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>>> CELEBRATING FIVE YEARS SINCE THE OPENING OF SPRINT CENTER, BUT MIGHT THE DOWNTOWN ARENA
HAVE TO CHANGE ITS NAME WITH THE BIG NEWS THAT JAPANESE WIRELESS CARRIER SOFTBANK IS NOW MAKING A
BID TO BUY SPRINT. THAT'S THE TOP BUSINESS STORY OF THE WEEK.
WE HAVE THE LATEST FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE STATEWIDE BALLOT
ISSUES YOU'LL BE DECIDING THIS NOVEMBER, INCLUDING A MASSIVE INCREASE IN THE CIGARETTE TAX IN
MISSOURI, PLUS THE STORY THAT BRINGS MORE NATIONAL ATTENTION TO OUR METRO THAN ANY OTHER THIS
WEEK. >>> HELLO. I'M NICK HAINES.
GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US AGAIN ON THE PROGRAM THAT GOES BEYOND THE SOUNDBITE AND TAKES YOU
BEHIND THE HEADLINES MAKING NEWS IN KANSAS CITY. REVOWING THE WEEK'S TOP LOCAL
HEADLINES IN 26 MINUTES OR LESS, THE KANSAS CITY STAR'S CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT AND THE
HOST OF UP-TO-DATE ON KCUR F.M. STEVE KRASKE, THE EXECUTIVE EDITOR OF INNING GRAMS MAGAZINE
JACK CASHILL, THE STAR'S NATIONALLY SYNDICATED COLUMNIST, MARY SANCHEZ, AND STAR REPORTER
COLUMNIST AND POLITICAL BLOGGER DAVE HELLING. FIVE YEARS AGO THIS WEEK, THE
SPRINT CENTER OPENED. THERE WERE LOTS OF CONCERNS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM AT THE
TIME THAT NO ONE WOULD EVER BE ABLE TO FIND A PARKING SPOT, PEOPLE WOULD SHOOT OUT ALL THE
WINDOWS AND IT COULD NEVER SURVIVE WITHOUT AN ANCHOR TENANT.
FIVE YEARS ON, WHAT'S THE VERDICT, JACK CASHILL? >> WELL, IT SEEMS TO HAVE
ACTUALLY CENTERED KANSAS CITY BACK DOWNTOWN, AND WITHOUT THAT, I DON'T THINK KANSAS CITY WOULD
HAVE RECENTERED. IT'S GOING BETTER THAN PEOPLE EXPECTED WITHOUT AN ANCHOR
TENANT. THE ABSENCE OF AN ANCHOR TENANT, THOUGH, CALLS OUT FOR A PROBLEM
KANSAS CITY HAS GOING FORWARD, WHICH WAS EXACERBATED THIS LAST WEEK BY THE OUTCOME OF THE
CHIEFS GAME LAST SUNDAY, AND THAT IS WE'RE BEGINNING TO BE THOUGHT OF AS A LOSER'S TOWN.
>> HOW COULD THAT POSSIBLY BE THE CASE? THE RECORDS OF THESE TEAMS AND
RECENT DAYS. YOU KNOW, WHAT'S AMAZING TO ME IN THE WAKE OF THE FIFTH YEAR
ANNIVERSARY IS THERE ARE SOME EXPERTS NOW, NICK, WHO ARE SAYING VERY PUBLICLY THAT AN
ANCHOR TENANT WOULD HURT THE SPRINT CENTER, SORT OF DRAG DOWN THE FORTUNES OF THE PLACE
BECAUSE THE CENTER HAS FOUND A WAY TO OCCUPY ITSELF SO MANY NIGHTS A YEAR OUT AN ANCHOR
TENANT. A LOT OF SPORTS, FRANCHISE EXPERT TYPE PEOPLE SAY THAT,
HEY, KANSAS CITY ALREADY HAS A NUMBER OF PROFESSIONAL TEAMS. IT CAN'T SUPPORT ANY MORE.
IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE FOR SPRINT TO GRAB AN ANCHOR TENANT, ONE MORE FRANCHISE SPORTS TEAM RIGHT
NOW. >> BUT THE NAY-SAYERS DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD WORK OUT THE WAY
IT WAS. BUT FIVE YEARS ON, MARY. >> I THINK IT DID WORK OUT THAT
WAY. IF YOU'RE A FAN OF KC SPORTING, THE TEAM IS DOING WONDERFUL.
THEY HAVE THEIR OWN STADIUM ACROSS STATE LINE. IT'S GREAT.
IT'S WONDERFUL. I CAN REMEMBER EVEN ALL THE PARKING CONCERNS, PEOPLE USED TO
PARK CLEAR ON THE OTHER SIDE OF 14th STREET AND WALK OVER ACROSS THE BRIDGE, THINKING THAT
THERE WOULDN'T BE PARKING. NOW PEOPLE KNOW WHERE TO GO, KNOW WHERE TO PARK.
