The way Iowa Code is written, Rastetter is not technically in violation (in my opinion). http://www.bleedingheartland.com/diary/4924/brent-rastetter-target-of-ethics-complaint I agree that he doesn't belong on the EPC (neither does Dolores Mertz), but governors appoint high-dollar donors to state commissions all the time. It will be very hard to prove that Rastetter derives a specific financial benefit from any of his votes. ________________________________ From: gerald neff <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2011 7:25 PM Subject: Re: Today DM Register--Thanks Jim! What is really an open and shut case is some way not. I don't understand how this can be debatable. A great letter. Thanks Jim. Jerry ----- Original Message ----- From: Phyllis Mains <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Sent: Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:15:59 -0600 (CST) Subject: Today DM Register--Thanks Jim! Rastetter's clean-water vote was a clear conflict Brent Rastetter gave $31,000 to the Branstad for Governor campaign. The owner of a multimillion dollar firm that constructs factory farms was rewarded by our governor with an appointment to the Environmental Protection Commission, whose duty is to protect Iowa’s environment. In June Rastetter voted to discard rules to bring Iowa into compliance with the Federal Clean Water Act. This vote was in his interest as a builder of confinement agriculture buildings rather than assuring Iowa citizens clean drinking water. The Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement filed a complaint against Rastetter with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board who listened to arguments, discussed the situation in closed session and then voted to disallow the complaint, ruling that Rastetter did not profit specifically from his vote. Rastetter’s vote allowed more confinement agriculture buildings to be built. It follows that his vote opened more business opportunities for him. Thus Rastetter was remunerated as a result of his vote. It was clearly a conflict of interest. The board did not consider the profit he made because of his vote in June and it should reconsider its action and ask Rastetter to resign from the Environmental Protection Commission. — Jim Riggs, Urbandale - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp