Groups spend nearly $195,000 to wine and dine lawmakers
Posted: Wednesday, June 25, 2008
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Well-heeled interest groups, businesses and some government agencies spent nearly $195,000 wining and dining lawmakers and their staffers during this year's legislative session, according to new financial disclosure forms.
Groups ranging from the Iowa State Bar Association and the Greater Des Moines Partnership to Union Pacific spent a total of $194,848 on receptions, dinners and other social events during this year's session, according to reports filed with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board.
The reports showing 86 events held during the 103-day session.
Nearly all groups seeking to be players at the Statehouse made it onto the list.
The Greater Des Moines Partnership was one of the top spenders, shelling out $10,185 for an event at Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino. The Iowa Business Council spent $8,826 entertaining lawmakers, while the Iowa Wholesale Beer Dealers Association sponsored a $9,138 reception.
State ethics and gift laws put a strict limit on the amount that interest groups can spend on individual lawmakers. However, those limits don't apply to events where all legislators are invited, and it appears the groups seeking support at the Statehouse shifted their tactics to the larger events.
The spending during this year's session was down from $212,899 the previous year, largely because this year's session was a couple of weeks shorter. Disclosure reports from last year show 103 separate events.
Some events and their sponsors include:
--The Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce spent $6,584 putting on its annual Dubuque Night at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
--Iowa Gaming Association, representing the gambling industry, spent $5,360 on a reception.
--The Iowa Bankers Association spent $9,821 for its event.
--The Principal Financial Group shelled out $6,359 and Hy-Vee Inc. spent $5,364 on events.
--Union Pacific spent $1,484.
--The Iowa Association of Realtors and the Iowa State Bar Association, both big players at the Statehouse, spent $5,100 and $4,761 respectively.
Disclosure reports for the year ending last June 30 showed that there were 610 groups who paid lobbyists a total of more than $8.5 million to influence lawmakers.
That financial influence was also shown in political action committee disclosures filed this month, with PACs having already given $872,509 to candidates this year.
That number is certain to increase before the next reporting period later this summer, said Charles Smithson, executive director of the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board.
That's because state law bans giving during legislative sessions, and lawmakers were in session during much of the previous period.
The biggest single giver was the PAC representing the largest union representing state workers, which reported $72,750 in contributions.
ActBlue Iowa, tied to the state's Democratic party, reported giving the next largest amount at $70,498, followed by the PAC representing credit unions, which gave $57,898.
Groups ranging from the Iowa State Bar Association and the Greater Des Moines Partnership to Union Pacific spent a total of $194,848 on receptions, dinners and other social events during this year's session, according to reports filed with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board.
The reports showing 86 events held during the 103-day session.
Nearly all groups seeking to be players at the Statehouse made it onto the list.
The Greater Des Moines Partnership was one of the top spenders, shelling out $10,185 for an event at Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino. The Iowa Business Council spent $8,826 entertaining lawmakers, while the Iowa Wholesale Beer Dealers Association sponsored a $9,138 reception.
State ethics and gift laws put a strict limit on the amount that interest groups can spend on individual lawmakers. However, those limits don't apply to events where all legislators are invited, and it appears the groups seeking support at the Statehouse shifted their tactics to the larger events.
The spending during this year's session was down from $212,899 the previous year, largely because this year's session was a couple of weeks shorter. Disclosure reports from last year show 103 separate events.
Some events and their sponsors include:
--The Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce spent $6,584 putting on its annual Dubuque Night at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
--Iowa Gaming Association, representing the gambling industry, spent $5,360 on a reception.
--The Iowa Bankers Association spent $9,821 for its event.
--The Principal Financial Group shelled out $6,359 and Hy-Vee Inc. spent $5,364 on events.
--Union Pacific spent $1,484.
--The Iowa Association of Realtors and the Iowa State Bar Association, both big players at the Statehouse, spent $5,100 and $4,761 respectively.
Disclosure reports for the year ending last June 30 showed that there were 610 groups who paid lobbyists a total of more than $8.5 million to influence lawmakers.
That financial influence was also shown in political action committee disclosures filed this month, with PACs having already given $872,509 to candidates this year.
That number is certain to increase before the next reporting period later this summer, said Charles Smithson, executive director of the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board.
That's because state law bans giving during legislative sessions, and lawmakers were in session during much of the previous period.
The biggest single giver was the PAC representing the largest union representing state workers, which reported $72,750 in contributions.
ActBlue Iowa, tied to the state's Democratic party, reported giving the next largest amount at $70,498, followed by the PAC representing credit unions, which gave $57,898.
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