Gronstal questions plan to charge for requests

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DES MOINES — A state Senate leader questioned a new policy of charging lawyer fees for public record requests, but Gov. Chet Culver defended the decision.

The Legislature will examine the policy, designed to discourage time-consuming requests by reporters and the public under Iowa’s open records law, said Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal on Wednesday.

Open record advocates have said they worry the new policy will institute a costly barrier to openness throughout state government.

‘‘I’m not a fan of fees that make it more expensive for people’’ to obtain public records, Gronstal said at a meeting with Des Moines Register reporters and editors.

Culver’s legal counsel confirmed this week it had told agencies they could charge for the time lawyers spend examining documents for confidential information.

The governor said at a news conference Wednesday that such a policy makes sense.

‘‘What we’re asking to be compensated for, and what the law clearly allows for, is to be compensated if it takes a staff member or an entire department five, 10, 15, 20, 100 hours of state time at taxpayers’ expense,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s very reasonable.’’

The attorney general’s office has decided that the governor’s policy is legal.

Still, Iowa ombudsman Bill Angrick said he will study the matter.

‘‘Our research is only beginning on this subject, but ... from our perspective, it appears Iowa might be going against the grain of what is occurring elsewhere.’’

Despite his support for government openness, Gronstal and other Democratic leaders who met with the Register rejected a proposal by Republicans to make more of the Legislature’s meetings and records open to the public.

Gronstal, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Speaker Pat Murphy said private caucus meetings are essential to the legislative process.