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| Kansas Speaker of the House |
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In the even numbered years, on the first Monday in December, each party of the House holds a caucus where they select members for legislative leadership offices. These officers are the Speaker, Speaker Pro Tem, Majority Leader, Minority Leader and other party or caucus officers.
The House ratifies their decisions of each party caucus from the reorganizational meeting by formally electing its officers on the first day of the Legislative Session.
The presiding officer of the Senate is the President and of the House, the Speaker. These offices are the only two legislative leadership positions required by the Constitution.
The House Rules prescribe most of the powers and duties of these officers. However, some of their responsibilities are statutory.
The Speaker is selected by the members of the majority party and functions as a leader of that party. Ceremonially, the Speaker represents the whole house, but politically is the legislative voice of the party in power.
The term "speaker" is a title often given to the presiding officer of a legislative body. The duties of the Speaker are to call the House to order at the time set for meeting each day and see that the proper order of business is followed according to the rules and items on the legislative calendar. He is responsible for recognizing members who wish to make motions, present points of order, make inquiries, or participate in debate, and the Speaker also must sign all bills passed. The Speaker appoints the standing and other committees and refers bills and resolutions to the appropriate committees. The Speaker often also represents the House in person, as the voice of the body in ceremonial and other situations. All the while, maintaining his role as a State Representative for his elected district.
Mike was elected the 47th Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives on December 1, 2008. Chief Justice Davis swore Rep.O'Neal into the Office of Speaker on January 12, 2009.
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| Speaker O'Neal's Remarks to the House of Representatives |
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Speaker O'Neal addressed the following remarks to the House after his swearing-in.
As a long time student and admirer of the legislative process, it's such an honor to be given the opportunity to lead this great body for the next term. Thank you. It's hard to believe that this session marks my silver anniversary serving in these hallowed halls. I owe special thanks to my incredible wife, Cindy, whose confidence that I would ultimately succeed in this endeavor never wavered. Thanks too, to our special kids, Haley and Austin, for patiently putting up with their legislative Dad all these years. I began my service here before they were born and they'll graduate from KU before I'm finished here. I hope they're even half as proud of me as I am of them.
I don't need to remind anyone here today of the unprecedented challenges we face over the next two years. We're at the height of the physical disruption occasioned by our commitment to restore and preserve our State Capital. At the same time, we're facing a huge and daunting budget deficit that will take all of our collective will, wisdom and resources to resolve. As we begin this new term, we welcome to our legislative family a great class of newly elected members. The election "honeymoon" is over. I'm sure you're eager to get to work! Welcome back, as well, our returning veterans from both sides of the aisle. Thank you all for offering yourselves up for public service. Henry Ford once remarked that : "Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success." So, it's not enough that we have gathered here today and have jointly taken our respective oaths of office. Exciting as today is, it's only a beginning. We must pledge to stay together, through the thick and thin of the session, and, more importantly, work together to achieve what our constituents sent us here to do. If we keep our noses to the grindstone and our eyes on the horizon, we'll get through this challenging time and Kansas will be better for it.
We were duly elected to these House seats, but we don't own them. They are not ours. These are seats we hold in trust. This is the People's House. We are the People's Representatives. We are, without a doubt, a special and select group. After all, we're only 125 of over 2.8 million Kansans who have the unique distinction of serving in this beautiful Chamber. But, don't ever forget; this House was here long before us and will survive long after we're gone. Over 5000 House members have served here since statehood (most days Representatives Pottorff, Carl Holmes, Neufeld and I feel like we've served with at least half of them). So, in the context of Kansas history our time here is pretty short, but make no mistake, what we do here this term will have a profound effect on the future of our great State. Our constituents are counting on us to put our respective differences aside and pull together to right the ship of state. In that regard I look forward to working with Minority Leader Davis, whom I've particularly enjoyed working with on the Judiciary Committee in the past and for whom I have great respect.
It's worth repeating Albert Einstein's famous warning: "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." We have been burdened with a huge financial challenge. But, on the other hand, we've been handed a huge opportunity to fundamentally change the way we approach the budget and the financial challenges we face. To that end, we have put together a mix of committees, committee leadership and committee membership that is well suited to attack the problems we face and approach these problems like we never have before. Our constituents, our Kansas taxpayers, are watching us. They're counting on us. They have placed their trust in us to do right by them.
We must get a handle on state spending. We must be fiscally responsible. And, we must put Kansas in the best possible competitive position for future economic growth. Having a system of education second to none will ring hollow if our children choose to leave Kansas for greener pastures elsewhere. Kansas is the best place to live. It must also be the best place to work.
As your leader this term I promise not to lead in a vacuum, nor will I try to micromanage the agenda. Teddy Roosevelt said it best: "The best executive is one who has sense enough to pick good people to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it." A wise man has many counselors and I will seek counsel from all corners and from both sides of the aisle. And, as Harry Truman once observed: "It's amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit."
Between the coming together as a body and the working together as a body come civility, collegiality and mutual respect. Make it your resolution for this term to get to know your colleagues personally. With the ones you already know, or think you know, get to know them better. Take time to walk a mile in their shoes. We come from all corners of the state and all walks of life. We bring a host of life and work experiences, both good and bad, to the legislative process. We devote ourselves to this part-time legislature by sacrificing time with our families and at our regular jobs to come to Topeka and do the Peoples' work and then return to our homes and communities to live along side our neighbors with the decisions we made during the session. Respect each other as colleagues of this honorable and noble institution. When we disagree, let's not be disagreeable.
I want everyone in this room to look back on this experience with pride and a sense of satisfaction that, whatever the outcome, you served your constituents and your state with integrity and served alongside fellow colleagues with respect. Some of your greatest memories will be from your days here. Some of your best friends will be made here. Enjoy the experience and, then, pay it forward. We don't have the funds or resources to solve every problem but each of you does have the power to make a difference in the lives of those you serve, young and old alike. Embrace the sentiment of Coach John Wooden that: "You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
It's a privilege serving with you and it will be a special honor serving as your Speaker.
Thank you again. God Bless you all and God Bless this House.
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