A Mississippi company run by one of Gov. Sam Brownback's donors has been awarded one of the four contracts to privatize Kansas child support enforcement.
The Kansas Department for Children and Families announced that Jackson, Miss.-based YoungWilliams Child Support Services took one of the contracts. Company CEO Robert Wells and his wife, Pam, both gave maximum $2,000 donations to Brownback's campaign.
The awarding of the contract comes two years after the state hired one of the firm's ex-employees to head up the child support division.
Senate Minority Leader and Topeka Democrat Anthony Hensley says the contract has the appearance of an insider's "pay-to-play" deal. But Wells says that's "not remotely" true, and a department spokeswoman says the selection was based on the lowest bid.