There’s been a shake-up on the Kansas House Education Committee as the Republican speaker removed some members. As KPR’s Stephen Koranda reports, two lawmakers believe they were removed from the committee for political reasons.
In another shake-up at the Kansas Statehouse this week, three lawmakers were removed from a health committee. Three Republicans who support Medicaid expansion were removed from a Kansas House committee that oversees health care issues. The Wichita Eagle reports that House Speaker Ray Merrick removed GOP Representative Barbara Bollier of Mission Hills, a retired physician. He also removed the committee's vice chair, Susan Concannon, a Beloit Republican who has a background in rural health. Merrick also removed Don Hill, an Emporia Republican and pharmacist. In a statement, Merrick said Kansas citizens oppose an expansion of Medicaid, the health care program known in Kansas as KanCare. The chair of the committee, Representative Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, said he had not been informed of the committee changes ahead of the decision. Bollier says she is saddened that three of the most knowledgeable people on health care issues have been removed from the committee. Kansas is one of 20 states that have not expanded Medicaid under the federal Affordable Care Act.