(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House Ethics Committee has unanimously dismissed a complaint against two state representatives who are also state troopers. Cameron Stotz of Waukee filed the complaint, alleging it was a conflict of interest for the lawmakers to vote for a bill that would set the pay grades for troopers and other employees in the Iowa Department of Public Safety. Republican Representative Bill Gustoff of Des Moines is chairman of the Ethics Committee. “It would lead to no teachers could vote on education funding bills in this chamber,” Gustoff said, “and we think that’s absurd.” Gustoff says
unless a bill applies specifically to a job or a legislator’s specific investment, House rules allow members to vote on issues that may affect their employment.

Gustoff says he wishes the committee could fine Stotz for making a frivolous complaint. “I looked at it, dug into it and the legislature and its Ethics Committees don’t exist to pursue personal vendettas,” Gustoff said. “That’s kind of what looks like what happened here. Somebody got a tiket and wasn’t happy about it.” Republican Representative Joshua Meggers — one of the troopers named in the complaint — ticketed Stotz for speeding two summers ago. Meggers says Stotz has been trying to get him into trouble since then and has gone so far as to erroneously accuse him of driving his patrol vehicle back and forth to the Capitol during session — and getting a mileage reimbursement for that travel.

The other trooper named in the dismissed complaint was Republican Representative Zach Dieken of Granville.