Republican Rep. John Rubin of Shawnee said Wednesday that he had intended to step down as of midnight Tuesday, but, “Cooler heads prevailed.” Rubin told The Topeka Capital-Journal that he would resign immediately after House Speaker and Stilwell Republican Ray Merrick removed him as chairman of the Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee.
Merrick made the move after Rubin sought to force a House debate on gambling legislation that Merrick said could damage state-owned casinos.
Rubin said his wife, the committee’s secretary and other lawmakers urged him to remain in the Legislature. He said he intends to continue working on legislation to overhaul the state’s juvenile justice system.