by Murrel Bland
Lynn Rogers was a banker who traveled the state of Kansas as an employee of the Farm Credit Bank. He was also a vice president with CoBank Farm Credit Leasing. He is familiar with the challenges of rural Kansas.
Rogers, a Democrat who is lieutenant governor of the state of Kansas, was the featured speaker at the monthly meeting of the Congressional Forum Friday, March 15, at Children’s Mercy Park. The Kansas City, Kansas, Area Chamber of Commerce sponsors the forum.
Some 70 percent of Kansas counties have lost population in recent years. Rogers now heads a newly created Office of Rural Prosperity. He will focus on expanding opportunities in rural communities by working with farmers, ranchers, business owners and health professionals in these communities.
One of the concerns in rural communities, particularly in western Kansas, is the diminishing Ogallala aquifer. Rogers told of using modern technology to monitor irrigation water more economically.
One of the main concerns in small Kansas communities is health care, particularly access to a hospital that is reasonably close. Rogers said that the solution will be accepting federal Medicaid dollars — something that previous Republican administrations rejected. Rogers said that in many cases, acceptance of Medicaid funds could make the difference in hospitals having adequate funds to stay open. Rogers said such funds would also help hospitals in urban areas. Medicaid funds would help cover those patients without medical insurance.
Rogers said that infrastructure will be a priority in the state. He noted that Kansas City, Kansas, is moving ahead with flood control projects that will affect the eastern area of the city.
Rogers was a state senator from Wichita before becoming lieutenant governor earlier this year. He served on the Wichita Board of Education for seven years. He and his wife Kris are the parents of three adult children—Kyle, Kelsey and Keegan.
Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is executive director of Business West.