Lawmakers Stunned by Their Lack of Attention

The Des Moines Register's Jason Clayworth covered the Legislature's Oversight Committee on Monday. Members are shocked that state departments have been failing to enforce all the laws of our land.

The lede:

A string of recent audits shows state agencies are failing to implement or fully enforce dozens of Iowa laws - a situation some lawmakers say has raised concerns about public safety.

Some examples: Food inspections are being delayed for months beyond what state law requires. A state lab that was to examine animal nutrient products has never been formed. And an agrichemical remediation board was never established.

Some of the laws are outdated or unnecessary because other areas of government have taken over the duties, state department officials said.

Some areas, like food inspections, are critical to human health. Agency officials attribute delays or inaction in those areas largely to a lack of resources.

Lawmakers from both parties say they want a "comprehensive analysis."

Now, I'm not in favor of any department slacking off its enforcement duties, especially when it comes to safety. Bureaucrats who cut corners should clearly be held accountable. Laws are laws.

But I have to chuckle at these surprised lawmakers.

For one thing, we already have a "comprehensive review." It's called the annual legislative budget process. And it's the main reason we send lawmakers to Des Moines, to dig in and craft a responsible budget matching our tax dollars with our state's needs. We expect it to be very intensive and comprehensive.

Every year, department leaders and other officials troop to the Capitol to explain their budget needs and to warn lawmakers what will happen if they don't get the bucks they're seeking. Services will be curtailed, waiting lists will form and, yes, enforcement duties spelled out in the Iowa Code may not be done as fast or as often as the law dictates.

A lot of lawmakers see this as just a bunch of whining by money grubbing apparatchiks bent on fleecing taxpayers. In fact , several Republican candidates this year  have called for banning state employees from lobbying the Legislature, so they don't have to listen to it.

But low and behold, the watchdogging GOP state auditor issues a report suggesting that  these begging bureaucrats may have been telling some truth. And now lawmakers are all concerned and want a comprehensive review and insist they simply had no idea.

Maybe the audit will lead to a real comprehensive review. That would be a good thing. Or maybe it will be like all the other shocking "revelations" that eventually lead to very heavy hyperbole and very light lawmaking.

We shall see.

But once again, we find out that our lawmakers are interested in intensive oversight only when politics gives them a good shove. It's good for the news business, but I'm not sure t's so great for the state.