Des Moines, Iowa — Key lawmakers in the Iowa House are working on changes in a Senate bill that would let state agencies refuse to release information to the state auditor’s office.
Representative Michael Bergan, a Republican from Dorchester who’s an accountant, says the bill as currently written could endanger federal funding for state government agencies.
A lobbyist for the Iowa Society of Certified Public Accountants says the bill would also impact the ability of private CPAs to conduct audits of Iowa cities and counties. The bill is scheduled for debate in a House Committee Thursday. The Republican who led debate of the bill in the Senate says it would protect the private of things like income tax returns, while letting the state auditor’s office have access to information that’s relevant for an audit. Representative Amy Nielsen, a Democrat from North Liberty, says Republicans are trying to limit the authority of State Auditor Rob Sand, the only Democrat holding statewide office.
Representative Bobby Kaufmann, a Republican from Wilton, replied.
State Auditor Rob Sand says Kaufmann and other House members are giving officials from his office an opportunity to have input on proposed changes in the bill and he hopes they can come up with an alternative that’s reasonable. Sand has said the Senate-passed legislation would limit the ability of his office to investigate allegations of waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer money.
