Kansas legislators and Governor Sam Brownback are under investigation for possible violations of the Kansas Open Meetings Act
"Because of the fact that the Attorney General's Office - if it in fact plays out that there were violations - the Attorney General's Office might wind up having to defend the members of the legislature, that it was more prudent and more efficient use of the taxpayer dollars to have this office investigate and potentially prosecute the matter," said Taylor.
The investigation is under way in response to suspicions that Brownback may have violated the Kansas Open Meetings Act at his Cedar Crest residence.
"When you do have the majority of a committee that you're talking to about business that you know is going to come before that committee, that's something that I think has to occur within the light of day and within a public forum," said Democratic House Minority Leader Paul Davis.
Brownback responded to Taylor's letter saying, just because a majority of a committee is present at an event doesn't mean that the Open Meetings violation may be taking place, nor that this should justfiy an investigation for every gathering. He went on to say that setting this precedent is, in his view, "unjustified and dangerous."
"Like I tell people as the sitting district attorney of this community, we don't prosecute democrats; we don't prosecute republicans," Taylor said. "We prosecute people that break the law and that's really how I look at this situation."
Taylor warned Brownback and legislators to hold on to any records of information connected to the social gatherings that take place at Brownback's official residence.
The investigation began in response to a request by the Topeka Capital-Journal.
District Attorney Chad Taylor sent out a letter to all officials who might somehow be connected to the investigation he launched yesterday.rownback reiterated in his letter that a clear and correct summary of the Open Meetings law is presented at the beginning of every legislative dinner he has.
