Iowa regulator’s confirmation delayed after AP report
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The Iowa Senate delayed the confirmation of Geri Huser as the Iowa Utilities Board chairwoman after The Associated Press reported on her extensive private legal work, lawmakers said Wednesday.
The Senate commerce committee had been scheduled Tuesday to consider Huser’s appointment by Gov. Terry Branstad for a second two-year term leading the board that regulates electric and gas utilities and reviews plans for pipelines.
But hours before the meeting, the AP reported that Huser had maintained a busy personal law practice on the side during her tenure, handling scores of legal matters, being awarded more than $177,000 in legal fees and occasionally appearing at hearings on weekdays.
State law requires the board’s three members to devote their “whole time” to their state duties, and other members who have been lawyers have resigned from their law firms.