TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) As new details emerge, a Kansas newspaper’s attorney remains convinced that private meetings legislators had with Gov. Sam Brownback at his official residence were illegal.
Topeka Capital-Journal attorney Mike Merriam said meetings in January violated the Kansas Open Meetings Act because a majority of some legislative committees were present and legislative issues were discussed.
Brownback had seven meetings in January with fellow Republicans on 13 legislative committees.
He had another meeting Monday evening for a bipartisan group of lawmakers not tied to specific committees. Brownback allowed The Associated Press to observe and later said the gathering was typical.
But Merriam said if that’s true, the earlier meetings violated the law because Brownback talked about issues.
Brownback spokeswoman Sherriene Jones-Sontag said the governor is confident the meetings were legal.
