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DES MOINES, Iowa House Democrats on Monday called for expanding the Legislatures probe into alleged improprieties by the Branstad administration, including the authorization to call witnesses, administer oaths, issue subpoenas, make contempt cites and hire an independent investigator if need be.

Rep. Ruth Ann Gaines, D-Des Moines, a member of the House Government Oversight Committee, said the independent legal counsel was be asked to make recommendations for legislative action or prosecution as the probe unfolded.

Gaines, flanked by 10 House Democrats, said representatives will file a resolution directing the Legislatures Government Oversight Committee to expand its investigation looking into allegations of secret hush money payments included in confidential employee settlements, the closing of the Iowa Juvenile Home, the compiling of do not hire state employee data bases, and misconduct at Iowa Workforce Development.

We can no longer count on the Branstad administration to provide accurate or timely information to lawmakers or the general public when allegations of misconduct arise, Gaines told a Statehouse news conference. We feel its time for the Legislature to investigate, get to the bottom of these scandals, and restore faith in our state government.

Branstad dismissed the Democrats contentions as partisan politics at a time when lawmakers should be focusing on the priorities they need to address before adjourning the 2014 session later this month. This sounds like partisanship at its worst, Branstad told his weekly news conference. What we really need to do is try to improve public policy instead of making all of these accusations using all these charged words. They ought to be sitting down and working with us.

If approved by the Iowa House, the House Oversight Committee would be authorized to call witnesses, administer oaths, and issue subpoenas. It also gives the committee power to hire independent legal counsel that would make recommendations for legislative action or prosecution.

The people of Iowa deserve an unbiased, full investigation into hush money paid to state workers who were dismissed from their jobs, including firing and hiring practices as well as bonuses, added Oversight Committee member Rep. Curt Hanson, D-Fairfield.

House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, the leader of the House Republicans who hold a 53-47 majority, said if minority House Democrats were serious about bringing more transparency to the oversight process, they would have supported House File 2462, which he said goes a long way to answering the question as to why these settlements occurred in the first place. Their resolution accomplishes nothing. It is simply a new act in the Democrats political theater.

However, Gaines called the House bill cover-up legislation and Rep. Vicki Lensing, D-Iowa City, who served on the Government Oversight Committee through investigations like the Iowa Film Office, Iowa Association of School Boards, and Central Iowa Employment and Training Consortium (CIETC), said lawmakers are tasked with finding the facts, getting to the truth and protecting taxpayers interests regardless of politic parties or partisan considerations.

Last week Paulsen and Senate GOP Leader Bill Dix of Shell Rock told reporters they are concerned Democrats are trying to use the committee format as a platform to promote Sen. Jack Hatchs gubernatorial campaign.

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Legislative Democrats Try to Widen Investigation of Branstad