.C. THAT'S ON ASTONISHING.
 
I LIVED IN WASHINGTON FOR A TIME. THEY WOULD ROUTINELY HAVE 300
 
MURDERS IN A YEAR, AND NOW I THINK THEY HAD 80, 58, SOMEWHERE SOMEWHERE -- 80, 85, SOMEWHERE
 
IN THERE. ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK 2013 WILL BE IMPORTANT TO WATCH IS
 
THE IMPACT OF LOCAL CONTROL OF THE POLICE IN ST. LOUIS, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE, VERSUS WHAT
 
CONTINUES TO BE STATE CONTROL IN KANSAS CITY, AND WHETHER LOCAL CONTROL AND ACCOUNTABILITY WILL
 
IMPROVE THE MURDER RATE IN ST. LOUIS. THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD EARLY
 
INDICATOR. >> PROSECUTORS, POLICE, PANELS STUDYING THIS ISSUE, THEY'RE NOT
 
GOING TO SOLVE IT UNTIL THERE -- THE ECONOMIC SPROS SUSPECTS -- PROSPECTS IN THESE POOR
 
NEIGHBORHOODS IMPROVE, UNTIL PARENTS ARE HELD RESPONSIBLE. UNTIL THAT CHANGES, NOTHING
 
CHAINS. >> THE KC NOVA THAT BASH MADE MENTION OF, THE NONVIOLENCE
 
ALLIANCE, SORT OF IS GROUNDBREAKING IN A SENSE. IT TAKES U.S. ATTORNEYS, JACKSON
 
COUNTY PROSECUTORS OFFICE AND POLICE, AND IT HAS THE SOCIAL COMPONENT.
 
THEY HAVE JUST NOW HIRED THE MAIN SOCIAL WORKER TO RUN THAT PROGRAM.
 
I WEPT -- WENT DOWN AND VISITED THEIR OFFICES THE OTHER DAY, AND I HAVE TO SAY I'M PRETTY
 
IMPRESSED WITH SOME THE RESEARCH THEY'VE DONE. I BELIEVE IN 2013 IT COULD MAKE
 
A DIFFERENCE. IT'S A BIG GAMBLE. UMKC IS INVOLVED.
 
IT DOES HAVE ELEMENTS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN TRIED BEFORE. >>> AS MISSOURI LAWMAKERS
 
PREPARE TO RETURN TO JEFFERSON CITY TO START A NEW SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE, ONE REPUBLICAN
 
STATE LEGISLATOR HAS ALREADY FILED A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW ANY TEACHER OR ADMINISTRATOR
 
WITH A CONCEALED WEAPONS PERMIT TO CARRY GUNS IN MISSOURI SCHOOLS.
 
REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE MIKE KELLEY OF LAMAR IS SPONSORING THE LEGISLATION AND ALREADY HAS
 
MORE THAN 20 COSPONSORS. IT COMES IN RESPONSE TO THE MASS SHOOTING AT SANDY HOOK
 
ELEMENTARY. KELLEY IS A REPUBLICAN, AND REPUBLICANS CONTROLLED BOTH
 
HOUSES OF THE LEGISLATURE IN JEFFERSON CITY. HOW IS THE BILL BEING VIEWED,
 
DAVE? >> WELL, BY THE GENERAL COMMUNITY, I DON'T THINK THERE
 
IS A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM FOR IT OTHER THAN THOSE WHO SUPPORT SECOND AMOUNT RIGHTS, AND OF
 
