Governor Brownback speaking to reporters. (Photo by Stephen Koranda)
Governor Sam Brownback could be called as a witness in an investigation into legislative dinners held at the governor’s residence. Some journalists and legislators have questioned if private dinners held at Cedar Crest violated the Kansas Open Meetings Act. That law requires government business be carried out in public. Senator Anthony Hensley, a Topeka Democrat, says lawmakers should take the issue very seriously.
The act requires that meetings be public if a majority of a committee is present and discusses government business. A majority of the House Appropriations Committee was invited to a January 24 th dinner at Cedar Crest. Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor is investigating the matter. Governor Sam Brownback says he will cooperate.
Brownback’s office has said the dinners did not violate open meetings rules because they were social gatherings and they took precautions to avoid violating the Open Meetings Act.