Star Politics: MO utility bills hit hardest by Trump’s bill, study says
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Missouri energy bills may rise $640 annually by 2035 under Trump’s new bill.
- The bill increases fossil fuel leasing and repeals clean energy tax credits.
- United Way reports growing difficulty for Kansas Citians to afford utilities.
Editor’s note: The following is from today’s Star Politics newsletter, published weekly on Wednesdays. You can sign up here.
Hello, Star readers.
Today, we’re taking a closer look at just how much Missouri energy bills are expected to surge over the next decade after the passage of President Trump’s massive spending bill.
Next, we’ll get into:
• KCUR cuts: Kansas City’s public radio and television stations are reeling from Congress’ decision to cut more than $1 billion from public broadcasting nationwide. Will their programming be cut?
• Ramping up: The Kansas governor’s race has two new contenders — a Johnson County lawmaker and one of Gov. Laura Kelly’s biggest Republican foes in Topeka. Check out all 12 candidates.
This week in politics
Missouri’s utility bills could go up by more than those of any other U.S. state in response to the passage of President Trump’s mega-spending bill, according to a think tank concerned with climate change and clean energy.
Energy Innovation released a comparative analysis breaking down how each state will feel the impact of the bill, which increases oil and gas leasing, slashes fossil fuel rates and strikes down clean energy tax credits.
Energy Innovation says Missouri households are poised to see $130 annual increases in their energy bills by 2030 and $640 by 2035. Kansas bills could rise $140 each year by 2030 and $380 by 2035.
Kera Mashek, a spokesperson for United Way of Greater Kansas City, said keeping up with utility bills is already a challenge for many people who reach out to the nonprofit group for help.
“One of the challenges that Kansas Citians have a lot of trouble with is paying their utility bills,” Mashek said. “So we recognize that and have tried to really continue to innovate and find new ways that we can help families to meet that challenge.”
More from this past week
• A Leavenworth judge ruled against CoreCivic recently, upholding a temporary injunction blocking the private company from opening an ICE prison without local officials’ permission.
• Jackson County legislators overrode Executive Frank White’s veto of a measure approving a recall election to determine his future with the county. But it’s unclear when — or even if — the vote will take place.
• Attorney General Kris Kobach has asked the state Supreme Court to reverse a decision that would allow transgender Kansans to change their gender on driver’s licenses.
Looking for more?
• For more politics news, follow @bymatthewkelly.bsky.social, @kacen.bsky.social, and @grice1911.bsky.social.
• Want to read more newsletters from The Star? You can subscribe to our free daily newsletters, the Morning Rush or the Afternoon Catch-Up.
That’s all for now! See you next week.
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