Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
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The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
While state Rep. Kerry Burt’s drunk driving arrest has garnered many headlines, there is a bigger scandal emerging from the lobbyist reception where his evening began, according to one activist organization.
Burt was arrested Feb. 11 in Ankeny after a night of drinking that began at a reception at Embassy Suites in downtown Des Moines that was paid for by the Iowa Pharmacy Association (IPA). The reception was attended by 20 lawmakers and Gov. Chet Culver.
Iowa law dictates that lobbyists file disclosure reports within five business days following the date of receptions they host during a legislative session where lawmakers are invited. The IPA only filed disclosure reports for the February event Wednesday, after reporters began asking questions.
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, a Des Moines-based activist organization, said while the media and political observers focus on Burt’s bad behavior, the real scandal is Iowa’s lax disclosure laws.
“This lack of disclosure and transparency is clear proof that the state of Iowa needs comprehensive campaign finance reform and clean election laws to restore the credibility of our electoral process, including campaign contribution limits and public financing of elections,” said Iowa CCI Board President Barb Kalbach.
In 2005, state lawmakers voted to strip oversight powers from the nonpartisan Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, giving the power instead to the state House and Senate ethics committees. Iowa CCI believes the direct result is a downturn in reports being filed.
There were 117 “Session Function” reports filed in 2005. That number dropped to 101 in 2006 and 104 in 2007. By this year, only 90 reports were filed concerning lobbyist-sponsored functions held during the legislative session where all lawmakers were invited.The total amount of money spent during the session on these receptions went down each of the last three years, until 2009, when it jumped from $194,848 to $235,828.
Allowing legislators to have control over parties designed to lobby them is a recipe for disaster, CCI contends.
“What other profession in the state is allowed to regulate themselves?” said Ed Rethman, Iowa CCI member from West Des Moines. “Are doctors allowed to license themselves?”
Charlie Smithson, executive director of the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, said before the law was changed, disclosure reports were filed directly with his office. Smithson’s staff would also check the social calendar and call groups to make sure reports were filed on time.
When the law was changed, reports were filed directly with the legislative committees.
“When I became a secondary repository and oversight responsibilities were with the House/Senate Ethics Committees we discontinued our processes of ensuring the filing of reports as we no longer had enforcement jurisdiction,” he said.
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