• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
The Iowa Torch
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
The Iowa Torch
The Iowa Torch
No Result
View All Result
Home State Government

Reynolds Sued Over Unfulfilled Records Requests

Two journalists and one open records advocacy group have sued Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, saying her office has violated open records laws.

Mary StrokabyMary Stroka
December 22, 2021
in State Government
Reading Time: 2 mins read
Reynolds Extends Regulatory Relief for COVID-19 Recovery

Gov. Kim Reynolds speaks with reporters at the Iowa State Capitol on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.

(The Center Square) –  Two journalists and one open records advocacy group have sued Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, saying her office has violated open records laws.

RELATED POSTS

School restroom bill heads to Reynolds’ desk

Iowa House sends government reorganization bill to Reynolds’ desk

Regents Board President pauses new DEI programs at Iowa’s public universities

Bleeding Heartland writer Laura Belin, Iowa Freedom of Information Council Executive Director Randy Evans and Iowa Capital Dispatch reporter Clark Kauffman are listed as plaintiffs in the case. The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa is representing them and their respective organizations in the case, it announced in a news release. They are asking the court to order the office to provide the news organizations the requested records and complies with future requests “in a timely manner.”

The organizations have repeatedly requested the information and either received no response or acknowledgement of the request. They additionally never received the records requested, despite follow-up inquiries. Some requests date back to April 2020.

“The Governor’s office’s handling of public records requests since the beginning of the pandemic has demonstrated a persistent pattern of just ignoring them,” ACLU of Iowa Legal Director Rita Bettis Austen said in the release. “The Governor is not exempt from the law. The public’s need for robust reporting about our government is greater than ever. We count on reporters every day to shine a light on public officials. We are proud to represent our clients in their efforts to enforce their right to public records, so that in turn, they can do their job of informing the public.”

Requests from the plaintiffs include those regarding the deployment of Iowa State Patrol employees to assist Texas with border security, the auction of a dinner with the governor at Terrace Hill to benefit the Des Moines Christian School, and the termination of the former director of the Iowa Veterans Home, the release said.

Bettis Austen, ACLU legal director, said in the release that the plaintiffs have been patient with Reynolds’ office, keeping in mind the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s been too long.

“Unfortunately, the Governor’s office continued to unreasonably flout the law, which requires that records be provided in a reasonable period of time,” she said. “But we’re long past the point when a delay might be considered reasonable. At this point, the delays are beyond the pale. Our clients would have much preferred the Governor’s office follow the law than have to take this legal action just to be able to get the information they need to do their job to cover matters of high public interest in these demanding times.”

The governor’s spokesman said Reynold’s office is continuing to process the “considerable increase” in open records requests that it received during the pandemic and is therefore changing its open records system.

Reynolds’ Communications Director Alex Murphy told Capitol reporters open records requests should be sent to records@governor.iowa.gov. He said outstanding requests would receive a status notification email from the address.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We will not comment further on this pending litigation,” Murphy told The Center Square in an emailed statement Monday.

ACLU of Iowa Communications Director Veronica Fowler told The Center Square in a phone interview Monday that no court date has yet been set and that, to her knowledge, the complaint had not yet been stamped by the Polk County District Court clerk.

“We’re just in a holding pattern right now,” Fowler said.

Tags: ACLU of IowaAlex MurphyClark KaufmannKim ReynoldsLaura BelinOpen Records LawRandy EvansRita Bettis AustinVeronica Fowler
ShareTweetShare
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Iowa Senate Democrats Propose Constitutional Amendment Legalizing Marijuana

Next Post

A Look at the Iowa 3rd Congressional District Race Heading Into 2022

Mary Stroka

Mary Stroka

Mary Stoka is a freelance writer, editor, journalist, and public relations professional who lives in Chicago, Ill.

Related Posts

white tiled wall with men s restroom sign
State Government

School restroom bill heads to Reynolds’ desk

March 20, 2023
State Government

Iowa House sends government reorganization bill to Reynolds’ desk

March 16, 2023
people running during daytime
Opinion

Ernst: For our daughters.

March 13, 2023
Reynolds appoints Chad Aldis to head Iowa Dept. of Education
Education

Reynolds appoints Chad Aldis to head Iowa Dept. of Education

March 9, 2023
State Government

Iowa Senate passes government reorganization bill

March 8, 2023
State Government

State of Iowa selects Odyssey to administer Education Savings Accounts program

March 1, 2023
Next Post
A Look at the Iowa 3rd Congressional District Race Heading Into 2022

A Look at the Iowa 3rd Congressional District Race Heading Into 2022

Hendrickson & Broughel: Iowa's High Regulatory Burden
, the State's Forgotten Tax

Sign-Up For Our Daily Updates

Get The Iowa Torch right in your inbox!

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Recommended Articles

Miller-Meeks Asks If Feds Are Prepared to Support States, Cities Fight Cyber-Attacks

Miller-Meeks Encourages Vaccines

July 23, 2021
Axne Elected to Represent Midwest in House Democrat Leadership Team

Axne Appointed to the House Agriculture Committee for 117th Congress

January 15, 2021
Iowa House Committee Passes Bill Eliminating Tenure at Regent Universities

Iowa House Appropriations Committee Debates Over Funding for Regent Universities

April 12, 2021

Popular Stories

  • Iowa’s New Unemployment Rate Holds Steady, Overall Rates Rise

    Horn: It’s time for employers get serious about Iowa’s untapped workforce

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • School restroom bill heads to Reynolds’ desk

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Ernst: Biden’s WOTUS whiplash.

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Regents Board President pauses new DEI programs at Iowa’s public universities

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Iowa House sends government reorganization bill to Reynolds’ desk

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

The Iowa Torch

The Iowa Torch​ is a for-profit, news organization that focuses on political news as it relates to Iowans

Categories

  • Education
  • Federal Government
  • Iowa History
  • Local Government
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • State Government
  • Uncategorized
  • Uncategorized

Newsletter

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.