TOPEKA — Last year’s controversial speaker of the Kansas House has been picked by majority Republicans to be speaker for the next legislative session. No opponent stepped forward to challenge Mike O’Neal of Hutchinson. Some Republicans and Democrats blamed O’Neal for last year’s legislative gridlock. At the same time O’Neal was trying to ban school districts from suing the state for more funding, he was suing the state on behalf of a lobbying group for more funding. O’Neal said he’ll oppose any tax increases and seek to close an estimated $492 million deficit with spending cuts. Olathe Republican Arlen Siegreid will House majority leader. Jene Vickrey of Louisburg will be speaker pro tem. House Democrats re-elected Paul Davis of Lawrence and Tom Burroughs of Kansas City as assistant minority leader.
Thursday, Dec. 9, 7:30 a.m.
