Kansas House Speaker O'Neal retires as legislature ends / LJWorld.com

Topeka — Kansas House Speaker Mike O'Neal is retiring from office.

John Hanna, Associated Press

Kansas House Speaker Mike O'Neal, R-Hutchinson, announced his retirement from the legislature on June 1, 2012.

O'Neal, a Hutchinson Republican, announced his retirement Friday as legislators gathered for the legislature's formal end. He was first elected in 1984.

The House and Senate adjourned the regular session May 20.

This year's regular session produced changes in Kansas tax policies and the pension program for state workers.

But the Legislature failed to carry out one of the year's major tasks — drawing new boundaries for districts of the Kansas House and Senate, the State Board of Education and the four congressional districts.

The job of drawing new maps is now in the hands of a three-judge federal panel in Kansas City, Kan., which concluded on Wednesday.

KansasConscience 11 months, 3 weeks ago

WOW.

He probably disagreed with The Guv on something innocuous.

Enjoy your retirement.

jayhawks911 11 months, 3 weeks ago

The only more positive thing that could have happened this year is if Brownback had resigned. Kansas should celebrate this retirement.

concerned1 11 months, 3 weeks ago

THANK GOD!!!!!!!!!!

At least something good came out of this legislation.

cait48 11 months, 3 weeks ago

Don't let the door hit ya.... I do wonder how much of a KPERS check he'll be getting.

bethlang1998 11 months, 3 weeks ago

PAR-TAY!!

jkanderson 11 months, 3 weeks ago

Why not retire? He can draw his KPERS and go back to his law firm tax free courtesy of Sam. Probably going to get some Koch bros. work sitting up some LLC's.

LeRoyMercer 11 months, 3 weeks ago

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tomatogrower 11 months, 3 weeks ago

And his KPERS will probably come to more than a teacher's KPERS. They only get KPERS from working the nine months. He works a few months, but gets to count the whole year. Really sad. Read about this little perk.

http://hutchnews.com/Todaystop/kpers-and-leg-2--2

frankfussman 11 months, 3 weeks ago

But...who will take his place? Could be someone worse.

Highly doubtful. The only one that could be worse is sitting in the Governor's mansion.

jackbinkelman 11 months, 3 weeks ago

Getting out early before the $#&% hits the fan.. That or he has a lucrative alec or koch bros gig lined up.. Kind of like an initiation.. do a drive by on the people of the state of Kansas and they'll let you join the gang.. Obviously, I could be wrong, I hope I am.

hyperinflate 11 months, 3 weeks ago

Thank you, Jesus. 'Bout time you did something for me for a change.

fearthephog512 11 months, 3 weeks ago

Great news!!! O'Neil disgraced our state and his own religion when he publicly prayed for the Pres. Obama's "children be fatherless, and his wife a widow." Hope he crawls into a hole for the rest of his miserable life.

blindrabbit 11 months, 3 weeks ago

The old Kansas connection to Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz applies here to another Kansan. In the case of Speaker Mike O'Neal retirement, the song "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead" certaintly has some significance to how the State of Kansas opperates and portrays itself to the rest of the world Probably will see him selling some Koch-A-Kolas on a streetcorner in Wichita..

question4u 11 months, 3 weeks ago

Knowing about the damage that O'Neal inflicted on the state it's hard to celebrate very much. His legacy will, unfortunately, live on for many years to come. He got what he had wanted for so long. His personal wealth will increase at the expense of education, public safety, and state highways. When the consequences of his recklessness take effect, though, he will out of the spotlight. You can't plan it any better than that.