Lawmakers: Gov. Brownback preferred a tax veto override

Three Kansas lawmakers say Gov. Sam Brownback told a small group of legislators it would be politically better for him if they overrode his veto and repealed tax cuts rather than proposing another tax plan for him to sign.

The Kansas City Star reports (http://bit.ly/2s5u02N) nine lawmakers met privately with Brownback the morning of the day the Legislature overrode his veto of a tax bill. They said the meeting swayed some conservative Republicans to join moderates and Democrats in the override.

Rep. Erin Davis, an Olathe Republican, said after several options were discussed, Brownback said it would be better to have his veto overridden than to sign a different tax bill.

Other lawmakers disputed that interpretation of Brownback’s words. The governor’s office neither denied nor confirmed the exchange.


Information from: The Kansas City Star, http://www.kcstar.com.