TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators have shown little interest in allowing public scrutiny of officials’ private emails about government business despite scrutiny of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s communications and a case involving the governor’s office.
The Kansas Open Records Act doesn’t specifically cover emails or other communications with private accounts or devices, even if they involve government business.
Democratic legislators introduced proposals in both chambers of the GOP-dominated Legislature to allow scrutiny of such communications.
The proposals were a response to disclosures that Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s budget director used a private email account at least twice in December to circulate details about potential budget proposals.
Then, Clinton came under scrutiny for using personal email exclusively for official non-classified business as U.S. secretary of state.
Neither Kansas bill has received a committee hearing.