Recently, in a call for campaign and finance reform, groups have drawn attention to Iowa’s gift law.

Iowa’s gift laws for legislators state that no group is allowed to give any single legislator a gift worth more than $3 in a single day. However, if the gift is given to every legislator, it may exceed this $3 limit. In other words, if a lobbying group wants to provide lunch on its lobbying day, it must extend the invitation to all legislators and not just a select few.

This law came about after an incident in 1986 where 25 legislators attended a birthday party thrown by a lobbying group. At this party, a legislator engaged in oral sex with a female dancer and then pleaded guilty in 1987 to a criminal charge in conjunction with the event.

While the new gift laws would seem to successfully discourage events like this from happening, they still come with their share of problems given the loophole of lobbying groups being allowed to spend more than the $3 limit if every legislator is invited.

For instance, legislators are still invited nightly to somewhat lavish events that boast open bars and endless buffets. A few years ago, a legislator was arrested on a charge of a DUI after attending one such event. In addition, every year, underage clerks partake in these events (specifically open bars) at the invitation of their bosses. While there have been few DUI arrests made public after these events, there are most certainly numerous people — both underage and of age — driving under the influence of free alcohol from lobbyists.

I have witnessed legislators discussing which group throws the best event and discussing what will be served and where. Venues range from the State Historical Building to hotels downtown. Now, don’t get me wrong, I know that many of these legislators work very hard at their positions. However, I find it rather discouraging that, considering the abbreviated time that Iowa legislators are in session, they spend many of their evenings at these events when they can’t even make a balanced budget.

Speaking as a student lobbyist who spent three years attempting to get legislators to listen to the things I had to say, I know it is extremely difficult to get a legislator’s attention. The promise of free food will often entice the legislators to at least devote a moment of their time to your cause. Even then, sometimes the clerk just comes and picks up the food for their boss and you are left with no one who cares to listen to your case.

So where can we find a balance? In comparison to other states, Iowa’s $3 limit is very strict. For instance, Illinois allows groups to spend up to $75 per legislator per day on food and drinks. However, for groups that can’t afford to buy the entire 150-member legislature lunch, legislators are left with little reason to attend their events and hear out what they have to say, even if it is an important issue.

In addition, if the food is served on the rotunda of the capitol, groups are not allowed to turn down food service to anyone that asks. This leaves the lunch open to clerks, random capitol employees and the general public, making it even more difficult for groups to get face time with legislators when they run out of food before they even know it and we continue to see the widening gap between groups. 

As far-fetched as it is, the change needs to start with lobbying groups and be accepted by legislators. Lobbying groups that already gained good reputations need to work on forming personal relationships that do not revolve around the quality of food and drink they serve at their events, and legislators need to change their expectations of these groups.