COURSE, THIS IS THE ARGUMENT THEY'RE MAKING NOT JUST IN JEFFERSON CITY BUT ACROSS THE
 
COUNTRY AND REALLY THE ARGUMENT THAT THE NRA MADE OR A SIMILAR ARGUMENT TO WHAT THE NATIONAL
 
RIFLE ASSOCIATION MADE WHICH IS, IN ESSENCE, THE WAY TO PREVENT THESE TRAGEDIES IS TO ARM
 
SOMEONE AT THE SCHOOL, A ETCH TOOER, GUARD, SOME SORT OF -- A TEACHER, GUARD, SOME SORT OF
 
PERSON IN THOUGHT. MY GUESS IS WE'RE GOING TO BATTLE THIS OUT SAY THE -- IN
 
STATE AFTER STATE AND WASHINGTON. >> I'VE BEEN MAKING SOME CALLS
 
TO LEGISLATORS THIS WEEK, THE OPENING OF THE MISSOURI LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
 
HONESTLY, PEOPLE DON'T REALLY EXPECT THIS TO GET A LOT OF TRACTION.
 
THE HOUSE SPEAKER AND MAJORITY LEADER, WELL, THEY SIGNED ON TO BURN-ISH THEIR NRA CREDENTIALS
 
AND EVERYTHING. THEY HAVE A LOT TO DO, AND THEY KNOW IT.
 
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS REALLY SPOILING FOR A FIGHT OVER GUNS THIS YEAR.
 
ESPECIALLY BECAUSE GOVERNOR NIXON HAS ALREADY SAID HE WOULD VETO ANY KIND OF BILL LIKE.
 
THIS THERE'S PROBABLY NOT ENOUGH VOTES TO OVERRIDE IT. I THINK THEY'RE JUST GOING TO
 
LET IT SIT IN COMMITTEE SOMEWHERE. >> BUT I THOUGHT REPUBLICANS NOW
 
IN THE MISSOURI LEGISLATURE HAVE, AS A RESULT OF THIS LAST ELECTION, ENOUGH MEMBERS TO
 
OVERRIDE A GUBERNATORIAL --. >> BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BAN TOGETHER ON
 
EVERY ISSUE. >> BILL. >> THERE IS A SCHOOL
 
SUPERINTENDENT IN THE SMALL TOWN OF TEXAS THAT CLAIMS HE'S GOT IT FIGURED OUT.
 
HIS METHOD IS THE TEACHERS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THE NECESSARY TRAINING, GOT THE CONCEALED
 
WEAPON REGISTRATION, THEY CAN CARRY GUNS, AND THEY HAVE FUNGIBLE BULLETS THAT WILL
 
PENETRATE SOFT TISSUE AND DISINTEGRATE ON SOLID TISSUE. HE SAYS IT WORKS WELL.
 
>> HERE'S MY PROBLEM WITH THE BILL. THIS BILL IS ESSENTIALLY AN
 
AMENDMENT TO THE CONCEALED CARRY BILL THAT'S ALREADY LAW HERE IN MISSOURI.
 
IT DOESN'T ALLOW A PARENT TO KNOW WHETHER A TEACHER THAT IS IN HER CHILD'S CLASSROOM IS
 
CARRYING A WEAPON, WHETHER THE PRINCIPAL OR AN ADMINISTRATOR. IF I'M A PARENT AND THERE IS A
 
TEACHER IN MY KID'S CLASS THAT HAS A GONE, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO KNOW.
 
I WANT TO KNOW IF THAT TEACHER HAS HAD A MENTAL HEALTH SCREENING WITHIN THE PAST SIX
 
MONTHS, ADMINISTRATORS, TOO. IT DOESN'T GIVE PARENTS THAT RIGHT.
 
THAT'S MY BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH THIS BILL. UNTIL THAT IS ADDRESSED, I DON'T
 
THINK ANYBODY SHOULD BE SUPPORTING IT. IT'S A KNEE JERK REACTION THAT
 
DOESN'T GIVE PARENTS A LOT OF RIGHT TO KNOW WHO IS CARRYING A GUN IN THEIR CHILD'S SCHOOL.
 
