TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A Mississippi company run by one of Gov. Sam Brownback’s donors has been awarded one of the four contracts to privatize Kansas child support enforcement.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reported that the Kansas Department for Children and Families announced Friday that Jackson, Miss.-based YoungWilliams Child Support Services nabbed one of the contracts. Company CEO Robert Wells and his wife, Pam, both gave maximum $2,000 donations to Brownback’s campaign.
The awarding of the contract comes two years after the state hired one of the firm’s ex-employees to head up the child support division.
Senate Minority Leader and Topeka Democrat Anthony Hensley says the contract has the appearance of an insider’s “pay-to-play” deal. But Wells says that’s “not remotely” true, and a DCF spokeswoman says the selection was based on lowest bid.
