Washington, D.C. — Officials with the Iowa secretary of state's office were in Washington on Wednesday to appeal a finding that the state should repay the federal government $61,238 in questionable election spending.

The Election Assistance Commission voted unanimously to give the state 30 days to come up with additional information. At some point after that, the commission will take a formal vote on whether to grant or deny the appeal.

Iowa's appeal is in connection with a finding by auditors that while Gov. Chet Culver was in charge as Iowa's top election official, his office misspent federal money to pay entertainers during a "celebration of voting."

Culver has maintained that all of the payments were appropriate.

Among the payments raising questions were $16,500 for opera singer Simon Estes to appear at "Celebrate Voting" events in August 2005.

Ted Trimpa, a lawyer speaking on behalf of the secretary of state's office, told the federal commission that Estes sang only two songs and that his primary purpose was to take part in a series of workshops about how arts can be used to promote voting rights.

About $11,000 went to civil rights activist and poet Nikki Giovanni to be the keynote speaker for a voter participation workshop. Trimpa said that Giovanni is not an entertainer and that she discussed the importance of voting with participants.

State Auditor David Vaudt cited some of the "unallowed" costs in an audit released last year. Pam Bormann from the auditor's office, in testimony to the commission Wednesday, repeated that conclusion.

Reporter Jane Norman can be reached at (202) 906-8137 or jnorman@dmreg.com