>> CAN I SAY QUICKLY THAT I THINK BASH IS RIGHT THAT IT PROBABLY SITS ON A DESK
 
SOMEWHERE ELSE FOR LEGISLATORS SPEND THE FIRST SIX WEEKS OF ANY LEGISLATION TAKING A CLOSE LOOK
 
AT SOCIAL ISSUES LIKE ABORTION, GUN CONTROL, CONCEAL CARRY, THAT TYPE OF THING, BECAUSE THE REAL
 
QUESTIONS OF THE BUDGET AND SPENDING ARE OFTEN PUSHED OFFER INTO THE LAST WEEKS OF THE
 
SESSION, SO THERE IS CHANCE THIS WILL COME UP EARLY AND BE DEBATED.
 
>> ANOTHER BILL THAT HAS BEEN FILED BEFORE MISSOURI LAWMAKERS EVEN HEAD TO JEFFERSON CITY IS
 
THE DRONE BAN BILL. CASEY GUERNSEY, A REPUBLICAN HOUSE MEMBER FROM BETHANY, HE
 
WANTS TO PROHIBIT UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES, MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS DRONES, FROM CONDUCTING
 
SURVEILLANCE WITHOUT A WARRANT IN THE SHOW-ME STATE. IF PASSED, MISSOURI WOULD BE THE
 
FIRST STATE TO REGULATE DRONES. BEFORE YOU THING THIS IS TOO FARFETCHED, DRONES ARE BEING
 
USED OUTSIDE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BY POLICE DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING SEATTLE,
 
AND IN ARKANSAS. THERE ARE CORPORATIONS AND EVEN UNIVERSITIES, INCLUDING K-STATE.
 
WHAT'S THE CONCERN ABOUT THESE? >> WELL, IT'S A PRIVACY CONCERN. PEOPLE ARE WORRIED THAT THE
 
POLICE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO SURVEY YOU WITHOUT YOUR KNOWING, IN VIOLATION OF
 
YOUR CIVIL RIGHTS, GOING TO BE ABLE TO LOOK IN AREAS PREVIOUS THEY THEY WOULD NEED A WARRANT
 
TO. MY PROBLEM WITH THIS IS, THERE ARE A LOT OF PUBLIC AREAS WITH
 
THE PLAIN VIEW DOCTRINE, WHICH ALLOWS POLICE TO GET EVIDENCE OR MAKE AN ARREST IF IT'S IN THEIR
 
PLAIN VIEW. THESE KIND OF PEOPLE AREN'T BEING CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
 
IN OTHER WORDS, THE DRONES CAN FLY OVER AREAS WHERE OTHERWISE POLICE COULD WALK, AND THAT'S
 
FINE. THERE ARE LOTS OF ISSUES WITH THIS BILL.
 
I THINK THE BIG CONCERN IS THE CIVIL RIGHTS COMPONENT. >> I THINK THERE IS SOME
 
CONCERN, FRANKLY, THAT MEDIA WILL START USING DRONES. IT'S A RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE -.
 
>> STACEY MIGHT START USING. >> YOU CAN CHUCKLE, BUT THE REALITY IS THAT THAT'S NOT
 
COMPLETELY OUT OF THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY. THE REALITY IS, THOUGH, NICK, I
 
THINK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL -- THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CLAIMS JURISDICTION OVER THE
 
SKIES LARGELY, AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE IT WILL END UP. >> BILL.
 
>> AND THE COURTS HAVE GENERALLY SUPPORTED THE SURVEILLANCE AND EVIDENCE COLLECTED BY DRONES.
 
DRONES HAVE COME WAY DOWN IN PRICE, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER TECHNOLOGY.
 
I TALKED WITH THE ACLU HERE IN KANSAS CITY YESTERDAY. THEY THINK THAT ULTIMATELY WHAT
 
WILL HAPPEN IS THAT LEGISLATION WILL DETERMINE WHAT IS PUBLIC PROPERTY, WHAT IS PRIVATE
 
PROPERTY, AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE THE RUB WILL BE. >> BUT AREN'T THEY SUPPORTING
 
REPRESENTATIVE GUERNSEY'S BILL? >> THEY ABSOLUTELY ARE, YES. >> THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT
 
HAPPENS TO THE INFORMATION GAINED FROM THESE DRONES. >> THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED.
 
