GOP looks to slash spending, criticizes bus rental by Rebuild Iowa Office

DES MOINES - GOP lawmakers launched an offensive against wasteful government spending Wednesday, complaining the state's Rebuild Iowa Office spent $1,400 per day for buses while passenger vans in the state's fleet sat unused.

The office is charged with coordinating the state's rebuilding efforts after historic flooding last year.

Rep. Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City, said the state vehicle fleet could have been used without cost.

RIO already has come under fire after spending $19,000 for new office carpeting. Rants circulated invoices showing RIO paid Empire Limousine of Chicago for buses in July, August and September.

"I would suggest to you that that is not a very good use of the taxpayer's dollars," Rants said, arguing that lawmakers should "jerk those purse strings closed."

Tina Potthoff, a spokeswoman with the Rebuild Iowa Office, said the buses were used for tours of flood-affected parts of the state and will be reimbursed with federal dollars. She estimated dozens of people were on the tour and said passengers included members of the Rebuild Iowa Advisory Committee, RIO staff, legislators, city officials and members of the media.

Speakers narrated the disaster tours, which was easier to do on a bus than separate vans, she said.

The fact that federal dollars ultimately will pay for the tour did little to satisfy Rants.

"It's still taxpayers' dollars. It's still Iowans paying taxes, and we're wasting it," Rants said.

Republicans offered a slew of amendments Wednesday meant to slash spending on funding bills. Most of their money-saving proposals were rejected by majority Democrats.

Rep. Jason Schultz, R-Schleswig, offered a failed amendment that would stop the state from reimbursing state employees for cell phones and PDAs unless their duties took them away from a fixed location more than 70 percent of the time.

Rep. Dave Jacoby, D-Coralville, argued state department directors should have discretion and that state employees needed efficient ways to communicate.

Rep. Nick Wagner, R-Marion, offered an amendment to reduce spending on office supplies by 50 percent for agencies included in an economic development bill.

He noted that the Iowa Workforce Development was estimated to spend $1.3 million in 2009 for office supplies.

"Either we're not spending the money on office supplies or we're going through the roof and buying all kinds of pens and pencils and paper because we're stocking up for the end of the world," Wagner said. His amendment was rejected.

Rep. Chuck Soderberg, R-Le Mars, was successful in getting House colleagues to adopt his proposal requiring employees to submit receipts for meals and other expenses they submit for reimbursement.