The Iowa Senate

State of Iowa

Eighty-First General Assembly

STATEHOUSE

Des Moines, Iowa 50319

For Immediate Release Contact: Kimberly Steenhoek

Tuesday, April 25, 2006 (515) 281-6571

Senate Republicans Propose Bill to

Improve Accountability and Transparency in State Government

DES MOINES – In response to the recent scandal at the Central Iowa Employment and Training Consortium (CIETC), Senate Republicans today introduced legislation to improve accountability and transparency in state government.

“The CIETC scandal shined a spotlight on the need for more effective government oversight,” said Sen. Pat Ward (R-West Des Moines), a member of the Joint Oversight Committee that is investigating the CIETC scandal. “This legislation improves accountability and transparency in state government, and strengthens protections for those who blow the whistle on corruption.”

“These needed reforms will help eradicate waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars,” said Sen. Ron Wieck (R-Sioux City), who co-chairs the Joint Government Oversight Committee. “This legislation puts a system in place to prevent another CIETC scandal from occurring.”

The legislation includes the following provisions:

- Improves Accountability in Service Contracts – Requires contractors to submit annual financial reports to the state and meet specified ethical and professional standards regarding nepotism, conflicts of interest and whistleblower policies.

- Enhances Authority to State Auditor – Enhances auditor’s investigative authority, if alerted by a whistleblower to waste, fraud or abuse in state government.

- Strengthens Whistleblower Protection Laws – Creates a whistleblower protection board in the state ombudsman’s office to expedite the investigation of whistleblower complaints and ensure retaliation does not occur.

- Increases Transparency in Intergovernmental Agencies – Requires service agencies formed by local governments under “28E” agreements to have open records and open meetings.

###