TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas legislative leaders have taken steps to keep retiring or defeated lawmakers from going to conferences and taking trips at the state’s expense.
Top leaders of the House and Senate agreed unanimously Wednesday to revise the Legislature’s travel reimbursement policies.
The suggested change came from House Minority Leader and Lawrence Democrat Paul Davis. The new policy says that if lawmakers don’t file for re-election or are defeated, they aren’t entitled to state reimbursement of expenses for out-of-state trips.
The new policy makes an exception when the outgoing legislator is an officer of a recognized organization or is asked by legislative leaders to represent Kansas at an event.
House Majority Leader and Louisburg Republican Jene Vickrey said out-of-state conferences are designed to help lawmakers do their jobs better.
