By Mike Shields
KHI News Service
TOPEKA, Dec. 4
Republicans in the Kansas House elected new leaders Monday, tapping Rep. Melvin Neufeld of Ingalls to replace Topekan Doug Mays as speaker.
Reps. Kenny Wilk of Lansing and Mike O”Neal of Hutchinson also sought the post. O”Neal was eliminated in a first round of secret balloting, as Neufeld garnered 29 votes to Wilk”s 25 and O”Neal”s 24. In second-round voting, Neufeld received 47 votes; Wilk, 31.
Of the three candidates, Neufeld is the one thought to be the best versed on health and social-service issues. A long-time member and later chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Neufeld did journeyman work there on social service budgets. He also has been chairman of the Select Committee on Healthcare and chairman of the joint Health Policy Oversight Committee, positions now expected to be filled by others in the coming session
In August, Neufeld was one of five Kansas delegates to the Midwest conference of the Blue Sky Initiative to hear about a revolutionary concept of health system reform that targets improved health for the overall population while better aligning the medical system with public health efforts in disease prevention and health promotion.
Some health advocates said they were pleased Neufeld was chosen speaker.
“I think that this is great news for public health and public health advocates,” said Kimber Richter, legislative chair of the Kansas Public Health Association, “because Mr. Neufeld has experience working with Medicaid and also is one of the two representatives that chaired the oversight committee for the Kansas Health Policy Authority and has seen that develop from the beginning. And I think he has floated some very innovative ideas for improving the health care of Kansans.”
Among those
ideas was an attempt by Neufeld to find ways for local health departments to be reimbursed through Medicaid for safety net services, Richter said.
“That’s one, if we could make it happen, we’d be as rich as public health in New York, because that’s what they do,” she said.
“He’s got tremendous history and is a solid public-health advocate. So I think we’re happy.”
The Kansas Public Health Association has more than 600 members. It represents public health workers.
Neufeld wouldn”t say who was in line for key committee chairmanships. He said he and the new House leadership team would soon meet to choose committee assignments and develop an agenda for the coming legislative session, which begins Jan. 8. He said no one had been promised committee slots in exchange for votes of support.
“We do have a common enemy,” Neufeld told fellow Republicans in his brief victory speech. “It”s not the Senate, not the governor”s office. It”s poor public policy that prevents all Kansans from being all they can be.”
Quoting humorist Will Rogers, he pledged to keep an open door and an open mind.
“We”re all ignorant, just on different topics,” Neufeld said.
Neufeld has been skeptical of health initiatives put forth by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat.
In August, responding to news that Sebelius would push to expand health insurance coverage for more Kansans, Neufeld said lawmakers would have enough to do meeting obligations to K-12 education.
“I’m real concerned about some of the things I’m hearing proposed from the governor’s office,” Neufeld told the Associated Press. “I don’t think we are in a position to be spreading out and starting new programs.”
Others selected for top GOP House posts:
* Rep. Ray Merrick of Stillwell defeated Rep. Clay Aurand of Courtland, 50-27, to become majority leader. Merrick had been speaker pro tem; Aurand, majority leader.
* Rep. Don Dahl of Hillsboro defeated Rep. Lee Tafanelli of Ozawkie, 43-35, to become speaker pro tem.
* Rep. Jene Vickrey of Louisburg defeated Rep. Lana Gordon of Topeka, 59-18, to become assistant majority leader.
* Rep. Rob Olson of Olathe was unopposed for majority whip; Rep. Dick Kelsey of Goddard was unopposed for caucus chairman.
Democratic members of the House also met Monday unanimously re-electing:
* Rep. Dennis McKinney, Greensburg, minority leader.
* Rep. Jim Ward, Wichita, assistant minority leader.
* Rep. Eber Phelps, Hays, minority whip.
* Rep. Marti Crow, agenda chair.
* Rep. Barbara Ballard, Lawrence, caucus chair.
* Rep. Paul Davis, Lawrence, policy chair.
Mike Shields is a staff writer for KHI News Service, which specializes in coverage of health issues facing Kansans. He can be reached at
mshields@khi.org
or at 785-233-5443, ext. 123.