If our tax dollars go to nonprofit organizations that are formed and ran by government, it makes sense that those particular non-profits should be subjected to the transparency we all expect from governmental bodies.
During the 2010 session of Iowa’s General Assembly, Rep. Geri Huser (D-Altoona) introduced an amendment to the Education Appropriations bill, which was intended to have nonprofit organizations that are run by government entities subject to the Iowa Open Meeting and Public Records laws. The amendment, H-8533 to Senate File 2376, was adopted 98-0 by the House on March 22. It was taken out of the bill by a Senate amendment on a party-line vote 29-18 on March 25. Unfortunately, the concept was incorporated into the final bill, but only as it pertains to reporting requirements of local school boards to the Iowa Association of School Boards.
The idea of having non-profit organizations that are ran by government entities to be open to public scrutiny was a hot topic in March. The Iowa Association of School Boards was being turned inside out by several critics, including, but not limited to the Des Moines Register, the Legislative Oversight Committee, and many individual legislators and other elected officials.
Representative Huser should be commended for her leadership on this issue. It’s not just the IASB that needed oversight; all Section 501(c)(3) organizations that are funded wholly, or in large part by government entities or by government employees, need to have a watchdog overlooking their actions. If it’s happened once, it can happen again.
Several government nonprofits conduct business as though they are private organizations. The Iowa County Attorneys Association, the Iowa State County Treasurers Association, the Iowa League of Cities, and the Iowa State Association of Assessors are just a few examples of government-funded nonprofits that have links for “members only”.
Shouldn’t the Iowa Legislature consider enacting legislation that prevents all government nonprofits from running off course? Shouldn’t there be openness in organizational structure that is funded with all or part of taxpayers’ dollars? Send a message to candidates this fall. Ask them if they will protect our interests in providing transparency beyond the normal means of access.
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