Iowa House Speaker on sponsored golf and gambing trip.

Looks like the recent outrage over lobbyist isn't an issue at the state level.
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House Speaker Rants takes golf trip with casino lobbyist
TIM HIGGINS
REGISTER STAFF WRITER


March 13, 2006



As state lawmakers prepare to debate the future of the Iowa Lottery's slot machine-like games, the Iowa House Speaker and a handful of other legislators went on a golf trip to Myrtle Beach with a casino lobbyist this past weekend.

The trip included four lawmakers, friends and lobbyist Kimberly Haus, who works on the behalf of Ameristar Casinos and other companies, said House Speaker Christopher Rants, a Republican from Sioux City, today.

Rants said everyone paid their own way and that the trip is an annual spring getaway.

The House is expected to begin debating a ban of the lottery's TouchPlay machines Tuesday.

A top Ameristar official has called for the machines to be yanked from Main Street businesses, such as taverns and convenience stores. There are more than 6,000 machines across the state.

"Everybody pays. This is not Washington, D.C. We have ethics laws here in Iowa and everybody paid," Rants said. "I've done this for six years. Where does this (question) come from?"

Rants said, "I look at most of those folks . . . who are lobbying on behalf of the TouchPlay folks, and I've played golf with them at some point in time, too."

The trip's timing in relation to the debate is just coincidence, Rants said, noting that he's long been against the lottery machines.

“The fact of the matter is that this trip was planned starting last fall,” Rants said. “I've organized a trip to go golfing in the spring in the week after the funnel (a legislative deadline) passes six or seven times now.”

The trip caught the eyes of TouchPlay supporters who feel casinos are their biggest advisories in this debate.

Scott Henneman, vice president and general manager of TouchPlay manufacturer Oasis Gaming of Omaha, said the trip should be investigated.

“On the eve of a vote, it just seems to me to be the appearance of it,” he said. There seems to be “pretty close ties with the casino industry and Speaker Rants — that's the appearance that it gives. Whether that's the case, that's what needs to be looked into.”

Haus could not be reached for comment Monday. She is also a registered lobbyist for tobacco company Philip Morris USA and Kraft Foods Global.

In recent weeks Rants has received criticism for his position against increasing the tax on cigarettes and his connections to large campaign contributions from tobacco companies to his re-election fund and a political group he is tied to.

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