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After Sorenson case, lawmakers back ethics rules

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August 31st, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa legislative leaders don’t plan to change ethics rules for political work after a former state senator admitted to lying about receiving payments to switch his support from one Republican presidential candidate to another. The U.S. Department of Justice announced last week that former Sen. Kent Sorenson pleaded guilty to receiving thousands of dollars in “under the table payments” from a 2012 presidential campaign and lying about the money.

State Senate rules forbid sitting lawmakers from being paid by a campaign while in office. Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, a Democrat from Council Bluffs, says in Sorenson’s case, the Senate oversight process worked In the House, lawmakers can accept paid political work but must disclose the income. House Speaker Kraig Paulsen says there are no plans to change the rules.