Staff

Scott Rothschild (Statehouse Reporter)

Scott Rothschild covers the state Legislature, government and politics.

He has been a reporter in Kansas since 1998, and prior to that he covered news in Texas as a newspaper reporter and later with The Associated Press.

For two of the past three years, he has been awarded first place in beat reporting from Capitolbeat, an association of statehouse reporters and editors. He lives in Topeka with his wife and two teenage sons.

You can follow him on Twitter, where he provides instant updates on news and what's going on in the Statehouse.

Recent stories

Regents Chairwoman asks legislators to put away the budget knife
November 6, 2009
Kansas Board of Regents Chair Jill Docking on Friday urged Gov. Mark Parkinson and lawmakers to avoid cutting higher education as the state grapples with a $460 million budget shortfall.
Kansas Supreme Court chief justice said budget problems could force courts to close
November 6, 2009
Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Davis said Friday that courts will be shut down one week each month starting in February if Gov. Mark Parkinson and the Legislature don’t fix an $8 million shortfall in the judiciary budget.
Budget estimate declines by 4.2%
November 6, 2009
State fiscal experts Thursday said the Kansas economy remains stuck in recession, and that means a further drop in tax revenues and more budget cuts.
Statehouse Live: FORECAST IN: Recession continues, budget cuts likely;
08:24 a.m., November 5, 2009 Updated 06:39 p.m.
Revised tax projections will set targets for Gov. Parkinson, legislators; Increased caseloads require more funding;
Kansas leaders step back from talk of tax hike to make up budget gap
November 4, 2009
State leaders Wednesday appeared to shut the door to a tax increase to contend with the continuing budget crisis.
Statehouse Live: Death penalty repeal set for debate next session; Parkinson moves away from tax increase; State GOP comments on elections
08:41 a.m., November 4, 2009 Updated 05:38 p.m.
Key lawmaker says abolition of death penalty will be considered; Governor says he hopes to avoid tax increases; Kansas Republicans tout wins in Virginia and New Jersey
Health care petition rebuffs GOP
November 4, 2009
Washington isn’t the only place that health care reform will be fought.
Statehouse Live: More school districts consider funding lawsuit; Democratic Party petition opposes GOP health care amendment; Tiahrt compares Democratic Party to communism, report says
11:11 a.m., November 3, 2009 Updated 04:16 p.m.
State Democratic Party launches petition drive in response to proposal that seeks to pre-empt federal health reform in Kansas; U.S. House member from Kansas running for Senate aims criticism at Democrats
Two more Kansans die of H1N1
November 2, 2009
Two more Kansans who were infected with the H1N1 influenza virus have died, which brings to 14 the number of people who have died in the state after being infected by the virus, health officials reported Monday.
Statehouse Live: Malkin to help Kobach; Parkinson counters Cerner deal critcism; Report says Brownback’s Senate seat to stay Republican; Waugh opposes school cuts; Roberts eyeing 2014
09:12 a.m., November 2, 2009 Updated 03:29 p.m.
FOX News personality to raise funds for Kobach; Governor defends proposal for KCK development; Political website says Senate seat to stay in GOP column; Education Board Chair says education cuts will hurt state; Veteran pol looking at another Senate term

Full story list

Recent photos

Gov. Mark Parkinson's budget director Duane Goossen (left), and Alan Conroy, director of the Kansas Legislative Research Department discuss new state revenue estimates Thursday in Capitol. The report shows continuing drop in tax receipts.

Gov. Mark Parkinson on Wednesday speaks with students at Whitson Elementary School in Topeka about H1N1 flu. Later, he told a reporter that he hoped to avoid a tax increase during the upcoming legislative session.

William Thornton of Atchison speaks at a news conference Friday in the Capitol. Thornton was named by Gov. Mark Parkinson as acting secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce to replace Dave Kerr who is going to the Missouri economic development agency.

The Rev. Ben Scott (left) and Charles Jean-Baptiste speak Thursday during a news conference where the Topeka branch of the NAACP called for state Rep. Bill Otto, R-LeRoy, to remove a video from You Tube. The group says the video is racist. Otto has denied the charge. About 25 people attended the news conference at the Capitol.

Gov. Mark Parkinson held a news conference Wednesday in the Capitol. Parkinson said he would balance the budget before lawmakers start the 2010 session in January. That means more cuts are likely.

Full photo list