Brownback Campaign Sought Contribution from Weststar while awaiting Rate Bike

(AP) – Gov. Sam Brownback’s campaign recently approached a Westar Energy official for a campaign debt donation while the utility is in the process of seeking a rate increase.
The Topeka Capital-Journal (http://bit.ly/1MiCTtm ) reports that a Brownback campaign official contacted Mark Schreiber, Westar’s government affairs vice president, more than a week ago looking for help retiring debt from the governor’s successful re-election campaign last year.
The contact with Schreiber takes place when Westar is requesting a $152 million rate increase from the Kansas Corporation Commission.
Brownback spokeswoman Eileen Hawley says Brownback’s office doesn’t influence the KCC’s operations or decision-making.
Westar spokeswoman Gina Penzig acknowledges the request to Schreiber and says it was referred to Westar Employees’ Political Action Committee, which hasn’t made a decision on it yet