Lobbyists In On Budget Earlier Than Disclosed

Newly released emails obtained by the Topeka Capital-Journal show the governor’s administration informed two lobbyists about its budget efforts weeks earlier than previously disclosed.

The emails showed they were included on a Dec. 6 email thread about the budget. President Kent Glasscock of Kansas State University Institute for Commercialization also was included.

The newspaper made an open records request to the school for emails between Glasscock and the state’s budget director.

Most of the emails’ content was redacted. The university and Glasscock haven’t responded to the newspaper’s questions.

A Gov. Sam Brownback spokeswoman says he consulted with several people during budget discussions.

The Wichita Eagle first reported the state’s budget director sent a Dec. 23 email previewing the governor’s budget proposals. Among the recipients were the two lobbyists.