Archive for Monday, December 1, 2008
Lawrence legislators win leadership positions; Neufeld out as House speaker
December 1, 2008, 11:39 a.m. Updated December 1, 2008, 1:36 p.m.
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Rep. Paul Davis
Rep. Barbara Ballard
Sen.-elect Tom Holland
Rep. Mike O’Neal
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 chairman for the Democrats. Senate Republicans hold a 31-9 advantage over Democrats.
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1 December 2008
at 2 p.m.
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situveux1 (Anonymous) says…
“This is going to be a session about priorities,” 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,”AKA - Tax increases. Get ready.
1 December 2008
at 2:26 p.m.
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WilburM (Anonymous) says…
Let's see. Large GOP majorities in both chambers, and pretty darn conservative in the House. You really think taxes will be raised?
1 December 2008
at 4:40 p.m.
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Valkyrie_of_Reason (Kathy Getto) says…
Paul is on the right track. Great guy who will do a great job!
1 December 2008
at 5:18 p.m.
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1029 (Anonymous) says…
As a greedy, human-hating conservative, I must agree that nothing, absolutely nothing, is as important as preventing any sort of tax increase. I'd rather see all of society crumble than to have to pay an extra $10-15 per year because of some tax increase. It's my money and I work hard for it. Especially for education—those kids don't work, they don't pay taxes, why should we pay for them to be educated? Give them a bible and teach them how to work hard and they'll be just fine. “Education” is nothing more than liberal propoganda that threatens our conservative ideology.And social services? Are we all blind to the fact that this is all part of a liberal plot to shift wealth and power from the hard-working white christian?
1 December 2008
at 7:50 p.m.
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toe (Anonymous) says…
1029. That must be the year you like best.
1 December 2008
at 9:21 p.m.
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jayhawkbarrister (Anonymous) says…
1029: the Klan meeting was tonight and they called on a throwaway phone and said they missed you.
1 December 2008
at 11:09 p.m.
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tunahelper (Anonymous) says…
if you want the current level of services the state provides, you have to raise taxes. You can betch that omaba will raise taxes, especially on the hard working middle class.
2 December 2008
at 6:47 a.m.
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jayhawklawrence (Anonymous) says…
Finally some good news from the Kansas Republican party.Let's hope Mike O'Neal has more sense.
2 December 2008
at 10:46 a.m.
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a_flock_of_jayhawks (Anonymous) says…
One can only hope that 1029's post was a fit of sarcasm.