Co-Founders/Co-Chairs of the Iowa Legislative Law Caucus, Reps. Jon Jacobsen, JD (R-Pottawattamie) and Brian Meyer, JD (D-Polk) this week announced ETHICS PANEL Programs to be offered ongoing to all Iowa legislators, beginning upon Sine Die adjournment.
Jacobsen, House Ethics Chair emeritus, noted: “Nature abhors a vacuum. And there is an ongoing dearth of knowledge among fellow legislators with respect to fiduciary duties of loyalty, avoidance of conflict of interests, due diligence, and compliance governing respective chamber rules generally, and Ethics rules specifically.”
Distinguished members of the Iowa State Bar Association will help lead in developing and providing programming, using both in-person and remote learning. “It’s important to lead as well, by using 21st century technology to enfranchise as many legislators in being able to avail themselves of these opportunities,” added Meyer.
“As a House Ethics Committeeman, my belief is we have an opportunity to awaken the environment around an otherwise dormant House Committee in order to help it realize its great potential,” Jacobsen explained.
“De jure and in this case, de facto bi-partisan legislative committees can be a guide and advisor to help clarify answers to questions often asked by legislators, pertaining to their conduct in House and Senate bodies, especially where ambiguities exist in relation to compliance requisites,” said Jacobsen.
Fellow colleagues sitting in “Lawyer’s Row” in House Chambers, including Representatives Rick Olson, JD (D-Polk), and Mary Wolfe, JD (D-Clinton), already have weighed in favorably on the merits of the project, offering subject matter topical ideas for programs.
Ethics “PANEL” is an acronym meaning—
P-rofessional A-dvisory N-etwork
for E-thics for L-egislators.
