There’s been a shake-up in the Kansas House Education Committee after the Republican speaker made some changes. As KPR’s Stephen Koranda reports, two lawmakers believe they were removed from the committee for political reasons.
A spokesperson for Kansas House Speaker Ray Merrick says the changes were made for “the best interest of the caucus and the state.”
Republican Rep. Diana Dierks doesn’t see it quite the same way.
“In other words, I was probably doing my job and wasn’t meeting with what they wanted me to do,” Dierks says.
Dierks believes she was removed because she didn’t see eye-to-eye with leaders in the chamber and didn’t support some conservative education policies.
Another lawmaker removed, Republican John Ewy, shared a similar opinion. He says it will now be a “slam dunk” for the committee to approve policies that leaders want.