We don't need Iowa DOGE, we already have a state auditor
A Letter From Iowan Gordie Felger
Letters From Iowans is a part of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. We encourage you, our subscribers, to share your perspective in this column. To make your voice heard, use this form to send us your essay:
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds created the Iowa DOGE task force by executive order. The so-called federal Department of Government Efficiency inspired Iowa’s task force. Reynolds’ goals include “maximizing return on taxpayer investment, further refining our workforce and job training programs and leveraging technology.” Iowa DOGE will comprise 15 to 20 appointed business leaders.
But wait. Doesn’t Iowa already have an office devoted to government efficiency? Why, yes, it does. It’s the state auditor’s Office headed by Rob Sand.
Sand implemented a voluntary program called Public Innovations & Efficiencies (PIE) in 2019. He said about 500 government entities adopted PIE. They include 75 percent of Iowa's counties, plus cities, school districts, and even government organizations in two other states. The program comes with a literal checklist of money-saving suggestions.
Sand said he welcomes Iowa DOGE if its members are unpaid volunteers and they support the existing PIE program.
A cooperative partnership between the task force and the Auditor’s Office could benefit Iowa taxpayers. But given Reynolds’ relationship with the current auditor, cooperation seems unlikely. In 2023, Reynolds signed a law limiting the auditor’s access to government records. Now she’s blocking Sand's audit of her private school voucher program. These restrictions hinder the job we elected Sand to do. What’s Gov. Reynolds hiding?
So, will these unelected task force members work with the auditor? Will they donate their time? If not, then that’s a duplication of effort paid for with our tax dollars.
And that’s the opposite of government efficiency.
Gordie Felger
Hiawatha, Iowa
This originally appeared on Felger’s Substack, wtfiowa.substack.com.
Letters From Iowans is a part of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. We encourage you, our subscribers, to share your perspective in this column. To make your voice heard, use this form to send us your essay:
Iowa Writers Collaborative Roundup homepage and writer listing
Hey Iowa, stop electing idiotic Republicans and maybe you won’t have so much to complain about.
A neighbor
Absolutely correct, thank you. Now, what’s this $50,000 state grant to promote and market a kick boxing fight all about? Oh, that’s right, a tribute from our administration to fearless leader.