Insurance Related Complaint Against Kansas House Speaker Dismissed

A special Kansas House committee has dismissed a complaint by Democrats against Republican Speaker Mike O’Neal.

Democrat lawmakers filed a complaint in mid-March, accusing O’Neal, an attorney, of misconduct for representing businesses, trade groups and insurance funds in a lawsuit against the state..

The Democrats said Speaker Mike O’Neal’s involvement in the lawsuit as an attorney creates conflicts of interest for the Hutchinson Republican as a legislator.

His clients in the case include the Kansas Bankers Association, the Kansas Realtors Association and a Wichita company doing business as Speedy Cash.

Democrats contended O’Neal could use his power as speaker to control legislation to benefit his legal clients.

The vote for dismissal by the panel of three Republicans and three Democrats was unanimous.

O’Neal said afterward he expected the outcome because he had done nothing wrong.