>> FASCINATED ABOUT EVERYTHING WITH THE MISSOURI LEGISLATURE. >> WHICH IS A SICKNESS, BARB.
 
>> IT IS. BUT THIS IS ANOTHER BILL THAT MISSOURI IS OUT IN FRONT OF
 
THE -- ALL THE STATES ON. YOU KNOW, IT'S BECAUSE THIS REP, CASEY GUERNSEY, HAS A DEEP, DEEP
 
MISTRUST OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND HE'S NOT BY ANY MEANS THE ONLY ONE DOWN THERE
 
THAT SHARES THAT. IT'S JUST ANOTHER REALLY FASCINATING PART ABOUT OUR
 
LEGISLATURE. >> PART OF IT ALSO IS ABOUT AGRICULTURE.
 
WILL THEY BE SPYING ON FARMERS? >> THAT DEFINITELY SEEMS TO BE HIS CONCERN.
 
HE'S NOT WORRIED ABOUT CRIMES IN INNER CITIES. HE'S WORRIED ABOUT POLLUTION IN
 
THE STREAMS BY AGRICULTURE ENTITIES. HE WANTS TO PROTECT THEIR
 
ABILITY TO POLLUTE. HE'S NOT WORRIED ABOUT PRIVACY CONCERNS OF PEOPLE.
 
JUST READ INTO HIS COMMENTS. >> SO THIS IS ANOTHER BILL WE NEED TO BE WATCHING IN THIS
 
LEGISLATIVE SESSION. >> AND WE WILL BE. >> WE WILL BE.
 
>> WE WILL DRONE ON ABOUT IT. >>> WELL, THIS WEEK, MOVING ONTO THE OTHER SIDE OF OUR STATE
 
LINE, KANSAS BECOMES THE FIRST STATE IN THE NATION TO PRIVATIZE ITS MEDICAID PROGRAM.
 
>> KAN CARE IS TRULY WHAT KANSAS NEEDS, A WAY FOR US TO IMPROVE THE COORDINATION AND QUALITY OF
 
CARE FOR MORE THAN 380,000 KANSANS WHILE MAKING THE MEDICAID PROGRAM MORE FISCALLY
 
SUSTAINABLE. >> IF YOU ARE ONE OF 380,000 MEDICAID RECIPIENTS, STARTING
 
JANUARY 1, YOU HAD TO HAVE SIGNED UP WITH ONE OF THREE PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANIES FOR
 
YOUR CARE. THE NEW INITIATIVE PIONEERED BY GOVERNOR BROWNBACK'S
 
ADMINISTRATION IS CALLED KAN CARE. BUT SOME OF THE HOSPITALS HAVE
 
NOT SIGNED UP WITH ONE OR ANY OF THE PLANS. THE GOVERNOR INSISTS PRIVATIZING
 
MEDICAID WILL SAVE THE STATE MORE THAN $1 BILLION IN JUST THE FIRST FIVE YEARS.
 
IS THIS MOVE ALL ABOUT SAVING MONEY OR IS THERE MORE TO IT THAN THAT?
 
>> I MEAN, THE ROOT OF IT IS SAVING MONEY, BECAUSE MEDICAID IS SWAMPING THE STATES AS -- AS
 
GOVERNOR BROWNBACK SAID, THEY'RE TAKING 380,000 PEOPLE AND PUTTING THEM IN PRIVATE,
 
FOR-PROFIT MANAGED CARE PLANS. THE GOVERNOR HAS PLEDGED THEY'RE NOT GOING TO CUT THE ELIGIBILITY
 
FOR MEDICAID, NOT GOING TO REDUCE RATES TO DOCTORS, PROVIDERS, ET CETERA.
 
