TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A debate over whether state lawmakers could use campaign funds to buy water coolers for their offices has been settled.
During the last session, legislators said tax dollars can’t be used for the water coolers. That meant the only water fountains in the six-floor Statehouse were on the first two floors.
But Sen. Dick Kelsey of Goddard decided that he wanted to be able to offer visitors to his office a drink of water. He asked all 165 legislators to pay $65 each to provide the water fountains. He also requested an opinion from the ethics commission on whether campaign funds could be used.
The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission decided last week that water coolers are a legitimate use of campaign funds.
