Republican Governor Terry Branstad is disputing the legal opinion Iowa’s Democratic attorney general released about the transition of power in the governor’s office. Branstad is likely to resign this month to become U.S. Ambassador to China. Attorney General Tom Miller says Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds will get the title of governor, but Miller argues she does not have the authority to name a NEW lieutenant governor.
Branstad says the state’s constitution AND a 2009 state law make it clear Reynolds can select a replacement when she becomes governor.
The attorney general issued an informal advisory in December, saying Reynolds would be able to name a new lieutenant governor when she becomes governor. Miller said after studying legal precedent and the constitution for a few months with staff, he’d changed his mind.
