Des Moines, Iowa — Tempers were strained as the Iowa House Labor Committee spent more than three hours debating the G-O-P’s plan to change the state’s collective bargaining law for public sector unions. Representative Steven Holt, a Republican from Denison, opened the debate.
Northwest Iowa Republican Representative John Wills tells us what it’s about.
Representative Kirsten Running-Marquardt, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, says “corporate handouts” rather than union wages are what’s breaking the state’s bank.
Representative Bruce Hunter, a Democrat from Des Moines, says Republicans have hatched an “evil” plan.
Republicans who hold a majority of seats on the committee advanced the bill Wednesday night, making it eligible for debate in the Iowa House next week. Holt, whose wife is a teacher, says the bill is a “win for the children of Iowa” because it gets rid of the seniority system for teachers.
There were two committee hearings at the statehouse earlier in the day. Critics of the bill say their comments are unlikely to sway Republicans who are intent on passing the bill quickly. A public hearing will be held Monday night on the issue. It’s likely the House AND Senate will vote on the bill and send it to the governor early next week.
