TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Gov. Sam Brownback acknowledges he set up private meetings with Republican legislators at his official residence to discuss his agenda but says the events didn’t violate the Kansas Open Meetings Act.
Brownback said Friday that the manager at Cedar Crest, the governor’s residence, made an inaccurate statement when she told a legislator’s assistant in a January email that lawmakers would discuss business.
But the Republican governor said he intended to talk about his legislative agenda at the gatherings and did.
Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor, a Democrat, is investigating seven meetings in January at Cedar Crest with Republicans on 13 legislative committees.
Brownback said his presentations didn’t violate the law and that his staff and lawmakers present monitored discussions to make sure legislators did not as well.
