Topeka ? A freshman legislator Wednesday delayed House action on the so-called “Lew Perkins Provision” for what he said was no reason but that he wanted to hear debate on the bill.

The bill requiring full disclosure of any public employee’s compensation already has been approved by the Senate and was on the fast track in the House.

It was on what is called the consent calendar, which is reserved for noncontroversial bills.

Bills on the consent calendar for three days are automatically approved. The Perkins bill was on the consent calendar for the third day when it was pulled down by state Rep. Forrest Knox, R-Fredonia.

“I don’t have strong feelings one way or the other on this,” Knox said. “I’m neither for it or against it.”

He said he simply wanted to hear debate on the measure.

House Majority Leader Clay Aurand, R-Courtland, said the earliest the House may consider the bill now would be Monday.

The bill is named after the Kansas University athletic director.

In 2003, the Lawrence Journal-World asked the university to fully disclose Perkins’ compensation package. The university refused, and The World Company, which publishes the newspaper and operates cable television station 6News, filed a lawsuit last year to force disclosure.

The bill essentially codifies the court ruling that favored the media.