Great catch by Megan Day Suhr, a onetime lobbyist and Democratic candidate for the Iowa House in 2012. Former State Representative Doug Struyk has left his position as chief executive officer to Iowa House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, a job he had held since May 2012.
Suhr noticed that as of this week, Struyk is now registered to lobby Iowa’s executive branch on behalf of about 40 clients. Struyk’s Linked In page lists his current employment as Carney & Appleby, PLC, a firm specializing in personal injury litigation and lobbying.
First elected to the Iowa House as a Democrat in 2002, Struyk switched parties shortly before the 2004 filing deadline for candidates. He was re-elected to the legislature as a Republican three times and retired in 2010. He then served as an adviser and legal counsel to Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz until joining Paulsen’s staff last year. Although he is not registered to lobby the legislative branch, it seems very soon for Struyk to move from a government position to lobbying.
By the way, Struyk’s departure from the Iowa House staff is another hint that Paulsen is planning to run for Congress in the first district.
2 Comments
Two-year cooling off period is pretty limited
Take a look at Code Sec. 68B.5A and 68B.7. The restriction is generally on working on matters that the person was involved in during their state employment. (For example, 68B.7(1): “A person who has served as…[a] legislative employee shall not within a period of two years after the termination of such service or employment receive compensation for any services rendered on behalf of any person, firm, corporation, or association in relation to any case, proceeding, or application with respect to which the person was directly concerned and personally participated during the period of service or employment.”) That means new matters are generally allowed.
However, the bigger question is whether the more restrictive provisions of 68B.5A apply. That is, was Struyk “a legislative employee whose position involves a substantial exercise of administrative discretion” under 68B.5A(5). If so, 68B.5A(5) provides that he “shall not, within two years after termination of employment, become a lobbyist before the agency in which the person was employed or before agencies or officials or employees with whom the person has substantial and regular contact as part of the person’s former duties.” That would limit him primarily in lobbying the legislature, but not necessarily the executive branch, which he presumably would have had limited contact with in his legislative position.
I seem to remember years ago that there was a controversy when former Senate Majority Leader Rife’s AA left to lobby. I think I remember that Senate Ethics met on the issue, but that she was allowed to lobby (don’t remember the details, however). I don’t think other AA’s who have left to lobby have been the subject of any proceedings.
x Fri 19 Jul 3:11 PM
I assume it's legal
since he is only registered to lobby the executive branch. Though he did work in the executive branch (Secretary of State’s office) until the spring of 2012, I assume he’s not going to be lobbying Matt Schultz.
Thanks for that background–I did not know about the story with the former Senate majority leader’s administrative assistant.
desmoinesdem Fri 19 Jul 4:09 PM