open records

A bipartisan initiative has been launched to try to make Kansas government more open and transparent.

Kansas Senators have given initial approval to two measures designed to make state government more transparent, but critics argue the legislation doesn't go far enough and would allow elected leaders to conduct public business using private emails.

Kansas officials can conduct state business using private email accounts and personal cell phones - neither of which is subject to open records laws. Such secrecy isn't good for democracy. As we hear in this commentary, other aspects of state government could benefit from more transparency.

Kansas Senators are considering proposals to make it less costly to obtain public records from government agencies and other legislation making state government more open and transparent.

New information suggests that the governor's administration informed two lobbyists about its budget efforts weeks earlier than previously disclosed.