IT'S FILLED UP WITHOUT THE ANCHOR TENANT. I THINK IT'S A BETTER DEAL FOR
KANSAS CITY, BECAUSE WE'VE SHOWN HOW WE CAN FILL THAT SPACE WITH A LOT OF DIVERSE ACTIVITIES, AND
IT'S WORKING. >> ARE YOU GOING TO BE CONTINUING WITH ACCOLADES, DAVE
HELLING? >> WELL, YES. FOR THE FIRST FIVE YEARS, I
THINK PRIMARILY, NIKE, BECAUSE OF THE OPERATION OF THE SPRINT ARENA BY AEG, WHICH HAS DONE AN
INCREDIBLY GOOD JOB IN ATTRACTING FIRST RATE ACTS TO THE SPRINT CENTER, WHICH LET'S
FACE IT IS KIND OF A SPARTAN ENVIRONMENT. IT ISN'T OPULENT BUT ANY MEANS.
THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE A GO OF IT, TURN MONEY BACK OVER TO THE CITY.
THE PARKING PROBLEMS, AS MARY AND EVERYONE ELSE HAS SUGGESTED, AREN'T AS BIG AS OTHERS HAD
THOUGHT. BUT THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WILL BE CRITICAL IN A COUPLE OF WAYS.
FIRST OF ALL, YOU'RE HEARING ABOUT PROBLEMS, CONCERNS WITH MAINTENANCE, UPKEEP, REPAIRS.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO SORT OF PAY FOR THAT.
AND THEN WE STILL HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT WHAT TO DO WITH KEMPER
KEMPER ARENA OR IN SOME WAYS MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM. THAT REMAINS A CHALLENGE FOR
CITY HALL. A LOT OF THE MONEY THEY'RE MAKING AT SPRINT GOES TO KEEP
THE LIGHTS ON AT KEMPER ARENA. I THINK THAT'S A PROBLEM. WITH THOSE THINGS IN MIND, THE
REST HAS BEEN VERY GOOD. >> SOME WERE ASKING LAST WEEK WHY CAN'T THEY PUT THE IKEA
STORE AT KEMPER ARENA. WAS THERE EVER A CONSIDERATION THAT KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI WOULD
BASKETBALL COMPETING FOR THIS IKEA STORE? >> YES.
ACTUALLY THE IKEA PEOPLE SPENT A LOT OF TIME LOOKING AT THE BANNISTER MALL SITE WHEN THEY
WERE GOING TO BUILD THE SOCCER STADIUM AND OTHER STUFF OUT THERE.
I THINK THE DETERMINATION WAS THE KANSAS SITE WAS CLOSER TO THE HIGHWAY THAT THEY THOUGHT
WOULD BE MOST CONVENIENT FOR CUSTOMERS COMING FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE FOUR OR FIVE STATE
REGION, SO THAT'S WHY THEY ENDED UP IN MERRIAM. >> DAVE MENTIONS KEMPER ARENA
AND WHAT A PROBLEM THAT STILL IS FOR THE CITY. YOU GET THE SENSE, NICK, THAT
THE CITY MANAGEMENT TYPE PEOPLE WANT IT TO GO AWAY. THE AMERICAN ROYAL PEOPLE WANT
TO KEEP IT. THERE ARE OTHERS WHO SAY, HEY, IT'S AN ICONIC STRUCTURE THE WAY
IT IS RIGHT NOW. WE'VE GOT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY. THE CITY OF KANSAS CITY IS STILL
PAYING A COUPLE MILLION BUCKS A YEAR FOR PAST IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CMPER DISTRICT DOWN THERE
AND WILL BE FOR THREE OR FOUR MORE YEARS, SO IT'S A HECK OF A PROBLEM FOR THE CITY.
>> THE FAMILY PUSH, THOUGH, FOR A SMALLER FACILITY. THEY WANT TO PUT SOME MONEY
TOWARDS IT, WANT THE CITY TO HELP WITH PUBLIC FUNDING TO HELP MAKE A SMALLER FACILITY WORK
THERE, JACK. >> THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE HERE, PUBLIC FUNDING OF ALL OF THESE
ENTITIES. WE HAVE A LOT OF PUBLICLY FUNDED ENTITIES.
I HAVEN'T SEEN THE FINANCE SHEETS. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE SPRINT
CENTER IS MAKING MONEY. SEEMS TO BE DOING BETTERMENT I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN AFFORD TO
MAINTAIN ALL OF THESE FACILITIES. I'M DOING THIS DOCUMENTARY ON
BASKETBALL. I DID NOT KNOW THAT KANSAS CITY WAS THE CENTER OF THE BASKETBALL
WORLD UP UNTIL THE '60s. EVERY OTHER NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP WAS HELD HERE.
