Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Sam Brownback

A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Sam Brownback.

Sam Brownback is an American politician and diplomat. He served as a U.S. Senator for Kansas from 1996 to 2011 and as the Governor of Kansas from 2011 to 2018. As a Republican, Brownback ran for President in 2008. He also served as the U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom under President Donald Trump. His career reflects a blend of domestic policy focus as Governor and Senator, with an emphasis on religious freedom on the international stage.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

September 3, 1997: Deposition Regarding Campaign Finance Activities

On September 3, 1997, Meredith O'Rourke, an employee of Triad Management Services, was deposed regarding her activities related to fund raising and advertising for Brownback, with claims that Triad circumvented campaign finance laws.

April 2011: Brownback Signs Anti-Abortion Bills

In April 2011, Sam Brownback signed a bill banning abortion after 21 weeks, and a bill requiring that a doctor get a parent's notarized signature before providing an abortion to a minor.

May 2011: Brownback Approves Bill Restricting Abortion Coverage

In May 2011, Sam Brownback approved a bill prohibiting insurance companies from offering abortion coverage as part of general health plans unless the procedure is necessary to save a woman's life. The law also prohibits any health-insurance exchange in Kansas established under the federal Affordable Care Act from offering coverage for abortions other than to save a woman's life.

May 2011: Brownback Directs Slow Implementation of Insurance Exchange

In May 2011, Sam Brownback directed the state's insurance commissioner to slow the implementation timeline for the insurance exchange development. He ultimately declined a $31.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in August.

August 2011: Brownback Attends Rick Perry's Prayer Event

In August 2011, Sam Brownback attended Texas governor Rick Perry's prayer event. His participation in the rally resulted in some controversy.

August 2011: Brownback Declines Federal Grant for Insurance Exchange

In August 2011, over the objections of Republican Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger, Sam Brownback announced he was declining a $31.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to set up an insurance exchange as part of the federal health care reform law.

August 2011: Support and Criticism for Declining Grant

In August 2011, the move to decline a $31.5 million grant for the insurance exchange was supported by the delegates of the state party central committee, but a New York Times editorial criticized Sam Brownback for turning down the grant which could have helped ease the state's own budget.

2011: Kansas Budget Blocks Planned Parenthood Funding

In 2011, a Kansas budget passed with Brownback's approval blocked Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri from receiving family planning funds from the state. The funding amounted to about $330,000 a year. A judge blocked the provision and ordered Kansas to begin funding the organization again, but the state filed an appeal.

May 2012: Brownback Signs Health Care Rights of Conscience Act

In May 2012, Sam Brownback signed the Health Care Rights of Conscience Act, which "will allow pharmacists to refuse to provide drugs they believe might cause an abortion".

January 2013: Tax Cuts Take Effect

In January 2013, tax cuts that were later repealed took effect. They were repealed by the Kansas Legislature overriding Brownback's veto in June 6, 2017.

April 2013: Brownback Signs Bill Blocking Tax Breaks for Abortion Providers

In April 2013, Sam Brownback signed a bill that blocked tax breaks for abortion providers, banned sex-selection abortions and declared that life begins at fertilization.

April 2014: Brownback Signs Controversial School Finance Bill

In April 2014, Sam Brownback signed a controversial school finance bill that eliminated mandatory due process hearings, which were previously required to fire experienced teachers.

June 2014: Kansas Falls Short of Projected Tax Collections

As of June 2014, Kansas had fallen far short of projected tax collections, receiving $369 million instead of the planned-for $651 million as a result of Brownback's tax cuts.

August 2014: S&P Downgrades Kansas' Credit Rating

In August 2014, S&P Ratings downgraded Kansas' credit rating from AA+ to AA due to a budget that analysts described as structurally unbalanced as a consequence of Brownback's tax cuts.

2014: Budget Shortfall Expected

A forecast from the Legislature's research staff indicated that a budget shortfall would emerge by 2014 due to Brownback's tax cuts.

2014: U.S. Supreme Court Denies Review of Same-Sex Marriage Bans

In 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court denied petitions to review federal appellate decisions overturning state bans on same-sex marriage, which favored repeal of Kansas's ban. In response, Brownback defended Kansas's same-sex marriage ban and criticized "activist judges".

February 10, 2015: Executive Order Rescinding Protections for LGBT State Workers

On February 10, 2015, Brownback issued an executive order rescinding protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender state workers, protections that had been put into place eight years prior. The ACLU characterized this action as "religious freedom to discriminate."

April 7, 2015: Brownback Signs Unborn Child Protection Act

On April 7, 2015, Sam Brownback signed The Unborn Child Protection From Dismemberment Abortion Act, which bans the most common technique used for second-trimester abortions, making Kansas the first state to ban the procedure.

February 2, 2017: Senate Passes SB 30

On February 2, 2017, the Kansas Senate passed SB 30 (38–0, with 2 not voting).

February 2017: Kansas Faces Budget Shortfall and Credit Downgrade

In February 2017, Kansas faced a $350 million budget shortfall. Also in February 2017, S&P downgraded Kansas' credit rating to AA−.

February 2017: Bi-Partisan Coalition Presents Bill to Repeal Tax Overhaul

In February 2017, a bi-partisan coalition presented a bill to repeal most of Brownback's tax overhaul to make up for the budget shortfall.

February 22, 2017: House Passes SB 30 as Amended

On February 22, 2017, the Kansas House passed SB 30 as amended (123–2).

June 5, 2017: Conference Committee Report Adopted by House and Senate

On June 5, 2017, the Conference Committee Report regarding Senate Bill 30 was adopted by both the Kansas House (69–52) and Senate (26–14).

June 6, 2017: Brownback Vetoes SB 30, Overridden by Legislature

On June 6, 2017, Senate Bill 30 was sent to Sam Brownback for signature, but he vetoed the bill. Later in the day both the House and Senate voted to override the veto, effectively repealing most of the tax cuts which had taken effect in January 2013.

June 2017: Brownback's Tax Overhaul Described as Aggressive Experiment

In a June 2017 article in The Atlantic, Brownback's tax overhaul was described as the United States' "most aggressive experiment in conservative economic policy" which "threatened the viability of schools and infrastructure" in Kansas.

2017: Criticism of the Brownback Experiment

In 2017, Heidi Holliday, executive director of the Kansas Center for Economic Growth, stated that "The Brownback experiment didn't work. We saw that loud and clear."

2017: Kansas Legislature Overrides Brownback's Vetoes to Repeal Tax Cuts

In 2017, after a protracted battle, the new Kansas Legislature overrode Brownback's vetoes, voting to repeal his tax cuts and enact tax increases.

July 2018: Forecasted Budget Shortfall

A forecast indicated that a budget shortfall will emerge by 2014 and will grow to nearly US$2.5 billion by July 2018 due to income tax cuts signed into law.

2018: Kansas Farm Bankruptcy Rate Increase

By 2018, the last year of the Brownback administration, Kansas had the second-highest farm-bankruptcy rate increase in the nation (after New York) — a decade-high rate for the state.

2018: Kansas City Star Named Pulitzer Prize Finalist

In 2018, The Kansas City Star was named a finalist in the Public Service category for a Pulitzer Prize for its series entitled "Why so secret, Kansas?" which reported that Kansas's secretive state government had only grown worse under Brownback.