Archive for Monday, December 1, 2008
Lawrence legislator chosen House minority leader
December 1, 2008, 10:57 a.m. Updated December 1, 2008, 5:45 p.m.
Advertisement
Topeka — The Lawrence legislative delegation gained clout Monday, winning leadership positions in preparation for what promises to be a session dominated by budget cuts.
State Rep. Paul Davis, D-Lawrence, was elected House Minority Leader. State Rep. Barbara Ballard held off a tough challenge and was re-elected chairwoman of the House Democratic caucus. And state Sen.-elect Tom Holland was elected agenda/caucus chairman among Senate Democrats.
With state revenues nose-diving, Davis said, “We want to try to protect education and social services and things that we’ve fought for for many years from massive budget cuts.”
Davis will replace Dennis McKinney of Greensburg, who was recently chosen by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to become state treasurer.
In addition to a new Democratic leader in the House, the chamber will have a new speaker.
House Republicans ousted Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls, and elected Mike O’Neal, R-Hutchinson.
Davis said he had a “lot of respect” for O’Neal. “I hope that I can have a good working relationship with him,” he said.
Davis defeated state Rep. Bill Feuerborn, D-Garnett, for the top minority position, 29-18.
Ballard, who has been caucus chairwoman for eight years, faced a rush from state Rep. Josh Svaty, D-Ellsworth. But the caucus went with Ballard, 25-22. Ballard’s election then was approved by acclamation.
On the Senate side, the recently elected Holland was selected, without opposition, as agenda/caucus chair for the Democrats. Senate Republicans hold a 31-9 advantage over Democrats.
More like this
- Lawrence legislators win leadership positions; Neufeld out as House speaker 12 comments / December 1, 2008
- Sen. Francisco considers leadership position November 25, 2008
- s Ballard retains job as caucus chairwoman December 3, 2002
- Lawrence's Ballard retains job as caucus chairwoman December 3, 2002
- House and Senate leader selections December 2, 2008
Top ads RSS
- FUNERAL PLANNING ADVISORS An excellent career opportunity for men and ...
- Academic Advisor Hawk Link Retention Specialist The Office of Multicultural ...
- Director of Development and Director of Program Operations. Two full-time ...
- Seeking General Maintenance person for medium sized apt. complex. HVAC ...
- COLLISION REPAIR TECHS Quality oriented techs needed for busy collision ...
Marketplace
Arts & Entertainment · Bars · Theatres · Restaurants · Coffeehouses · Libraries · Antiques · Services
- Muslims troops deserve support November 12, 2009 · 63 comments
- Blog: Someone Asked For A Different Question November 12, 2009 · 26 comments
- Blog: We're Up And Running... If Only We Could Come Up With A Good Name November 12, 2009 · 2 comments
- Douglas County ceremony honors America's veterans November 11, 2009 · 4 comments
- Mormons throw support behind gay-rights cause November 12, 2009 · 28 comments
- County endorses CritiTech proposal November 12, 2009 · 10 comments
- Lawrence's Woodlawn School earns three Challenge Awards November 12, 2009 · 1 comment
- Attorneys of man who says he killed George Tiller ask for change of venue November 12, 2009 · 18 comments
- Lou Dobbs resigns from CNN November 12, 2009 · 27 comments
- Blog: What's Your Stripper Name? November 12, 2009 · 46 comments
- Q&A with Kansas health officer about H1N1 November 12, 2009
- Douglas County ceremony honors America's veterans November 11, 2009
- Report looks at county’s learning programs November 12, 2009
- Kansas conservation activist Jan Garton dies at 59 November 11, 2009
- Topeka area woman dies from swine flu; death toll from virus at 18 in Kansas November 12, 2009
- Fair Trade Holiday Market opens Nov. 27 in Lawrence November 12, 2009
- KU receives $6 million contract for vaccine research November 12, 2009
- Mormons throw support behind gay-rights cause November 12, 2009
- Report: Nearly 6 million children die from hunger November 23, 2005
- Kansas women sign four November 12, 2009
1 December 2008
at 11:16 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
WilburM (Anonymous) says…
Congratulations to Rep. Davis. Legislators get little respect, but the best ones (like the new majority leader) work hard for modest compensation. Good luck in a tough job.
1 December 2008
at 12:38 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
ModerateOne (Anonymous) says…
The minority leader also works hard for modest compensation. Congrats Paul.
1 December 2008
at 12:41 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
reasonable (Anonymous) says…
Congratulations, Rep. Davis.
1 December 2008
at 1:58 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
situveux1 (Anonymous) says…
What an awful pick. Yea, congratulations, but what were the Democrats thinking? The guy hasn't done anything!
1 December 2008
at 1:58 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
WilburM (Anonymous) says…
Yeah, Minority Leader (see above). duh.
1 December 2008
at 5:19 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
billbodiggens (Anonymous) says…
He hasn't done anything? According to some, just being from Lawrence is everything that needs to be done. And if they have gotten little respect, they certainly have worked hard to earn it.
2 December 2008
at 12:44 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
KS (Anonymous) says…
Does Ballard double dip from the State of Kansas? I think she works for KU? How does she get all that time off from her KU job to serve in the legislature?
2 December 2008
at 1:46 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Kropotkin (Anonymous) says…
What's unsaid in this story is that getting a dirty coal power plant past the governor will be a lot more difficult than it was this year. McKinney not only voted for it, but he brought along other rural Democrats as well. The “D”s have picked up one more seat in the House than they have had this year. It would have been two, but an incumbent suffered major illness a month before the election and wasn't able to campaign.Neufeld, who was the chief Senate proponent of the plant is an idiot. His replacement, O'Neal, is smarter so perhaps more dangerous.