Voters in November sent a clear message that they were dissatisfied with the status quo and the high cost of goods and services.

The rising cost of health care was one of the top pocketbook issues voters cared about — second only to food, according to a recent column by KFF, an independent source of health policy, polling and journalism.

This concern matched polling the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund supported last year, which found that 70% of voters felt the average Kansas family was struggling financially. The majority of those polled believed these essential costs were difficult to afford: housing (87%), health care (86%), child care (83%) and healthy food (81%).