$235,000 Spent on Entertaining Lawmakers

From the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure office:

2009 LEGISLATIVE SESSION FUNCTION TOTALS RELEASED

The Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board has posted on its Web site reports filed by sponsors of functions held during the 2009 legislative session and the total amount of money spent on these functions.

The total amount reported as being spent on the functions was $ 235,828.55. Reports were filed for 90 functions held during the session. Reports disclose the amount of food, beverage, and entertainment spent at the functions regardless of the number of people who attend. The $3.00 gift limit in the state's code of ethics does not apply to government officials and employees when attending these types of functions.

“This is the only exception for gifts directly received by state officials and employees that includes public disclosure,” said Charlie Smithson, the Board's Executive Director. “These reports show that the political economy in Iowa remains robust.”

The reports may be found on the Board's Web site at: http://www.iowa.gov/ethics/viewreports/2009session_reports.htm

UPDATE -- Iowa Independent

has a list of the Top 10 priciest receptions. Realtors and the Iowa Farm Bureau lead the list.