Karin Brownlee

Karin Brownlee was the Kansas Secretary of Labor between 2011 and 2012, serving in the administration of Governor Sam Brownback.[3] She was later, by her own report, fired by Brownback based on a disagreement about how the agency was running.[4] A member of the Republican Party, she previously served as a member of the Kansas Senate, representing the 23rd district between 1997 and 2011.

Karin Brownlee
Kansas Secretary of Labor
In office
January 7, 2011 – September 20, 2012[1]
GovernorSam Brownback
Preceded byJim Garner
Succeeded byLana Gordon[2]
Member of the Kansas Senate
from the 23rd district
In office
January 13, 1997 – January 10, 2011
Succeeded byRob Olson
Personal details
BornOlathe, Kansas
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Doug Brownlee
Websitekarinbrownlee.com

Kansas Senate

Committee assignments
  • Commerce (Chair)
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance (Vice Chair)
  • Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and Regulations
  • Assessment and Taxation
  • Confirmation Oversight
  • Joint Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice Oversight
  • Transportation
  • Utilities

Kansas Department of Labor

In early January 2011 Brownlee took office as Secretary in the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL). She claimed that the upgrading of the unemployment claims technology project commenced in 2005 was being mismanagement and brought in an outside technology company to review work to date.[5]

In August 2011 Brownlee terminated the employment of asthma sufferer Kathleen Arbogast who filed suit against KDOL in January 2013 claiming discrimination and retaliation and seeking $100.000 in damages. Arbogast had complained about staff wearing perfume and other fragrances interfered with her ability to perform her duties. She was moved to the basement to remove her from such contact but claimed that the fragrances worn by other workers visiting her continued her asthma problems. KDOL sought to have the lawsuit dismissed but the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas denied the motion,[6] KDOL then appealed to the 10th circuit court which affirmed the decision in the District Court.[7] The case moved to the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas which brought down its decision 9 September 2016. In the discussion it found that, " ... Plaintiff has pointed the Court to no statutory authority indicating that KDOL has the capacity to be sued. Accordingly, the Court grants Defendant’s motion to dismiss."[8]

In September 2012 Brownlee was removed from KDOL by Gov. Sam Brownback without explanation.[9]

References
  1. Department of Labor leadership change
  2. "Home Page". Kansas Department of Labor. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  3. Koranda, Jeannine (December 7, 2010). "Brownback announces nominations for several cabinet positions". Wichita Eagle. Archived from the original on December 12, 2010. Retrieved December 31, 2010.
  4. Associated Press/ Desert News
  5. "Massive waste, Inefficiency in Labor Dept Technology Upgrade, Secretary Says 25 March 2011". KansasWatchdog org. Archived from the original on 17 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  6. "Federal appeals court rejects Kansas Department of Labor's claim of immunity from lawsuit 20 June 2015". cjonline. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  7. "United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit 19 June 2015" (PDF). US Courts. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  8. "In the United States District Court for the District of Kansas Kathleen Arbogast Plaintiff v. State of Kansas, Department of Labor 9 September 2016". Kansas District US Court. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  9. "Kansas labor chief says governor fired her 20 September 2012". LJWorld. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
Political offices
Preceded by
Jim Garner		 Kansas Secretary of Labor
2011–2012		 Succeeded by
Lana Gordon
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