A state audit has found that thousands of dollars in fees paid to the state for birth certificates cannot be found, and a state clerk is under investigation. The missing money was paid to the Department of Public Health between July 1st, 2001 and February 29th of last year. “Obviously, we are deeply concerned in regards to the allegations of misappropriations and as we look at it and as you re-look at the auditor’s report, we do believe that it was stolen,” says Janet Zwick, a top administration in the Iowa Department of Public Health. A department employee was “terminated” because of the theft, according to Zwick. Patricia Burgett was fired in March of last year after she admitted to investigators that she had not deposited about $1400 in birth certificate fees. The Audit found $132,515 under her control had not been deposited. The scheme came to the attention of state workers when a parent called to say they had received their child’s birth certificate, but their check had not yet been cashed. “We did immediately investigate and we asked both the Department of Criminal Investigation as well as the Auditor to come in and investigate,” she says. Copies of the Auditor’s report have been filed with the Polk County Attorney and the Iowa Attorney General’s office. Iowans used to pay 10 dollars for a birth certificate. On July 1st, 2003, the fee was raised to 15 dollars.

Iowa’s Chet Culver was among four secretaries of state called to Washington today to testify before a congressional oversight committee on election reform. Culver told the committee Iowa’s making good progress implementing the “Help America Vote Act.” He says Iowa is leading the nation in implementing these important election-reform measures, and thinks by 2006 when it’s all done Iowa will be a model the nation can look to for how election administration shojuld be conducted. Culver says Iowa has good news to share with the lawmakers in Washington who voted to send states money for upgrading their election equipment. It’s the first time since 1789, he says, that the federal government’s helped states with election administration funding. Culver says it’ll make Iowa’s good practices “the very best.” Chet says Iowa’s participation rate in voting makes it a good test state for updating voting technology. He says 95-percent of eligible Iowans were registered and we had a 75-percent voter turnout in 2004, both all-time records. Culver says getting modern voting machines lets local officials make unprecedented improvements in voter access. He says it may be the most important piece of civil-rights and voting-rights legislation since the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Culver says the program’s going to help counties pay up to 90-percent of the cost of new voting technology. The election-reform plan’s on his agency’s website — www.sos.state.ia.us.

The Iowa Legislature today honored one of its own who just returned from active duty in Iraq. Republican State Senator Chuck Larson, Junior, of Cedar Rapids and his Army Reserve unit were sent to Iraq in February of last year. “Ladies and gentlemen, I cannot tell how good it feels to be back with you and to be breathing the fresh air of freedom that we have in this great state,” Larson told his Senate colleagues. Senate Co-Leader Stewart Iverson, a republican from Dows, paid tribute to Larson and the 53 other soldiers in the unit today during a statehouse ceremony. “We thank your families for their continued support and most importantly, we thank you for what you have done to protect our freedoms,” Iverson said. Senate Co-Leader Mike Gronstal, a democrat from Council Bluffs, joined Iverson in welcoming the troops home. “Thank you for your service to our country. We rejoice in your safe return,” Gronstal said. “Our hearts and prayers are both with the folks (who) are still there and we pray for their safe return and our prayers are with the families (who) have lost loved ones.” Larson’s unit — an engineering group — built 12 schools, three city halls and two water treatment facilities and renovated an electrical grid. The unit’s commander, Colonel Gary Braddock, says it was a “profound” experience. “We’ve electrified villages. We’ve built women’s clinics, veterinary clinics. We’ve made it happen, but most importantly, through your support, you have aided us in allowing them to give them an opportunity to seek a destiny,” Braddock says. “We’ve done a lot. There’s a lot to do. Stay the course; don’t give up the ship because there’s a lot left to do besides this.” State Senator Larson is an attorney in the Army Reserve — a JAG — and he will return to his job as a legislator next week. “Senator Larson, on Monday you will be expected to wear a tie,” Senator Gronstal joked. Senate rules forbid men to enter the Senate if they are not wearing a tie and a suit jacket. Larson was wearing his battle fatigues today, as were the other soldiers who were honored.