AND THAT IS THE KIND OF GLORY THAT HAS FADED, AND I THINK WE NEED TO BE A LITTLE MORE
STRATEGIC ON HOW WE GAIN OUR CENTRAL TI. >> KEMPER IS -- THE SPRINT
CENTER IS TURNING MONEY OVER TO THE CITY, WE KNOW THAT. THERE IS SOME TRACK RECORD HERE
OF SUCCESS. AGAIN, YOU REALLY GET THE IMPRESSION THAT CITY MANAGEMENT
WANTS TO GET RID OF KEMPER AND MOVE ON. >>> BACK TO SPRINT CENTER, MIGHT
IT SOON NEED TO BE RENAMED, BIG HEADLINES ORIGINATING WITH THE WALL STREET JOURNAL THAT SPRINT
MAY BE BOUGHT BY JAPAN'S THIRD LARGEST WIRELESS CARRIER, SOFTBANK.
THUS COULD WE BE HEADING FOR SOFTBANK ARENA IN KANSAS CITY OR SPRINT SOFT?
WHAT DO YOU THINK? IS THAT POSSIBLE, JACK? >> WELL, SPRINT HAS THIS IN ITS
FAVOR. IT IS THE BEST OF THE BRAND NAMES OF ALL OF THE VARIOUS
COMPETITIVE TELECOMMUNICATIONS GIANTS. SOFTBANK IS NOT ONE.
PLUS IF YOU READ THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, IT'S A HUGE DEBT ISSUE HERE.
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR $23 BILLION TO BUY SPRINT, WHICH IS NOT NECESSARILY A BIG CASH COW IN
ITSELF. >> YOU DON'T WRITE CHECKS THAT THAT KIND OF MONEY.
>> I'VE BEEN HOSTING THIS PROGRAM FOR 15 YEARS, AND I THINK WE'VE DONE JUST AS MANY IN
THOSE 15 YEARS AS -- 15 YEARS WORTH OF PROGRAMS ABOUT BUYOUTS OF SPRINT IN THAT TIME.
ARE WE TAKE TO THIS ONE SERIOUSLY? >> I THINK THAT THERE IS CLEARLY
FERMENT IN THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY, NOT JUST WITH SPRINT BUT WITH ALL OF
THE PROVIDERS, CONSOLIDATIONS, CHALLENGES. YOU KNOW, GOOGLE FIBER, HE WENT
TO THEIR OFFICE THIS WEEK. IT'S CLEAR THAT SOME METHODS OF COMMUNICATIONS THAT THEY'RE
PURSUING MIGHT CHALLENGE A PHONE USAGE AT SOME POINT. YES, I THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS
EFFORT. IT PUTS SPRINT IN PLAY POTENTIALLY FOR OTHER SUITORS,
BUT YOU KNOW, NICK, ALL 20th CENTURY TECHNOLOGY, PHONES, NEWSPAPERS, BROADCAST TV,
COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES, ARE UNDER SOME PRESSURE, AND SO I THINK IT MAY BE 5, 10, 20 YEARS
BEFORE THAT ALL SHAKES OUT AND WE HAVE A BETTER PICTURE OF WHAT THAT INDUSTRY LOOKS LIKE IN
AMERICA AND HOW SPRINT FITS INTO THAT. SO MY GUESS IS WE'LL BE TALKING
ABOUT THIS FOR SOME TIME. >> PUBLIC TELEVISION MAY BE ONE OF THE FEW.
>> I THINK IT IS. >> WE HEAD NOW TO LOCAL POLITICAL NEWS THIS WEEK.
REPUBLICAN UNITED STATES SENATE CANDIDATE TODD AKIN SAYS HIS CAMPAIGN HAS NOW PASSED THE
1 MILLION-DOLLAR MARK IN ONLINE FUNDRAISING AND WITH LESS THAN A MONTH TO GO BEFORE ELECTION DAY,
THERE'S REPORTS THAT THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL COMMITTEE MAY BE READY TO GET
BACK IN THE RACE AFTER SWEARING A MONTH AGO THEY'D NEVER SUPPORT AKIN.
SO WHAT HAS CHANGED? >> I THINK IT'S ON HE OWE THEY THINK AKIN CAN WIN.
I WAS DRIVING UP WARD PARKWAY YESTERDAY, AND I SAW -- THIS IS CLASSIC.
IT WAS A HOUSE, BIG HOUSE, SIX ROMNEY RYAN SIGNS AND A CLAIRE MCCASKILL SIGN.
WHAT'S HAPPENED ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE -- USING MY OWN ETHNIC HERITAGE AS A METAPHOR.
YOU HAVE THE LACE CURTAIN RIGHT AND THE SHANTY RIGHT. THE SHANTY RIGHT ARE ALL
TOGETHER WITH TODD AKIN. THE LACE CURTAIN RIGHT ARE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THE PEOPLE
SAY AT THE NEXT COCKTAIL PARTY. >> I WROTE A LITTLE THING ON OUR BLOG.
