Republican senators say they were shocked by the abrupt resignation of the top Republican in the Iowa Senate. Senate G-O-P Leader Bill Dix of Shell Rock, who is married, resigned Monday afternoon — just hours after images posted on the Iowa Starting Line website showed Dix and a female lobbyist in a Des Moines bar, appearing to kiss.
Senator Charles Schneider, a Republican from West Des Moines, says he and his colleagues were surprised.
Schneider and the other Senate Republicans went into a private meeting early Monday afternoon with Dix where Dix told his peers he was resigning.
Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen says it’s time for Republicans to make it clear “shenanigans” in the statehouse are inappropriate.
Senate Republicans plan to meet Wednesday in private to elect a new leader. Schneider says despite the leadership upheaval, senate committees will meet and the senate will debate, when necessary this week.
