Kansas governor came close to violating the law
by Steve McIntosh
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posted Aug 28 2012 2:09AM
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Not that most people care about such things, but Governor Brownback’s dinner meetings at the governor’s mansion earlier this year skirted the Kansas Open Meetings Act. At the governor’s get-togethers the majorities of legislative committees discussed specific legislation.
Somehow, the Democrat Shawnee County District Attorney ruled the dinners did not strictly violate the law that says it is “the policy of this state that meetings for the conduct of governmental affairs and the transaction of governmental business be open to the public”. The D-A said our state lawmakers were probably ignorant of the law and should educate themselves.
So, I think it’s fair to say the D-A’s conclusion is that the governor and the lawmakers didn’t actually violate the law … but they came pretty doggone close.
Sedgwick County does a good job of informing the media whenever two or more county commissioners gather anywhere. But truth is, many people in government don’t put a premium on so-called “transparency”, unless it serves their purposes.
I base this conclusion on more than 40 years of professional observation.
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Our thought for today is from Daniel C. Gelman:
“Where secrecy reigns, carelessness and ignorance delight to hide – skill loves the light.”
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