THEY PUT OUT A PRESS RELEASE ON TODD AKIN'S BEHALF AGAINST CLAIRE MCCASKILL ON THIS ISSUE
OF HER HUSBAND'S RECEIPT FOR MONEY FOR SOME BUSINESSES, WHICH THEY HAVE AT LEAST SOME DESIRE
TO GET BACK IN, CERTAINLY NOT ON TELEVISION YET. I DID SOME BACK OF THE ENVELOPE
THINGS YESTERDAY, SINCE THE PRIMARY, THIRD INDEPENDENT PARTIES HAVE PUT ABOUT
$2.7 MILLION IN THE RACE ON THE MCCASKILL SIDE. ON THE AKIN SIDE, THE NUMBER IS
ABOUT 400,000. THAT'S A 6 TO 1 RATIO FOR MCCASKILL.
THAT IS REALLY THE POLITICAL DAMAGE FROM THE *** REMARK, BECAUSE WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THE
NRSC, YOU DON'T HAVE AMERICAN CROSSROADS, OTHER GROUPS GETTING IN, IT'S HARD FOR HIM TO KEEP UP
WITH THAT THIRD PARTY MONEY SHE'S GETTING. >> ONE OF THE STRATEGIES FOR
AKIN IS TO TRY AND GET THE CONVERSATIONOFF ABORTION AND ON TO CLAIRE MCCASKILL'S
SHORTCOMINGS. HAS HE FOUND IT WITH THE LATEST CAMPAIGN AD IN WHICH HE
ACCUSED -- -- HE ACCUSED THE INCUMBENT SENATOR AND HER KIN. >> PARTNERSHIPS BY THE MCCASKILL
FAMILY RECEIVED MORE THAN A MEDICAL I DON'T KNOW DOLLARS IN IN -- MORE THAN A MILLION
DOLLARS. 40 MILLION IN SUBSIDIES. CORRUPT CLAIRE.
THE MOMENT HER HAND CAME OFF THE BIBLE, IT WENT INTO OUR POCKETS. >> IF WE WERE TO TRUTH CHECK
THIS AD THEN, STEVE, WHAT RATING WOULD THIS BE GETTING? >> MIDDLE OF THE PACK AT BEST,
NICK. CLAIRE MCCASKILL AND HER HUSBAND DID NOT PUT $40 MILLION INTO
THEIR COLLECTIVE POCKETS AS A RESULT OF FEDERAL SUBSIDIES. THERE IS A QUESTION WHETHER THEY
PUT ANY IN THEIR POCKET OFF THE SUBSIDIES. MCCASS KILL'S CAMPAIGN SAYS --
MCCASKILL'S CAMPAIGN SAYS NOT A NICKEL WENT IN. AKIN'S CAMP SAYS THERE IS SOME
INDICATION YOU'VE RECEIVED SOME MONEY FROM THESE COMPANIES. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FEDERAL
DOLLARS PAID TO DEVELOPERS TO MAKE UP A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT A RENTER SHOULD BE PAYING,
A POORER RENTER SHOULD BE PAYING FOR AN APARTMENT AND WHAT THEY CAN AFFORD.
THERE IS A SUBSIDY THAT FILLS THAT GAP. THAT'S WHAT THIS $40 MILLION
GOES TOWARD. MCCASKILL POINTS OUT THAT FEDERAL LAW SAYS YOU CAN'T STICK
ANY OF THAT MONEY IN YOUR POCKET, AND THEY SAID THEY LIVED BY THAT RULE.
AKIN'S CAMP SAYS RECORDS SEEM TO INDICATE THERE IS SOME MONEY GOING INTO HER POCKET.
>> MARY. >> IT'S TOO CONVOLUTED, ONCE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND IT, FOR PEOPLE
TO REALLY LATCH ON TO THAT AS AN ISSUE. >> BUT IT DOES TAKE AWAY,
THOUGH, FROM GETTING -- GETTING AWAY FROM THE ABORTION ISSUE, IT IS TAKING AWAY FROM THAT ISSUE,
PUTTING IT BACK ON TO CLAIRE MCCASKILL, WHICH YOU, DAVE, SAID IS THE BIG ISSUE.
>> THAT'S CORRECT. NO QUESTION. FRANKLY -- I'M NOT IN THE
BUSINESS OF ADVISING TODD AKIN, BUT CLAIRE MCCASKILL'S PROPERTY TAX PROBLEMS ON HER AIRPLANE ARE
MORE UNDERSTANDABLE. BUT TODD AKIN'S PROBLEM IS NOT THAT AD, IT'S THAT HE DOESN'T,
AS A POLITICAL MATTER, HAVE THE MONEY TO PUT THAT AD ON TELEVISION.
THAT'S THE PROBLEM THAT HIS CAMPAIGN HAS. HE'S GOING TO BE OUTSPENT 8 TO 1
IN THE CLOSING WEEKS UNLESS HE CAN MAKE THAT CASE MORE VISIBLY WITH THE PUBLIC.
