The statement from Gov.-elect Kathleen Sebelius following a hearing in Shawnee County District Court over alleged Kansas Open Meetings Act violations:

“I believe in open, accountable government. I always have, and I always will. I believe an informed electorate is critical to good, effective government. And I believe that shining the light of day on the meetings of government decision-makers helps voters understand issues and make smart choices at the ballot box.

“But I also believe that some meetings of government officials or private citizens discussing government business should not be open to the press. Imagine if staff meetings or jury deliberations, and meetings between elected officials were required to be held beneath the glare of television lights. In these meetings, government business, in one way or another, is being done. But the people of Kansas, through their elected representatives in the Kansas Legislature, have decided that those meetings can be held in private.

“That’s not to say that the press shouldn’t have broad access to government. It certainly should. Whenever any idea, whether strategized in private or public, is to be enacted into law by the Legislature or another public body, it should go through a full, open public debate. The press should be there, and the public should be fully engaged.

“I assembled the Budget Efficiency Savings Team to gather information and ideas for me to consider in tackling the difficult problems we face this year. These 60 volunteers from across Kansas, who are generously donating their time and expertise to this process, deserve the right to meet so they can brainstorm openly, talk candidly, and come up with as many ideas as they can. Forcing them to do this while tape recorders are whirring and reporters are scribbling would make their work harder, and less effective. And that would be bad for everyone.

“I can assure you that before any ideas make their way into Kansas law, they will have been thoroughly scrutinized in public. And once I become governor, their deliberations, which will shift from brainstorming to analysis, will be open to the public.

“Although many in the press disagree with this position, I firmly believe that this is consistent with Kansas law, and that it is in the public interest. At the end of the day, that is what is most important to me.”