The envelope, please. And the winner is ...

No, I am not having flashbacks to the Oscars. It's time to award the annual Kansas Legislative Hypocrite of the Year Award! You say, but Glenn, there are still weeks left in the session. Yes, but like last year, the winner has made the bar so high (or low), he has locked it up early in the session.

Like last year, the winner is the same. There really is no need to open the envelope, most everyone can Carnac this one. The winner is Speaker of the House Mike "Let's Make a Deal" O'Neal. I didn't use an exclamation point, since it's really no big surprise. I can't take credit for the nickname. That belongs to Kansas Democratic Senate Leader Anthony Hensley.

Last year, O'Neal spearheaded a 5 percent wage decrease for state employees; not to mention a hiring freeze. That didn't stop him from giving his own staffers bonuses. Despite a nepotism law in the Legislature, O'Neal performed a little side-step and hired his wife.

This year, O'Neal is the attorney for a group of entities suing the state! That's right. That's not a typo (Do we still call them typos?). The speaker of the House is an attorney against the State of Kansas. His answer being, since he voted against the legislation, he's entitled to profit from said legislation. Huh?

He backs up his argument with a letter from an attorney with the state revisor of statutes stating his actions do not violate any statute. One thing this whole scenario doesn't pass is the all-important smell test.

To further bolster his credentials for this award, I refer to an interview in the Hutchinson News monthly magazine. When O'Neal was asked what he enjoyed most about politics, he answered, "The politics isn't what really floats my boat ... I like lawmaking, and I love state government." When asked what he despised, he answered, "Politics!" If these statements would have been made in a court of law, he would have been charged with perjury.

So, "Let's Make a Deal" O'Neal, congratulations. Win it again next session and I'll consider naming the trophy after you. You are more than deserving of the honor.

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Most awards have honorable mentions and Hypocrite of the Year is no exception.

An honorable mention goes to State Rep. Jim Morrison from Colby. In an interview with Mike Corn for the HDN, he said he was unsure of a bill called the Kansas Firearms Freedom Act stating he hadn't read the bill. When he looked at the bill and saw he was a co-sponsor, he quickly changed tunes and explained his opinion in detail to the reporter.

Another honorable mention goes to Rep. Kevin Yoder of Overland Park. This information was received in an e-mail from someone that follows the Legislature very closely. In debate on a bill to repeal one judge per county, Yoder said the current system was unfair to urban areas (Those big cities are always getting the short end of the stick. Sure.). He went on to say people in urban areas have to wait several months for their cases to be heard while rural counties can merely "tie their horses out front."

For whatever reason, when I read this, it made me think about the back end of a horse. He sure does make me feel sorry for them city slickers. In any other year, he may have been the winner.

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A story in Monday's HDN reported that the Landmark Realty building would be auctioned off to pay unpaid back taxes. The folks at Landmark appreciate HDN running a clarification of the story the very day. Even with that being done, as a realtor with Landmark, I have been asked several times why we didn't pay our taxes.

Landmark Realty is a tenant in the building owned by a person in Colorado. Landmark has been in their current location for more than 35 years. Landmark paid the rent, but the landlord didn't pay the taxes on the property for three or four years.

Landmark Realty was not responsible for any back taxes in any way.

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Welcome back, Mike Cooper. After a lengthy illness, Mike has returned to full strength to the KAYS Wake Up show, the Breakfast Club and the Coming of Age program. It's great to have you back.

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As we got ready to leave our motel room in Kansas City for Topeka, Dottie looked at me and said "Nice hair." From my column picture, one can imagine, I don't get many compliments on my hair (except right after leaving my haircut lady). But coming from my spouse, it made me feel really, really good.

An hour later, as we rode the elevator to our room in Topeka, I caught my reflection in the mirror and said, "I forgot to comb my hair!"

Dottie replied, "I thought you knew I was being sarcastic."

Well, I will next time.

Glenn Staab, a lifelong Hays resident and former city commissioner, sells insurance and real estate and is the Democratic Party chairman for Ellis County. glenn_staab@yahoo.com