House Speaker Ray Merrick stripped two Republicans of committee chairmanships Tuesday in retaliation for an attempt by one lawmaker to force debate on a bill that could lead to expanded gambling in Kansas and conflict with a second legislator responsible for determining whether such a parliamentary move was in order.
Merrick said he was acting with a “very heavy heart” by ousting Rep. John Rubin, R-Shawnee, from leadership of the House Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee, and Rep. John Barker, R-Abilene, from his post as chairman of the House ...
