DES MOINES, Iowa — Jeremy Horpedahl knows most people find the tax code to be complicated, boring and hard to understand. He also knows the tax code is so complicated because it is boring and hard to understand. “Most people don’t have the time or interest to examine the issues.
Read More →DES MOINES, Iowa — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is sure the U.S. Department of Agriculture is doing a great job fighting fraud committed by people receiving benefits in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Wendy Dishman disagrees. Dishman is the administrator of the Investigative Division of the Iowa Department of Inspections
Read More →WASHINGTON, D.C. — Responding to Watchdog.org’s report that the U.S. has lost track of 58,000 foreign students holding expired visas, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley proposed legislation to tighten security. But, once again, partisan politics stand in the way. Grassley, R-Iowa, introduced the Student Visa Integrity Act to help reduce fraud and abuse
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Posted September 08, 2014in Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES, Iowa — If all the claims for payment Jennifer Meyer submitted while working for the Office of the State Public Defender are accurate, then she’s the hardest working attorney in Iowa. According to a new report from the Office of State Auditor, Meyer billed the state on 30
Read More →DES MOINES, Iowa — The only reason Iowa Workforce Development hasn’t been telling the truth about the extra unemployment benefits it paid out in March is because it believes in the honesty of Iowans. Because 85 people contacted the agency to report receiving extra unemployment benefits, IWD has claimed the computer
Read More →DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa Workforce Development may have trouble managing money, but at least its management understands the importance of politeness. In early March, the agency, which oversees unemployment claims in the state, issued unemployment benefits to 85 people who didn’t ask for them. According to a March 13 email sent
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Posted August 20, 2014in Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES, Iowa — If Dennis Pagel had taken a box of school supplies while working as a teacher at Dallas-Center Grimes Middle School, he could have gotten in serious trouble. Luckily for Pagel, he just showed up for work drunk and on OxyContin. For lighting up a breath test at three times
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Posted August 15, 2014in Iowa Watchdog
INDIANOLA, Iowa — Jason Dinesen smiled politely and shook his head when asked about a new bill in the U.S. Senate that aims to improve how the IRS handles cases of identity theft by assigning one agent to deal with each individual case. “I’m skeptical about the bill. Having an
Read More →OMAHA, Neb. — In an office building near Omaha’s airport, stern-faced, gray-haired Immigration Judge Jack Anderson presides over removal hearings Tuesday in a courtroom filled with juveniles, most of them from Central America, all of them hoping to be allowed to stay in the United States. Josue, 13, sits in the
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Posted August 12, 2014in Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES, Iowa — Kayden’s Law seemed like a “no-brainer” when it was passed in 2012. Named for a 7-year-old girl who was killed in 2011 by a speeding motorist, the law imposed mandatory penalties for anyone not stopping at least 150 feet from a school bus when the bus’
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