THAT DOES BEG THE QUESTION OF HOW THESE MANAGED CARE PLANS ARE GOING TO MAKE A PROFIT AND STILL
 
SERVE THE PEOPLE. I KNOW THERE IS JUST A LOT OF CONCERN AMONGST PEOPLE THAT CARE
 
FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED IN PARTICULAR, BUT ALL OF THESE POPULATIONS.
 
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FRAIL ELDERLY, YOU KNOW, PREGNANT WOMEN WITH LOW INCOMES, ET
 
CETERA, HOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE SERVED UNDER THIS PLAN, AND I'VE ALREADY HEARD SOME THINGS ABOUT,
 
WELL, CHILDREN THAT ARE PUT IN PSYCHIATRIC FACILITIES CURRENTLY ARE EVALUATED EVERY 90 DAYS TO
 
SEE IF THEY SHOULD STAY. THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT CUTTING THAT WAY BACK TO A COUPLE WEEKS
 
OR SOMETHING, THINGS LIKE THAT. THERE'S JUST A LOT OF CONCERNS. >> BUT YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF
 
THINGS HAPPENING HERE. THESE ARE SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE, LOWEST INCOME,
 
DISABLED PEOPLE IN KANSAS. ARE THERE CONCERNS, THOUGH, ABOUT THAT SOME HOSPITALS AND
 
PROVIDERS ARE NOT SIGNED UP RIGHT NOW? ARE THESE THE CONCERNS SORT OF
 
OVERBLOWN ANY TIME SOMETHING IS GOING TO BE PRIVATIZED? IF THE CITY OF KANSAS CITY,
 
MISSOURI, DAVE HELLING, IS GOING TO BE PRIVATIZING ITS WATER DEPARTMENT, EVERYBODY GETS ALL
 
UPSENT, DON'T THEY? THE P WORD IS BEING USED. IS THIS NAY-SAYERS OR ARE THERE
 
LEGITIMATE WORRIES? >> THERE ARE ALWAYS LEGITIMATE WORRIES WHEN YOU TRANSITION A
 
PROGRAM LIKE THIS. YOU'RE RIGHT, NICK, IT MAY TAKE MONTHS, PERHAPS YEARS FOR IT TO
 
FULLY SHAKE OUT AND FOR US TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF IT, BUT LET'S BE CLEAR, IF
 
GOVERNOR BROWNBACK BELIEVES YOU CAN SAVE A BILLION DOLLARS OVER FIVE YEARS, THEN THAT IS A
 
BILLION DOLLARS THAT IS NOW BEING WASTED IN MEDICAID. THE ONLY WAY TO SAVE MONEY IS TO
 
TAKE MONEY OUT, AND SO SOMEONE HAS TO TAKE LESS. THAT MAY BE THE PATIENT.
 
THAT MAY BE THE PRIVATE COMPANY. IT MAY BE THE PROVIDER. IT MAY BE THE PHARMACEUTICAL
 
COMPANY. WE SPEND MILLIONS OF DLARS ON DRUGS FOR MEDICAID PATIENTS, BUT
 
SOMEONE IS GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE LESSOR YOU DON'T SAVE A BILLION DOLLARS.
 
SO THE QUESTION REALLY, AND I THINK ALL OF THE POSTURING NOW IS, ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS
 
TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE OTHER GUY TAKES THE HIT AND NOT ME, AND IT MAY TAKE SEVERAL
 
YEARS FOR THAT TO COMPLETE. >> AND THAT'S TRUE ALSO, BILL, BECAUSE THE NEW TAX RATES CAME
 
INTO PLAY THIS WEEK, ALSO, IN KANSAS. THE GOVERNOR HAS MADE SOME MAJOR
 
OVERHAUL IN THE TAX RATES IN THE STATE OF KANSAS. A LOT OF BETS HAVE BEEN MADE
 
ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE OF KANSAS IS GOING TO BE EVEN ECONOMICALLY.
 
