The Greiner Report by Sen. Sandra Greiner

Session report for week 16

As the 2012 Legislative Session grinds on, we are desperately in need of Monty Hall to bring the House and Senate conferees together for an adult version of ?Let?s Make a Deal.?

Anything I would tell you today regarding the progress being made in the negotiations could be totally wrong within 24 hours.

Policy bills are being passed as we sit and patiently wait for agreements to be reached between the House Republicans, the Senate Democrats and the governor?s office.

On Monday, the Iowa Senate unanimously approved a bill to establish an agency that will help mediate disputes between government entities and citizens that seek to gain information to help the public understand what goes on within their own government.

For many years advocates have said that Iowa?s open records and meetings laws had a lack of enforcement. The bill essentially ends a six-year difference of opinion between those who felt having a new agency was too costly and burdensome, and advocates that believed the agency was necessary.

Making sure that public meetings and public records are open and available to all Iowans is the core belief that keeps our representative government strong and viable.

There have been some disputes from individuals that sought certain records and even spent money on legal disputes that discourage some Iowans from getting information.

The state ombudsman?s office, an investigative agency with no enforcement power, indicated it had an average of 285 contacts per year on potential violations of open records and open meetings. In fact, current law allows local city and county attorneys, including the Iowa Attorney General?s office, the ability to prosecute alleged violators, but only one county attorney has prosecuted in the last 10 years.

The governor?s office, legislative and judicial branches are exempt from the bill.  The bill sets up a nine-member public information board with members being appointed by Sept.1 and an executive director being named by July 1, 2013 to enforce the open meetings and open records provisions in State Code. In addition, the board will be in place to assist local and state officials with education and understanding of their responsibilities.

The end result of this legislation is to ensure that all Iowans are able to participate in the process and that information is open to the general public. This legislation is good for the citizens of Iowa.

All Iowans believe that government closest to the people will be the most open and transparent to the people. In Iowa we have a long tradition of open government and public servants that listen intently to the very people that they represent. We also are fortunate to have dedicated local officials and employees that make every effort to do the right thing.

The computer glitches we have been experiencing at the Capitol appear to be resolved. If you sent me an email message and did not receive a reply, please consider resending it.

(Sandra Greiner represents Senate District 45. She writes a weekly column during the legislative session and can be reached by email at sandra.greiner@legis.iowa.gov. Mail addressed to Greiner can be sent to Iowa Senate, State Capitol, Des Moines 50319.)