Government Relations

Wasker, Dorr, Wimmer & Marcouiller, P.C., has earned substantial recognition for its government relations practice. The Firm is able to offer its clients a comprehensive public affairs program, including: lobbying, political strategy and elections, issue development, grassroots organization, and public and media relations.

Currently, the Firm represents the interests of more than 20 clients before the Iowa Legislature, the Governor's Office, and state administrative agencies. Several of the Firm's clients also require representation at the congressional and federal agency levels.

The Firm's government relations team consists of four attorneys - Charles Wasker (of counsel to the firm), Bill Wimmer, Angela Kenyon Davis and Russell Laird (retired consultant to the firm on matters pertaining to the alcoholic beverages laws and regulations, bottle deposit law and related tax laws); a full-time legislative secretary; and additional support staff as needed.

Within the scope of the government relations practice, the attorneys provide traditional lobbyist services to encourage the passage, defeat, modification, or veto of state or federal legislation, administrative rules, or executive orders. These lobbying services include personal communications with Iowa and U.S. legislators, agencies, and other elected officials; appearances to give testimony or provide information to legislative and congressional committees or at agency public hearings; preparation and submission of written or oral data, views, or arguments on behalf of clients; preparation of a weekly legislative bulletin summarizing pending legislation pertaining to the client and provision of supplemental information concerning pending legislation. The Firm is on-line with the Iowa Legislative Computer Network that provides immediate up-to-date access to all legislative activity.

In addition to lobbying services, the government relations attorneys assist clients in the formulation and implementation of their public affairs policies and strategies. We counsel clients and develop tactics for public and media relations, issue development, and grassroots organizations. We encourage our clients to be active in the political process and provide counsel for those with Political Action Committees (PAC's). At the request of certain clients, the Firm maintains PAC accounts and prepares the quarterly PAC reports.