Iowa ethics board director backs gift reporting

Published On: Jan 24 2013 03:03:12 PM CST
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -

The head of Iowa's state ethics board wants to increase the oversight of gifts made to some state employees.

Megan Tooker, executive director of the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, on Thursday told a Senate panel she supported requiring that employees in the executive branch of government report gifts worth more than $100.

State law sets limits on the gifts that public workers can accept, such as allowing travel reimbursement for a conference or a $3 lunch. But there is no requirement that employees report those gifts to the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board for review.

Tooker says the information would make the process more transparent to the public. The Senate subcommittee approved the bill.

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