The Reynolds administration is the least transparent in 30 years

Kathie Obradovich
August 9, 2021 8:00 am



In my years as a journalist in Iowa, I’ve covered five gubernatorial administrations. (Only four governors, because Gov. Terry Branstad served twice.) I can say without hesitation that Gov. Kim Reynolds’ administration has been the absolute worst in terms of secrecy and outright denial of public access to information.

Here are just a few recent headlines:

As COVID-19 infections rise, public reporting of data decreases

State panel tables open-records complaints against public health agency

State agencies keep two sets of inspectors’ reports — one public, one confidential

IWD: Agency director isn’t the ‘custodian’ of her own text messages

Just last week, Iowa Capital Dispatch Deputy Editor Clark Kauffman reported that the governor’s office ignored public records requests related to the firing of the head of the Iowa Veterans Home. Among documents obtained elsewhere by Iowa Capital Dispatch were a series of thank-you notes former Commandant Timon Oujiri had written to the governor and chief of staff for “raises.” Two years after the first note, he was fired for receiving overpayments.

The Iowa Capital Dispatch isn’t the only media organization having trouble with access to government information. Reporters from the Gazette and Des Moines Register, as well as Kauffman and blogger Laura Belin, detailed issues with access to public information during a reporters’ roundtable discussion hosted by Iowa Public Radio. Belin, who writes the progressive Bleeding Heartland blog, has been barred from news conferences despite qualifying for media credentials under the Iowa Legislature’s rules due to her work for KHOI radio.

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