HE COULD BECOME THE MOST INNOVATIVE GOVERNOR IN THE ENTIRE NATION OR HE COULD BECOME
 
ONE OF THE MOST FOOLISH GOVERNORS IN THE NATION. IT DEPENDS ON WHAT ACTUALLY --
 
HOW ALL OF THIS PLAYS OUT. >> HE'S GOT A LOT AT STAKE HERE, BECAUSE THERE'S ALREADY TALK
 
THAT THE SALES TAX, WHICH WAS GOING TO GO DOWN, THEY MAY HAVE TO PUT THAT ON HOLD.
 
SO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A BILLION DOLLARS, I THINK THAT OBVIOUSLY THE BIG FOCUS HERE IS
 
THE MONEY SIDE OF IT, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT GOVERNOR BROWNBACK IS FOCUSED ON.
 
MY CONTENTION AND THE CONTENTION OF A LOT OF OTHERS IS THAT HE IS LOOKING TOWARD 2016.
 
IF HE CAN SAVE MONEY, BE MORE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, IT'S GOING TO DRAW HIM A LOT OF NATIONAL
 
ATTENTION. >> THIS IS EITHER BROWNBACK'S WATERLOO OR KAN CARE WILL BE HIS
 
PLATFORM TO NATIONAL PROMINENCE. HERE IS MY OPINION. I AGREE WITH THE PRIVATIZATION,
 
BUT IT'S BEEN PUSHED THROUGH TOO FAST. WE DON'T HAVE PROPER OVERSIGHT,
 
NO LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT. THESE THREE INSURANCE COMPANIES, THEY'RE OUT OUT OF STATE ENTITI,
 
SO THESE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE GOING TO GO OUTSIDE OF KANSAS AND FINALLY THE PROVIDER NETWORK
 
WAS RUSHED THROUGH IN SIX MONTHS, AND THERE'S A LOT OF CONFUSION FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
 
GOING TO GET SERVICES. SO I THINK THE STATE IS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
 
THEY'RE MOVING FAR TOO FAST. >> CAN I SAY THIS QUICKLY ABOUT SAM BROWNBACK?
 
I THINK WE SHOULD KEEP THIS IN MIND. BROADLY PEEKING, WHAT HE IS --
 
SPEAKING, WHAT HE IS DOING IS MOVING THE BURDEN OF STATE FINANCES ON TO THE POOR.
 
HE IS REDUCING INCOME TAXES BUT KEEPING THE SALES TAX, WHICH IS REGRESSIVE.
 
PART OF TAX REFORM IS TO REMOVE EXEMPTIONS FOR FOOD AND MEDICINE THAT WERE I AM -- THAT WERE
 
EMBEDDED IN THE KANSAS STATE TAX CODE. HE IS PRIVATIZING MEDICAID,
 
PROGRAM FOR THE POOR, PRESUMABLY SAVING SOME OF THE MONEY SPENT. THE BIG BET OF SAM BROWNBACK IS
 
SHIFT THE BURDEN AWAY FROM THE WEALTH TO DO AND PUT IT ON THE POORER PARTS IN THE STATE OF
 
KANSAS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S THE EXPERIMENT I THINK WE'RE WATCHING OVER THE NEXT TWO
 
YEARS. >> BARBARA. >> WELL, I JUST AGREE WITH A LOT
 
OF WHAT STACEY JUST SAID. WE'LL KNOW A LOT MORE ABOUT KAN CARE IN ABOUT A YEAR, BUT IT IS
 
RUSHED. THE IDEA THAT SOME HOSPITALS AND DOCTORS NOW HAVEN'T EVEN SIGNED
 
UP WITH A PROVIDER YET -- THEY MAY HAVE BY THIS TIME, AND THEY WILL IF THEY WANT TO GET PAID.
 
