Iowans to spend up to $435 an hour for Branstad's lawyers

Iowa taxpayers will spend as much as $275 an hour – nearly 3,5 times the going rate - for individual lawyers with Republican ties to defend Gov. Terry Branstad against a lawsuit challenging the closure of 36 state unemployment offices as unconstitutional.

Typically the state's attorney general handles litigation for the state.

However, when outside attorney assistance is necessary the going