House Speaker Mike O'Neal (center, R-Hutchinson) during a House Redistricting Committee meeting. (Photo by Stephen Koranda)A Kansas House committee has approved a congressional redistricting map that would split Topeka between two U.S. House districts. The measure would divide Topeka between the 2nd District of eastern Kansas and the 1st District that covers western Kansas. Topeka lawmakers opposed the idea. Democrat Annie Kuether (KEY-thur) said some committee members were concerned about splitting smaller communities.
The committee voted 12-11 for the plan. House Speaker Mike O'Neal cast the tie-breaking vote. The Hutchinson Republican serves as the committee's chairman. The bill will now go to the full Kansas House.