IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
October 2, 2007  

                                                                                                     
For More Information, Contact:
Sherriene Jones-Sontag
Office of House Speaker Melvin Neufeld
Director of Communications & Caucus Information
785/296-2302

SPEAKER NAMES APPOINTMENTS TO

GAMING OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

Topeka – Kansas Speaker of the House of Representatives Melvin Neufeld (R-Ingalls) announced today he has named House Judiciary Chairman Mike O’Neal (R-Hutchinson) and House Federal and State Affairs Chairman Arlen Siegfreid (R-Olathe) to the Legislative Special Committee on Gaming Oversight.   The Legislative Coordinating Council created the committee to monitor the expanding gaming developments in Kansas.

“Both lawmakers are exceptionally qualified and well-versed on the subject,” Speaker Neufeld said.

“I believe the committee’s work will be vitally important as our state moves forward to expand gaming, especially in determining if the Kansas Lottery and the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission have the necessary resources to carry out the legislation properly and to discuss whether legislative approval of rules and regulations as they pertain to gaming activities in the state is necessary.”

The Special Committee will hold two days of hearings to review the activities of state agencies implementing the Kansas Expanded Lottery Act. 

The committee will consist of six legislative members, two members each appointed by Speaker Neufeld and Senate President Steve Morris (R-Hugoton) and one each by the House Minority Leader Dennis McKinney (D-Greensburg) and Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley (D-Topeka).

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