Iowa lawmakers stall on measure to track welfare spending

By   /  May 1, 2013  /  Accountability, Federal Government, Finances, Iowa, Issues, Legislature, News, Open Records, State Government  /  6 Comments

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By Sheena Dooley | Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES – A bill to limit the use of Iowa welfare dollars at strip clubs, bars and casinos stalled Wednesday when members of the Iowa House approved an amended version they then returned to the Iowa Senate.
With the Legislative session winding down, House members spent more than four hours debating [...]

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Weak transparency laws leave Iowans in the dark

By   /  April 24, 2013  /  Accountability, Ethics, Featured, Iowa, Issues, News, Open Records, State Government  /  1 Comment

Attorney general in Iowa faces conflict of interest over dueling roles.

By Sheena Dooley | Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES — When it comes to transparency in government, Iowa agencies face few consequences if they break the state’s open records and meetings laws, some state officials say.
Under state law, the only way for Iowans to remedy potential violations is to take taxpayer-funded agencies to court, which is a slow [...]

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Iowa lawmaker wants answers on welfare program oversight

By   /  April 19, 2013  /  Accountability, Featured, Fraud, Iowa, Issues, News, Open Records, State Government  /  2 Comments

ATM cash

By Sheena Dooley | Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES – At least one Iowa lawmaker wants answers from state leaders regarding lax oversight of a $100-million program aimed at providing the poor with the essentials.
Rep. Brad Zaun, R-Polk, will seek answers next week when he meets with Charles Palmer, director of the Department of Human Services. Specifically, [...]

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Open up IA: Don’t shield welfare transactions

By   /  April 18, 2013  /  Commentary, Iowa Commentary  /  No Comments

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n 1973, then California Gov. Ronald Reagan said government officials derive their “ultimate authority from the people. And we have an obligation to make sure that in carrying out our responsibilities, we do so at a price they can afford.” Forty years later some in Iowa government are shirking that responsibility.

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Iowa new boss, same as the old boss?

By   /  April 12, 2013  /  Commentary, Iowa Commentary  /  No Comments

Tom Vilsack

By Graham Gillette | Special Contributor
One of the worst kept secrets in Iowa is that U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, a Democrat, is considering a run for governor.
Many in Iowa’s Democratic Party see Vilsack as potentially the only one among them capable of beating Republican Gov. Terry Branstad in a 2014 match-up. Vilsack, a [...]

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