HE'LL STILL STRUGGLE. >> IS THAT GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE HIS PROBLEM, MONEY?
>> THAT'S ALWAYS THE PROBLEM, BUT BUYING TV COMMERCIALS IS NOT NEARLY AS INFLUENTIAL AS IT WAS
TEN YEARS AGO, BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH MEDIA OF EXCHANGE RIGHT NOW.
BUT IT IS A PROBLEM. I THINK WHAT MCCASKILL HAS IS THE CLASSIC GERALDINE FERRERO
PROBLEM. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU SET UP THIS MAKING ENVY A VIRTUE FOR THE
LAST COUPLE YEARS, AS HER PARTY AS DONE, WHEN YOU'RE SITTING THERE TAKING IN $40 MILLION FROM
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, IT'S NOT GOOD FOR YOU.
IT HAS THE HYPOCRISY METER SHAKING A LITTLE BIT. >> CLAIRE MCCASKILL WANTS TO
KEEP THE ABORTION ISSUE FRONT AND CENTER. SHE HAS HER OWN SERIES OF ADS ON
THAT ISSUE FEATURING REPUBLICAN WOMEN. >> I'M A REPUBLICAN AND A
PRO-LIFE MOTHER AND A *** SURVIVOR. IN THE HOSPITAL, I WAS OFFERED
EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION BECAUSE OF MY PERSONAL BELIEVES, I DECLINED.
HERE IS WHAT ELSE I BELIEVE, NO WOMAN SHOULD BE DENIED THAT CHOICE.
WHAT TODD AKIN SAID IS OFFENSIVE, BUT WHAT HE BELIEVES IS WORSE.
HE WOULD CRIMINALIZE EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION. I'VE NEVER VOTED FOR CLAIRE
MCCASKILL, BUT BECAUSE OF TODD AKIN, I WILL NOW. >> DOES THIS CHANGE ANY MINDS,
THOUGH? >> NO. >> NO.
>> I MEAN, THE PRO-LIFE COMMUNITY IS 100% BEHIND TODD AKIN.
THE PRO-LIFE COMMUNITY AND TEA PARTY IS HIS BASE RIGHT NOW. >> BUT THE AD, JUST SO WE'RE
CLEAR, ISN'T REALLY NAMED AT PRO-LIFE AND TEA PARTY. IT'S AIMED AT SUBURBAN WOMEN
VOTERS. >> AND THAT INDEPENDENT. I THOUGHT THEY WERE VERY GOOD
ADS, BECAUSE REALLY, IT HAS TO WOMAN SPEAKING FOR WOMEN, AND SHE'S SPECIFICALLY VERY
SPECIFICALLY FROM A VIEWPOINT THAT YOU DON'T ALWAYS HEAR. I THINK IT WAS A VERY WELL DONE
AD. I KIND OF DO QUESTION, THOUGH, HOW FAR SHE CAN CONTINUE TO PUSH
THIS LEGITIMATE *** ISSUE. THERE NEEDS TO BE OTHER THINGS WITHIN CLAIRE'S CAMPAIGN HERE TO
PUT HER OUT THERE AS A CANDIDATE. SO I REALLY -- I THOUGHT IT WAS
A GOOD AD, BUT ENOUGH. >> YES. SHE'S DONE ENOUGH OF THE
ABORTION ISSUE. STEVE. >> WELL, THE POLLS SUGGEST THAT
AT THIS POINT SHE'S STILL UP BY HALF A DOZEN POINTS OR SO AS WE HIT THIS REALLY CRUCIAL POINT OF
CAMPAIGN. >> MANY VOTERS MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THERE ARE BEYOND THIS RACE
LOTS OF OTHER THINGS GOING ON, INCLUDE A SLEW OF BALLOT QUESTIONS THEY'RE BEING ASKED TO
CONSIDER. AMONG THEM, A MASSIVE INCREASE IN MISSOURI'S LOWEST IN THE
NATION TOBACCO TAX. THE INITIATIVE WOULD RAISE THE TAX ON A PACK OF CIGARETTES FROM
17 CENTS TO 09 90 CENTS. IT'S PROJECTED TO GENERATE BETWEEN 283 MILLION TO
423 MILLION ANNUALLY. BUT WHERE WOULD THE MONEY GO? >> THE MONEY IS GOING TO GO TO
KANSAS, ILLINOIS, IOWA, NEBRASKA. >> THANK YOU FOR THE
CLARIFICATION ON THAT. >> THIS IS A GREAT GROWTH BUSINESS FOR KANSAS CITY,
BECAUSE ALL THE PEOPLE FROM OUT OF STATE COME HERE TO BUY CIGARETTES.
THAT WON'T HAPPEN ANYMORE. >> THE. >> THE OTHER ARGUMENT IS THE
MONEY WILL GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, HIGHER EDUCATION AND GO TO HELP PEOPLE QUIT SMOKING.
