Former Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius says she was surprised and distressed by Gov. Sam Brownback’s decision to rescind an executive order that offered protections for gay, lesbian and transgender state employees.

In a speech at the Dole Institute in Lawrence Thursday, Sebelius also called Brownback’s efforts to eliminate the state’s income tax to increase business and job growth in Kansas “a colossal failure.”

Sebelius said she signed the executive order protecting LGBT state employees in 2007 to signal that Kansas wanted a diverse and talented workforce and was a tolerant state.  Brownback rescinded the order Tuesday, saying that such changes should be made by the state Legislature.

The former governor said she’s concerned that the state is on a long-term downward economic spiral because of its multi-million dollar budget deficit.