Topeka (WIBW) - Kansas House Speaker Mike O'Neal is striking back at Democrats who say he should step down from his position, or drop one of his legal casess.

O'Neal issued a letter Wednesday to his colleagues in the Kansas House and members of the media. In it, he says Democratic leadership has "used falsehoods and innuendo to make baseless and
unjustified attacks on my integrity."

Democrats have questioned O'Neal's involvement in a lawsuit against the state. He is the attorney for 17 insurance funds, businesses and trade groups who are suing the state over a financial maneuver used to help ease the budget shortfall.

The maneuver, known as "sweeping," takes money from privately-funded trust accounts and shifts the dollars to the state general fund.

O'Neal says House Democrat leadership "crossed the line of decency" last week, when it issued a letter saying they would take action if he did not step down from the case. O'Neal says that letter contained false accusations.

"I'm deeply disappointed that Democrat leadership has resorted to such shameful behavior," O'Neal wrote in his letter. "They have done a disservice to the House and their own Democrat caucus, most, if not all of whom were unaware of their leadership's letter until after the fact."

O'Neal says he has been open about answering questions regarding the case. He also says he sought advice on the legality and ethics of his involvement. He points out other legislators are attorneys with clients involved in cases against the state, saying House Minority Leader Paul Davis' law firm has a case pending in the Kansas Supreme
Court challenging the constitutionality of a tort reform statute.

Despite that, critics say O'Neal's involvement in the lawsuit is a conflict of interest.

Gov. Mark Parkinson has avoided commenting directly on the O'Neal situation, saying only that it does not help the budget crisis to have any lawmaker or group suing the state.

The complete letter from Rep. O'Neal is attached.