DES MOINES – Even as the GOP-dominated Iowa House of Representatives put the final vote to a bill enacting new restrictions on public employee collective bargaining rights, liberal lawmakers spouted a doom-and-gloom scenario for workers and their families.
Thursday, the House passed HF291 “the bargaining bill” on a vote of 53-47. Representative Sharon Steckman said from Des Moines that “all amendments by the Democrats … were voted down including two of mine; one on adding supplemental pay back in bargaining and the other to do an impact statement for women. The collective bargaining has officially been gutted.”
Meanwhile, Senate Democratic Leader Rob Hogg of Cedar Rapids said the “anti-worker legislation fast-tracked through the Senate and House” will hurt hard-working Iowans, their families and their communities. The Senate conducted a marathon hearing on a companion bill Wednesday night, but debate was later stifled by GOP lawmakers.
“This new anti-worker law takes away the health care security and lowers the standard of living for hundreds of thousands of working families,” Hogg said. “This legislation is wildly unpopular because it hurts Iowa families.”
Hogg pointed out that an overwhelming majority of Iowans who packed the Capitol, attended rallies and overflowing local meetings, and filled legislative voicemail and email inboxes were in opposition to Senate File 213/House File 291.
“Their message was clear: This bill hurts working Iowans and their families,” he said.
Hogg said he is proud Democratic Senators listened to Iowans, especially those who will be hurt the most: nurses, police officers, firefighters, snowplow drivers, teachers, correctional officers and other public workers.
“All of us, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, teachers, nurses and other Iowa workers, deserve fairness and a voice in our own workplaces,” he said.
He said the current law worked for 40 years because it simply required Iowans and their employer to sit down and work together. Iowa school boards, city councils, county boards of supervisors, and other Iowa governments have almost always been able to reach mutually agreeable solutions to workplace issues.
“Our current collective bargaining law works. Originally passed to stop strikes, the law has served Iowans, employees and public employers well for more than 40 years,” he said. “Under this bill, cities, counties and school districts are prohibited from negotiating and reaching agreement on health care coverage and other workplace issues.”
However, one Iowa resident disagreed with the liberal lawmakers, saying “if I can walk into the office on any given day and be fired for no reason then I think the rule should apply to everyone. Especially those who are paid by tax payers. If it causes the person working at the counter at the DMV to smile and be pleasant for a change, so be it. There is already plenty of nepotism in state and local government when it comes to who gets hired and who doesn’t. It’s been known for years that to get a job with the state you have to “know someone”. The only people crying about this is those few that benefit. What about those of us who simply have to continue to put up with it? Time to do your job like you might loose it…. just like the rest of us!”
Pubic servants sector – The fleecing of the people()sheeple) liars and not to be trusted.
Of course Sharon is upset. She has taken union money to maintain her position. She had been a total waste in Des Moines. She hasn’t accomplished anything since she has been elected. All she has become is a organized protester who complains about everything else going on. She needs to go.
Allowing the sorcerers to label everyone and everything the Goy/cattle are easy to control, the sorcerers need a divided populace the Goy/cattle are easier to control that way, the sorcerers are in their yachts laughing at the fool Goy/Cattle who beieve the reality created/manufactured for them by the elite/sorcerers is real.
Private sector jobs do not have protection, apparently the “fair and balanced” door swings only one way.
Hopefully when the democrats take back control the working people will make them take away all the corporate welfare that is given. Fair is fair and the working class will demand that democrats remember this. Funny I don’t recall any politicians running on this issue sure didn’t get any mailings on it or see any commercials on TV.
Each Iowa public employees gets over 20,000 dollars of health insurance a year but they only pay 20 bucks a month for it ! So the real workers have to pay for there insurance & our own insurance . Thanks for nothing.
that is completely false
Democrats just can’t seem to get it through their thick heads that this is what those people were elected to do. It is why they lost and will continue to lose until they change their ways. Ragan is next followed by Steckman.
I agree, they are doing what whe elected them to do, just the same with Trump. These politicians need to listen to what the voters are saying and not say what the voters what to hear and do the opposite after being elected, I am disappointed that Steckman didn’t get defeated, but next time,,,,, This is a big win for the Tax payers in Iowa,
You two really think this is going to save the tax payers? Wow you guys are a couple of big time Kool-Aid drinkers. The republicans will take what ever money is saved and give to the wealthy corporations. The average tax payer will not see a dime of it and you just supported screwing your neighbors who spend their money in the local economy so your republican buddies can give more money to corporate America. You guys are about as brain washed as they come.
But, we won and you lost Snowflake. That should tell you who is right and who is wrong, if you are smart enough to figure it out.
Hey LVS, we will see who you think is right or wrong when they cut your social security and Medicare because that is next up on the chopping block. It will prove even more what type of selfish person you really are.
No one is talking about doing anything with Social Security and Medicare other than raising the upper limit on Social Security as they should. You should really get up to speed so you don’t look any more stupid than you are.
What happened to your comment Dumb Ass? Did it get thrown out with the garbage like the rest of you ignorant, childish comments.
But, you lost Snowflake and will continue to lose until you wake up.
Shut up ya stupid old coot.
Everyone is sick & tired of your same old lame comments.
You’re just a freakin’ dumb-ass old idiot, stick to kissing ass as it is the only thing that you are good at.
I won’t call you names like you called me Larry, (you liberals like to do that it seams,) this bill will be a good deal in the end for all public employees.