NOW, THE BIG ARGUMENT WITH THESE THINGS ALWAYS IS, LAWMAKERS IN JEFF CITY SIT BACK AND SAY, HEY,
MILLIONS OF MORE DOLLARS COMING IN AS A RESULT OF THIS TAX IF IT PASSES.
WHAT WE PULL BACK, HOW MANY MONEY WE'RE APPROPRIATING TO SCHOOLS AND USE THAT MONEY FOR
OTHER PROGRAMS THAT SO DECEMBER PRATTLY NEED THE MONEY. THAT -- DESPERATELY NEED THE
MONEY. THAT ARGUMENT WILL BEGIN IN JANUARY IF IT PASSES.
>> WE'VE HAD THIS INCREASE IN THE TOBACCO TAX COME UP TWICE BEFORE IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI.
IT HAS FAILED. WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR TAX ELECTION, MARY?
>> I THINK PEOPLE HAVE HEARD IT OVER AND OVER ENOUGH, BUT THEN THERE IS ALSO THE ISSUE THAT THE
TOBACCO COMPANIES AREN'T FIGHTING IT LIKE THEY HAVE IN THE PAST, BECAUSE THERE IS ALSO
A CLAUSE IN THERE SOMEHOW THAT IT TAKES BACK THE -- OH, IT'S MORE OF THE COMPETITIVE EDGE,
THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENT RATE FOR SOME OF THESE OFF BRANDS, SO IT EVENS THE PLAYING FIELD THAT
WAY, AND THEY'RE JUST NOT FIGHTING IT AS MUCH. THE OTHER THING IS THAT SOCIETY
IS SHIFTING MORE AND MORE ON THE ISSUE OF SMOKING. YOU CAN'T GO OUT ANYMORE AND BE
ABLE TO JUST LIGHT UP IN A RESTAURANT, AND I THINK THAT'S PUSHING IT A LITTLE BIT, TOO.
>> ON THE OTHER HAND, SMOKING REMAINS POPULAR IN MISSOURI, PARTICULARLY IN THE SOUTHEASTERN
CORNER OF THE STATE WHERE HEALTH PROBLEMS ARE ACTUALLY FAIRLY HIGH, AND THE RESISTANCE TO ANY
TAX INCREASE THERE AND FRANKLY STATEWIDE, NICK, IS PRETTY STRONG.
WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A RECESSION. ANYTHING THAT LOOKS LIKE A TAX
INCREASE, EVEN ON CIGARETTES, IS GOING TO BE A TOUGH SELL. AND THEN JAY NIXON, THE
GOVERNOR, WHO MIGHT ARGUABLY BE THE ONE PERSON WHO COULD REALLY SELL THIS IS NOT SELLING THIS AT
ALL. >> HE SAYS HE WON'T ENDORSE IT. >> A GOVERNENER WHO COULD
THEORETICALLY USE THE REVENUE IT BRINGS IN, I THINK IT'S DICEY, 50/50 AT BEST.
>> WE SHOULD POINT OUT IN KANSAS THE CIGARETTE TAX IS 79 CENTS A PACK, SO THIS WOULD TAKE IT WELL
BLOF THE -- ABOVE THE KANSAS TAX RATE. >> EVERYBODY IN KANSAS GOES TO
MISSOURI TO BUY THEIR CIGARETTES. NO ONE TALKS ABOUT THIS.
IT'S FAIRLY TRANS PARENT. THEY WILL BUY THEIR GASOLINE HERE, TOO.
THAT WILL GO BACK THE OTHER WAY. THE MONEY THAT WILL BE GAINED WILL GO TO PLACES -- I MEAN IN
STATES LIKE KANSAS AND ILLINOIS. THERE WILL BE EXTRA REVENUE IN MISSOURI, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE
A DIFFERENCE. >> THE OTHER ANCILLARY SORT OF ISSUE OUT THERE, IF IT COSTS
MORE MONEY TO SMOKE, FEWER PEOPLE WILL SMOKE, AND IN THE LONG RUN, IT WILL SAVE THE STATE
OF MISSOURI TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN MEDICAID, MEDICARE SPENCES, -- EXPENSES.
IT'S A WILDCARD ISSUE IN THIS WHOLE THING, BUT IT'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER AS WELL.
>>> WELL, AS PRESIDENT OBAMA AND MITT ROMNEY BATTLED ONE ANOTHER OVER HEALTH CARE LAST WEEK IN
THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE, YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT IF YOU LIVE IN MISSOURI, YOU WILL BE
DECIDING THE ISSUE OF HEALTH CARROT BALLOT THIS NOVEMBER, AS AS WELL.
IF APPROVED BY YOU, PROPOSITION E WOULD BLOCK THE GOVERNOR OR ANY MISSOURI AGENCY FROM
CREATING A SO-CALLED STATE HEALTH EXCHANGE WITHOUT APPROVAL FROM VOTERS OR THE LEGISLATURE.