THEY'LL HAVE TO. BUT I THINK YOU'RE JUST GOING TO SEE A LOT OF CONFUSION IN THE
 
EARLY WEEKS OF THIS PROGRAM. >> WELL, ANOTHER BIG PUSH IS ALSO ALREADY UNDERWAY IN KANSAS,
 
EVEN BEFORE THE SESSION STARTS IN THE SUNFLOWER STATE TO, GIVE KANSANS THE RIGHT TO BUY WINE
 
AND LICKER AND FULL STRENGTH BEER ALONG WITH THEIR MILK, PASTA AND EGDZ AT THE GROCERY
 
STORE. THE KANSAS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LAUNCHING A MAJOR EFFORT TO
 
ALLOW GROCERY STORES TO SELL WINE AND HART SPIRITS, WHICH MISSOURIANS MAY BE SURPRISED TO
 
LEARN IS STILL NOT ALLOWED ON THE KANSAS STAYED OF THE STATE LINE.
 
BARBARA, YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS. THE KANSAS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
 
IS A DEEP POCKETED INFLUENTIAL BUNCH. IS THE BI-STATE INEQUITY FINALLY
 
GOING TO CHANGE THIS YEAR? >> WELL, THE KANSAS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS UNINFLUENTIAL, BUT
 
THOSE LITTLE LIQUOR STORES, THEY CAN RAISE A RUCKUS. I KNOW BECAUSE WE WROTE A COUPLE
 
OF EDITORIALS ABOUT THIS. I DIDN'T EXPECT TO HEAR MUCH, BUT I SURE DID.
 
THERE ARE A LOT OF KIND OF LIKE FAMILY-OTHERENTED -- FAMILY-ORIENTED, NO ALCOHOL
 
GROUPS IN KANSAS. >> CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. KANSAS IS A STATE THAT'S VERY
 
CONSERVATIVE. THIS SEEMS LIKE AN UNNECESSARY LAW WHERE YOU'RE TELLING GROCERY
 
STORES AND BUSINESS OWNERS THAT THEY CAN'T SELL ALCOHOL BUT GIVING A SMALL MINORITY THE
 
RIGHT TO DO THAT. I THINK THIS IS A TIME KANSAS NEEDS TO LOOK AT ITSELF IN THE
 
MIRROR AND GET RID OF THIS LAW. >> THAT WILL BE JUST ANOTHER MEASURE WE WILL LOOK AT IN THE
 
COURSE OF THIS PROGRAM. FINALLY, HE WAS A THREE-TERM JACKSON COUNTY PROSECUTOR,
 
FORMER MISSOURI STATE JUDGE, MAYORAL CANDIDATE AND PROMINENT CIVIC LEADER IN KANSAS CITY FOR
 
A GENERATION. ALBERT RIEDERER WAS LAID TO REST ON MONDAY.
 
WHAT WAS HIS LEGACY, DAVE HELLING? >> HE WAS A GREAT PUBLIC
 
SERVANT. HE ALSO TRAINED A LOT OF GREAT PUBLIC SERVANTS.
 
HE HAD SORT OF A NETWORK OF PEOPLE HE BROUGHT UP, INCLUDING CLAIRE MCCASKILL, ALTHOUGH THEY
 
DIDN'T ALWAYS SEE EYE TO EYE. HE WILL BE MISSED. A GENERATION OF GREAT LEADERSHIP
 
FROM KANSAS CITY IS PASSING. >> AND THAT IS OUR WEEK IN REVIEW.
 
OUR THANKS TO THE WEEK'S NEWS REVIEWERS, FROM THE KANSAS CITY STAR, BARBARA SHELLEY AND DAVE
 
HELLING. AND FROM KCTV 5, STACEY CAMERON AND BILL GRADY OF NEWS RADIO
 
81.1 F.M. I'M NICK HAINES. FROM ALL OF US HERE AT KCPT,
 
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