KCPT’s Ruckus .

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE
Governor Nixon plans to try and persuade the legislature to accept the expanded Medicaid portion of the Affordable Care Act. The Supreme Court ruling on “Obamacare” allows states to opt out of the expansion. Republicans who control the legislature are against the expansion noting potential financial risks to the state.

GOVERNOR GREENBACK
Kansas Governor Sam Brownback is asking the legislature to consider legislation that would help replace the approximately 700-million dollars in tax cuts he supported. The governor suggests looking at “pay for’s.”

THE NOT-SO “NEW AMERICAN CITY”
The “New American City” conference was held in Kansas City with mayors and others from around the country participating. The focus was on how to build successful cities over the next few decades. A Star editorial noted that “Kansas City is competing with cities around the nation and the world to attract sharp minds and investment dollars.“ As a result, the Star suggests that Kansas City make several issues the top priorities.

TEA PARTY MEETS THINK TANK
Senator Jim DeMint is leaving the U.S. Senate to serve as head of the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank in Washington. DeMint, a tea party favorite, is said to be one of the most conservative senators. DeMint claims to be leaving because he will have more influence over issues at Heritage than in the senate.

ROASTS AND TOASTS

YES AND NO
The Star’s editorial board has written recently about two frequently discussed issues: local control of the police and the starter streetcar system. The board supports one (police) and opposes the other (streetcars), at least in its present form.

FISCAL CLIFF NOTES
Local economists say the “fiscal cliff” issue will make the difference between 2,100 job losses or 22,000 job gains for Kansas City in 2013. If the congress & president resolve the issue before the new year, economists expect the local economy to grow at a strong rate for the next 24 months. Obviously, we don’t know what will happen, so…

2016 ALREADY?
Political columnist Steve Kraske is already thinking about the 2016 elections, both nationally and locally. We can talk about several of his observations. We will start, however, with his suggestion that the likely Missouri gubernatorial candidates in 2016 (as of now) will be Chris Koster and Peter Kinder.

SOCIETAL EVOLUTION!
In last week’s election, two states passed amendments legalizing recreational marijuana. Three approved measures legalizing gay marriage. The first openly lesbian u.s. senator will be seated in January.

ROASTS AND TOASTS

This week Ruckus devotes the show to post election. Mike Shanin along with Yael, Gwen, Mary, Steve Meriakian (subbing for Woody) and Steve Rose will discuss the National, Missouri and Kansas election results.

POLL-ARZIED
The Kansas City Star released a poll last weekend. We can talk about various aspects of it, specifically the “propositions” on the ballot.

KLIKA & PRESTA! WHO?
Two candidates are running for the Johnson County Commission position being vacated by Dave Lindstrom. The two are Steve Klika and Terry Presta. One of the key differences between the two is over transportation issues.

SCIENCE?
A study from the Associated Press says prejudice against blacks and other minorities has increased during President Obama’s term in office. The AP claims those attitudes were exhibited by respondents “whether they recognized those feelings or not.”

2000 REVISITED?
Some political observers think there is a chance-perhaps only slight–that Mitt Romney might win the popular vote, but lose in the Electoral College. When this happened in 2000, Democrats were furious that their candidate won the popular vote, but was denied the White House.

ROASTS AND TOASTS