KS legislature schedules spring break so they can go to ALEC conference
Kansas legislators are planning to take an unusually long spring break this year, part of efforts by Republican leaders to shorten the time lawmakers spend in session, House Speaker Ray Merrick said Monday.
Legislators plan to work through April 5, the 74th day in session, then reconvene on May 8 to wrap up business for the year. If they had followed a traditional schedule, they would reconvene on April 24.
Merrick, a Republican from Stilwell in Johnson County, faced questions about whether the extended break is designed to allow legislators to attend an early May meeting of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a national group for lawmakers that promotes conservative model legislation on a wide range of issues. Merrick and Senate President Susan Wagle, a Wichita Republican, are members of the group’s national board.
“It’s a coincidence,” Merrick told The Associated Press.
Instead, Merrick said, the goal is to limit legislators’ work after the spring break to reviewing vetoes by Republican Gov. Sam Brownback. Extending the spring break ensures that any deadlines for Brownback to act on bills approved by the GOP-dominated Legislature will have passed.
“We might be out of here in a day,” Merrick said.
ALEC’s spring meeting is May 2-3 in Oklahoma City, and the National Conference of State Legislatures also is having a spring meeting May 2-4 in Denver. Merrick sent fellow House members a letter Monday, urging them to join ALEC and noting its May meeting.
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/01/28/4035983/kansas-lawmakers-planning-extra.html#storylink=cpy
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How long do we have to deal with that family? I can't remember if it was their father or grandfather that was a key person or the person who started the John Birch Society. Why do these harmful families get to have so much power? Are people really that influenced by big money.......yes I know. 
It is a wonder that they don't realize how stupid this makes them look to most people. 
