DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court says Gov. Terry Branstad’s brother must pay legal fees from his challenge over the state’s calculation of how many fish were killed by pollution from his cattle-farming operation.
The high court’s ruling Friday reverses an Iowa Court of Appeals decision this year that determined Monroe “Monte” Branstad was entitled to taxpayer-funded legal fees incurred from his challenge to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
In 2008, the DNR investigated reports of a fish kill in the Winnebago River. Monroe Branstad, of Forest City, acknowledged pollution discharged from a containment basin on his farm into the river. He challenged the fees incurred from the fish kill.
Christine Branstad, Monroe Branstad’s daughter and attorney, says she’s concerned the ruling will diminish future challenges to state administrative actions.