MARY, WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THIS? >> ANYBODY, WHAT'S THE PURPOSE
OF THIS? >> THE PURPOSE IS TO GET CONSERVATIVES AND REPUBLICANS TO
THE POLLS. I MEAN, IT WAS PUT ON THE BALLOT PRIMARILY BECAUSE THE ACA,
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, WHICH SOME PEOPLE CALL OBAMA CARE. >> INCLUDING OBAMA.
>> INCLUDING OBAMA. >> I HOPE WE CAN GO WITH IT. IT MAKES MY WRITING EASIER.
IT'S VERY UNPOPULAR. IT'S VERY UNPOPULAR IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI.
THE FIRST REFERENDUM, WHICH INVOLVED THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE, WHICH WAS A NONBINDING
REFERENDUM, NEVERTHELESS 71% OF VOTERS SAID LET'S GET RID OF THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE.
REPUBLICANS PUT IT ON THE BALLOT TO TRY TO GET MORE REPUBLICANS AND CONSERVATIVES TO THE POLLS.
FRAIPGLY, IF THIS PASSES AND WE DON'T SET UP A HEALTH CARE EXCHANGE AND THE OBAMA CARE
SURVIVES, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL CREATE IT. >> YOU STILL HAVE IT.
THERE WILL STILL BE BENEFITS AVAILABLE. YOU WILL STILL HAVE THE SYSTEM.
>> THAT'S THE PLAN. >> RIGHT NOW, THE WHOLE PLANNING FOR THE EXCHANGE IS SO UTTERLY
INCOMPLETE AND INCONSISTENT. >> HERE. >> 20 OTHER STATES WHERE THEY'RE
RESISTING IT, INCLUDING A LOT OF PEOPLE RUNNING, LINES PENCE IN INDIANA IS RUNNING AGAINST IT?
>> IN KANSAS, GOVERNOR BROWNBACK SAYS HE'S GOING TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION BEFORE
DECIDING ON A STATE HEALTH EXCHANGE. WE HEAR ABOUT IN THE
PRESIDENTIAL RACE THAT WE'RE GOING TO APPEAL OBAMA CARE. WE'RE HEARING IT NOW IN LOCAL
ELECTION RACES. BUT REALLY, IF MITT ROMNEY DOES WIN THE PRESIDENCY, WHAT WOULD
REALLY HAPPEN? I MEAN, HE CAN'T SINGLY AS A PRESIDENT DECIDE ON REPEALING
THAT. WOULDN'T IT TAKE A MAJORITY OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE TO VOTE FOR
THAT, STEVE? >> YES. >> AND WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW THE
ELECTION PLAYS OUT IN TERMS OF HOW MANY VOTES HE WOULD HAVE TO DO THAT OR NOT, NICK.
THAT WOULD BE A BIG QUESTION GOING FORWARD. HE'S ALREADY SIGNALED HE WANTS
TO KEEP CERTAIN ELEMENTS OF OBAMA CARE IN PLACE, INCLUDING PROVISIONS THAT IF YOUR KIDS ARE
UP TO AGE 26, THEY CAN STILL STAY ON THEIR PARENTS HEALTH INSURANCE POLICY.
>> HE COULD REPEAL IT UNION UN E COOPERATE APPEAL IT UNILATERALLY, BUT HE COULD GRANT
WAIVERS TO EVERY STATE THAT DIDN'T WANT TO SET UP A HEALTH CARE EXCHANGE.
THAT WOULD HAPPEN, MY GUESS, IN THE FIRST WEEK, SO THE WHOLE IDEA OF THE EXCHANGE AT LEAST
WOULD PROBABLY COLLAPSE IN THE STATES WHERE THE LEGISLATORS WANT IT TO COLLAPSE IF MITT
ROMNEY IS ELECTED. >> OKAY. MARY, DID YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON
THIS? >> THAT'S FINE. >>> NOT MUCH IS BEING DECIDED ON
THE KANSAS SIDE OF STATE LINE THIS ELECTION SEASON, BUT IN AN UNUSUAL MOVE IN JOHNSON COUNTY
POLITICS, TWO LONG TIME REPUBLICAN POLITICAL LEADERS WHO SERVED IN THE MOST RECENT
SESSION OF THE STATE SENATE ARE ENDORSING DEMOCRATS FOR STATE SENATE IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.
