(Syndicated to Kansas newspapers July 27, 2015)
Now, when it’s summertime and finding news in the Statehouse isn’t easy, it takes a little chutzpa to fill a room with reporters, even the governor’s ceremonial office where the chief executive officers of the state hold their press conferences.
It became clear last week that Gov. Sam Brownback and his staff are clever enough to do it.
First, of course, you trickle out information about what the governor is going to talk about. That’s called chumming the water—the list of topics is the food.
Usually, those press conference announcements just say that the governor will be there, wearing a clean shirt and ready to chat. Most of those “press availabilities” wind up dealing with the Legislature, a natural disaster or the appointment of someone to some important state job.