Concerns surrounding an email about Acting SRS Secretary Rob Siedlecki that questioned whether he would honor legislative budget directives won’t hold up his confirmation, Senate GOP leaders predicted today.
“I think the confirmation will fly through,” said Sen. John Vratil, a Leawood Republican and vice president of the Senate.
Senate Majority Leader Jay Emler, R-Lindsborg, said Siedlecki had visited his office and gave personal assurance he would spend SRS budget dollars as directed by the Legislature.
The Senate Ways and Means Committee was given the same assurance from Siedlecki, “and that was satisfactory to me,” Vratil said.
On Thursday, Senate Democratic Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, said he and some other senators would oppose Siedecki’s confirmation because of an email and subsequent letter that raised questions about statements Siedlecki allegedly made in a meeting with the board of directors of the Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas.
Siedlecki has been acting chief of the state welfare agency since January when he was hired by Gov. Sam Brownback. He isn’t officially approved for the job until the Senate confirms his appointment. It is unusual for a governor’s appointment to not be confirmed and also unusual when they draw opposition.
The confirmation hearing for Siedlecki began Wednesday but was continued until early next week.
The consternating email was sent by Dwight Young, executive director of the Center for Counseling and Consultation of Great Bend to Sen. Ruth Teichman, R-Stafford. Young’s mental health center is in Teichman’s district and she is a member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, which is holding the confirmation hearing.
Mike Hammond, executive director of the mental health centers association was subsequently approached by Siedlecki aide Gary Haulmark and asked to write a letter explaining that Young had misunderstood Siedlecki’s remarks. Hammond wrote the letter and also told KHI News Service that Young had misconstrued Siedlecki’s comments.
Siedlecki is expected to face several questions from committee members when his confirmation hearing resumes next week.