SENATOR JOHN VRATIL, A REPUBLICAN FROM LEAWOOD AND SENATOR TIM OWENS, REPUBLICAN
FROM OVERLAND PARK, ARE LENDING THEIR NAMES TO CAMPAIGN LITERATURE AS BONE -- BONA FIDE
ENDORSERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES. WHAT ARE WE TO MAKE OF THIS
TREND. >> NOT ANYTHING UNUSUAL. THERE ARE MODERATES AND THERE
ARE RINO'S, AND THERE IS A DISTINCTION. THERE ARE LEGITIMATE MODERATES
IN JOHNSON COUNTY. THEY WERE NOT AMONG THEM. THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY DRIVEN OUT
OF OFFICE AND GETTING THEIR REVENGE. >> JOHN VRATIL WOULD TAKE GREAT
EXCEPTION TO THAT. HE CONSIDERS HIMSELF REPUBLICAN. IT'S TWO THINGS.
IT'S A SIGN THAT REPUBLICANS STILL ARE STRUGGLING IN SOME WAYS WITH WHAT THE DIRECTION OF
THEIR PARTY SHOULD BE. WE'RE FIEGE FRACTURING, LIKE MARK PARKINSON LEAVING THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY A FEW YEARS AGO. HAVING SAID THAT, THE BROWNBACK
WING OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN KANSAS IS VERY HEALTHY THESE DAYS, IN COMPLETE CONTROL IN
TOPEKA, AND NO REASON TO DOUBT THAT THEY AREN'T GOING TO BE RUNNING THINGS NEXT YEAR.
>> WILL IT HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE ELECTION OUTCOMES, MARY? >> IT MIGHT.
I SOMEWHAT DOUBT IT. I WISH IT WAS A TREND, QUITE HONESTLY, BECAUSE I WISH MORE
REPUBLICANS WOULD STAND UP AND START SAYING, WE WANT TO RETAKE THE PARTY BACK.
WE NEED MORE OF A MODERATE VIEW, AND I WOULD APPLAUD THEM FOR DOING THIS.
BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S A TREND YET. >> I HOSTED A DEBATE OUT OF
JOHNSON -- NOT A DEBATE, A DISCUSSION AT JCCC THIS WEEK WITH TIM OWENS WHO WAS DEFEATED
IN THE PRIMARY. AND I ASKED HIM, POINT BLANK, WHY NOT RUN AS DEMOCRATS.
IF YOU REALLY ENDORSE THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, BE DEMOCRATS. >> THEY DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.
SO I THINK IT'S A LITTLE MORE DICEY AS TO WHETHER WE SHOULD PAT GUYS LIKE JOHN VRATIL ON THE
BACK. IF YOU REALLY OPPOSE THE REPUBLICANS, BE DEMOCRAT.
>> HERE IS SOMETHING I NOTICE, LAW FIRMS, OFFICE IN KANSAS, ALL REPUBLICANS.
SAME LAW FIRM, OFFICE IN JACKSON COUNTY, THEY'RE ALL DEMOCRATS. THEY ALL BELIEVE THE SAME THING.
>>> FINALLY THIS WEEK, LIKE IT OR NOT, TO THE STORY THAT BROUGHT MORE NATIONAL ATTENTION
TO KANSAS CITY THAN ANY OTHER THIS WEEK. >> WE'RE GOING TO TURN NOW TO
THAT SHOCKING MOMENT AT SUNDAY'S NFL GAME IN KANSAS CITY. SOME HOMETOWN FANS ACTUALLY
CHEERED WHEN THE CHIEF'S QUARTERBACK WAS KNOCKED FLAT WITH AN INJURY, AND ONE OF HIS
TEAMMATES IS FIGHTING BACK, COMPARING THOSE HECKLERS TO THE CROWDS AT THE COLISEUM IN ROME.
>> I'VE NEVER BEEN MORE ESPECIALLY EMBARRASSED IN MY LIFE TO PLAY
FOOTBALL THAN AT THAT MOMENT. WE GOT 70,000 PEOPLE CHEERING THAT HE GOT KNOCKED OUT.
I THINK IT'S SICKENING AND DISGUSTING. WE ARE NOT GLADIATORS, AND THIS
IS NOT THE ROMAN COLISEUM. THIS IS A GAME. >> AFTER ALL OF THE FALLOUT FROM
THIS, DOES IT GIVE A NATIONAL BLACK EYE TO KANSAS CITY? >> CERTAINLY ON ESPN, WHICH I
WATCH IT A LOT, MORE THAN I SHOULD. THEY TALKED ABOUT IT ALL WEEK.
>> STEVE. >> IT WAS A BAD MOMENT, BUT IT COMES JUST A COUPLE WEEKS AFTER
ROYALS FANS STOOD UP AND GAVE CABRERA A STANDING OVATION FOR WINNING THE TRIPLE CROWN.
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S LONG-TERM. >> PEOPLE CHEER ALL THE TIME WHEN I AND KRASKE GO DOWN.
>> THAT'S IT FOR OUR WEEK IN REVIEW. THANKS TO OUR NEWS REVIEWERS,
STEVE KRASKE AND MARY SANCHEZ, DAVE HELLING AND JACK CASHILL. I'M NICK HAINES.
FROM ALL OF US HERE AT KCPT, THANKS FOR SPENDING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.
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