TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Republican legislators in Kansas are growing defensive over ongoing questions about whether private gatherings they had with GOP Gov. Sam Brownback at his official residence violated the state’s Open Meetings Act.
A pattern emerged from interviews by The Associated Press with three dozen of the 91 legislators invited to seven dinners in January at Cedar Crest, the governor’s residence, for Republican members of 13 legislative committees. During at least several events, Brownback made remarks that touched on legislative issues and took a few questions.
Republican legislators’ irritation also surfaced during interviews.
Lawmakers attending the events generally saw them as social events, not business meetings worthy of the investigation launched by Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor. The legislators said the events weren’t different from past gatherings with Democratic governors.
