GARNETT — Republican lawmakers continue to defend themselves and their attendance over a series of dinners hosted by Gov. Sam Brownback. The Topeka Capital-Journal and other critics have said the dinners violated the state’s open meetings law. Shawnee County district attorney Chad Taylor has been investigating the dinners to see if they violated the law However, Republican state Sen. Pat Apple of Louisburg, who attended one of the dinners, told the Anderson County Review that the furor is more political than legal. Taylor is a Democrat, he said. Apple said the dinners were social gatherings and didn’t violate the open-meetings law. However, Democratic state Rep. Bill Feuerborn of Garnett said Brownback’s dinners were different because the guest list was limited to Republican members of specific committees. He said in the past, previous governors were careful to invite legislators across all parties and committees, avoiding having a majority of any one committee.
Thursday, Feb. 16, 4 p.m.
