Des Moines, Iowa (RI) — Senate Republican Leader Mike Klimesh says it could be possible to reverse the Senate’s rejection of the governor’s pick to head the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.
Last week, Senate Democrats blocked interim director Larry Johnson’s appointment to be the agency’s permanent director. There are not enough Republicans in the Senate to reach the 34 votes required for confirmation. Two Republican senators are dealing with health issues, meaning Klimesh would need to recruit at least three Democrats to join Republicans in confirming Johnson before the legislature adjourns.
It is not unprecedented for senators from the party opposing the governor to reject nominees, but Klimesh says Democrats broke Senate tradition by not notifying Governor Reynolds in advance that they would oppose Johnson’s nomination.
That advance notice gives governors the option to withdraw a nominee before a rejection vote is held.
Johnson’s rejection came immediately after the Senate failed to confirm Todd Abrahamson of Arnolds Park to the Iowa Board of Education. Abrahamson recently retired after serving as superintendent of the Okoboji School District.
Senator Molly Donahue, a Democrat from Marion, says she voted no because Abrahamson publicly supported Governor Reynolds’ 2024 reorganization of Area Education Agencies.
Senator Lynn Evans, a Republican from Aurelia and chairman of the Senate Education Committee, says Abrahamson has served as a teacher, coach, principal, and superintendent during his 25-year career.
Before his nine years at the Okoboji school district, Abrahamson worked at Pocahontas Area Community Schools, Grinnell-Newburg, Sigourney, Tri-County in Thornburg, West Central in Maynard, and Manson-Northwest Webster.
Klimesh has placed a parliamentary hold on Abrahamson’s nomination, meaning it could also be revived if a few Democrats change their votes.
Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner says Democrats have voted to confirm all but two of the 161 nominees Governor Reynolds has appointed this year to state boards, commissions, and agency leadership roles. She notes that rejecting a nominee to lead the state’s largest agency is not unprecedented. In 2010, Senate Republicans blocked Governor Chet Culver’s choice to lead the Department of Human Services, Eugene Gessow.
KIWA Staff Photo
