Does the open meetings bill also crack down on “floating quorum” communications where matters are decided by daisy-chain or group email? How about even a mayor or city manager meets with city council members two at a time to avoid a quorum?
Pat, there's nothing in the new bill that addresses the "walking quorum". There are several other provisions space prevented me from including in the column. All newly-elected public officials are required to take a training course on openness within 90 days.
Secondly, the bill specifically excludes video from statehouse surveillance cameras, and it does not permit journalists (or anyone else) from accessing state building keycard entry data. I believe that is in specific response to Laura Belin's attempt last year to find out how many days state treasurer Roby Smith was in his office as opposed to his Davenport home. At the time of Laura's request, the treasurer's office refused to release the data, saying it was a security threat. Laura's story from last September is here: https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2024/09/22/how-often-does-iowas-treasurer-work-in-des-moines-state-wont-say/
So to make sure nosy reporters like you, me and Laura ever again try to find out if Roby Smith or other office holders are "phoning it in", well, legislators slammed that door shut. For all I know, Smith is in the office five days a week. But their refusal to say so certainly leaves Iowans wondering what they have to hide. Iowans are well within their rights, in the absence of facts, to assume the worst.
Thanks Dave! I also breathe a sigh of relief when they gavel DONE. Of course they are just going home to rest up and see what other cruel and useless laws they can put on their To Do List for next session. As Trump (hopefully) gets less and less popular everywhere including here in Iowa , It will be interesting to watch these dedicated MAGA Republicans!
Hard to believe there could be more awful stuff to do, but I have every faith they'll come up with something. And even if they don't, ALEC will feed their insatiable appetite for repression.
What a fantastic, succinct column by one of the true leaders of the Iowa media. Dave, your continued participation in news coverage makes our troubled situation just a little better. Keep up the good work.
Thanks Dave! I always get a kick out of the hypocrisy of the legislature when it comes to open meetings. As a former city council member, we worked with the rules. But it always irritated me that the rule writers excluded themselves from those rules. Those who saw open meetings as essential for others, were perfectly fine with closed meetings for themselves. And so it goes....
Oh, absolutely, John. Drives me nuts. As a longtime statehouse reporter, I learned all the critical decisions are made in caucus meetings, which are always closed. No other body in Iowa gets away with that. “Do as I say, not as I do.”
One could cross out Des Moines and insert Nashville and the introduction of this column could be virtually identical. The two states have become very similar.
That’s the truth. We have good friends in Nashville who used to live in DSM. It’s the same thing. Neither city is big enough to overcome the outstate vote.
The more the public comes to understand the public media are part of the solution, not part of the problem, the better off democracy, as practiced in Iowa, will be. Gov. Reynolds could publicly acknowledge that by signing those bills.
Please list the civil rights being taken away from trans people in Iowa by the recently passed bill. I read a lot of definitions, but no rights of any kind - especially rights bestowed on them by prior administrations or God given rights. Enlighten us, please.
I appreciate your take on this year’s legislative session but have to disagree that rural legislators are the only ones with wacky ideas.
Well, that’s a fair point. But in a contest….
Does the open meetings bill also crack down on “floating quorum” communications where matters are decided by daisy-chain or group email? How about even a mayor or city manager meets with city council members two at a time to avoid a quorum?
Pat, there's nothing in the new bill that addresses the "walking quorum". There are several other provisions space prevented me from including in the column. All newly-elected public officials are required to take a training course on openness within 90 days.
Secondly, the bill specifically excludes video from statehouse surveillance cameras, and it does not permit journalists (or anyone else) from accessing state building keycard entry data. I believe that is in specific response to Laura Belin's attempt last year to find out how many days state treasurer Roby Smith was in his office as opposed to his Davenport home. At the time of Laura's request, the treasurer's office refused to release the data, saying it was a security threat. Laura's story from last September is here: https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2024/09/22/how-often-does-iowas-treasurer-work-in-des-moines-state-wont-say/
So to make sure nosy reporters like you, me and Laura ever again try to find out if Roby Smith or other office holders are "phoning it in", well, legislators slammed that door shut. For all I know, Smith is in the office five days a week. But their refusal to say so certainly leaves Iowans wondering what they have to hide. Iowans are well within their rights, in the absence of facts, to assume the worst.
Thanks Dave! I also breathe a sigh of relief when they gavel DONE. Of course they are just going home to rest up and see what other cruel and useless laws they can put on their To Do List for next session. As Trump (hopefully) gets less and less popular everywhere including here in Iowa , It will be interesting to watch these dedicated MAGA Republicans!
Hard to believe there could be more awful stuff to do, but I have every faith they'll come up with something. And even if they don't, ALEC will feed their insatiable appetite for repression.
Truth
What a fantastic, succinct column by one of the true leaders of the Iowa media. Dave, your continued participation in news coverage makes our troubled situation just a little better. Keep up the good work.
Andy, you're too kind. Thanks. These days, it's good to know others feel the same, and that we're not crazy. Go Cards!
Thanks Dave! I always get a kick out of the hypocrisy of the legislature when it comes to open meetings. As a former city council member, we worked with the rules. But it always irritated me that the rule writers excluded themselves from those rules. Those who saw open meetings as essential for others, were perfectly fine with closed meetings for themselves. And so it goes....
Oh, absolutely, John. Drives me nuts. As a longtime statehouse reporter, I learned all the critical decisions are made in caucus meetings, which are always closed. No other body in Iowa gets away with that. “Do as I say, not as I do.”
One could cross out Des Moines and insert Nashville and the introduction of this column could be virtually identical. The two states have become very similar.
That’s the truth. We have good friends in Nashville who used to live in DSM. It’s the same thing. Neither city is big enough to overcome the outstate vote.
Lots of similarity for sure.
Does anyone wish the legislature only met every other year like it did in the past? 50 percent less chance to make a mess of things!
The more the public comes to understand the public media are part of the solution, not part of the problem, the better off democracy, as practiced in Iowa, will be. Gov. Reynolds could publicly acknowledge that by signing those bills.
So true, I hate it when those f@ckers are in town.
Ha! We’ll put you down as “undecided”!
Please list the civil rights being taken away from trans people in Iowa by the recently passed bill. I read a lot of definitions, but no rights of any kind - especially rights bestowed on them by prior administrations or God given rights. Enlighten us, please.