DES MOINES – Gov. Terry Branstad today signed the following bill into law:
House File 291: an Act relating to employment matters involving public employees including collective bargaining, educator employment matters, personnel records and settlement agreements, city civil service requirements, and health insurance matters, making penalties applicable, and including effective date, applicability, and transition provisions.
“I’m very pleased to sign this bill into law,” said Gov. Branstad. “These necessary reforms to our antiquated 43 year old public employee collective bargaining law bring fairness for Iowa taxpayers and flexibility to public employees. This bill also gives local governments, schools and state government greater freedom in managing their resources with the opportunity to reward good public employees. I want to thank all of the legislators who worked diligently and thoroughly to pass these much needed reforms, including Speaker Linda Upmeyer, Majority Leader Chris Hagenow, Majority Leader Bill Dix, President Jack Whitver, Chairman Dave Deyoe, Representative Steve Holt and Chairman Jason Schultz.”
Lt. Gov. Reynolds also applauded the reforms adding, “I’m excited about the long overdue reforms that have been put in place today. My experience as county treasurer for 13 years gave me a firsthand look at how out of balance the system had become. Finally, Iowa taxpayers have a seat at the table and local governments are empowered to make decisions in the best interests of their communities and schools. These changes will improve our educational system by giving local districts the ability to recruit and retain the best teachers in every classroom across the state. This new, balanced system is something all Iowans can celebrate.”
The bill passed the Iowa House 53-47 on Feb. 16, 2017 and the Iowa Senate on Feb. 16, 2017, 29-21.
When does he leave for China non to soon ,also his son should be in prison too,but that didn’t happen either.That is Iowa used by another Politician to better his life only for the rest go to wayside how could he be proud of what he just did.Doesn’t touch his fat ass pensions though he got his.China can have him,Iowa doesn’t need him and Forest City area could care less,when is the rest of your family going to leave.Scumbag Branstad only cares about himself, it’s the end of the line for you in Iowa now.One thing we can thank Trump for.
Terry, is a self swing pile of garbage. He is an embarrassment to the republican party. Terry is and always has been, about Terry.
He just screwed those who bargained for, the very retirement package he reaps. You see, Terry, not only receives a state pension, from past education positions, he will also receive a pension for his own life as governor. Oh wait, it gets better. He will also be receiving a federal pension, eligible from day one as ambassador to China. But for his goodbye kiss to the working class of Iowa, he just chose to screw them.
He’s never ran a snow plow, ran into a burning building, or saved a drowned by victim on the way to the hospital, in an ambulance. Most likely too, he’s never stayed up late, grading papers, or funded his students education, while buying teaching supplies out of his own pocket. The only child he ever helped was his own, to beat a possession charge. Oh, and an OWI.
This latest bill, has set this state back 100 years. This isn’t about saving tax dollars this is about Terry.
I vote republican, democrat, independent, or write in. Not one time in my, have I ever voted for this pile. If you have, this rests on your shoulders he wants not care. He has a new position to further benefit, Terry. I fight for the common worker. Union or non union.
Enjoy your Union bargained retirement mr. bobble head. You have never EARNED shit!!
I’ll never understand why Iowans continue to vote Branstad into office? He clearly has a poor understanding of elementary economic principles. Has a record of tax increases which disproportionately affect working Iowans. Iowas educational institutions have worsened under his leadership. And Iowa has always ranked near dead last in economic growth whenever he’s been in office. What do you Iowans see in him?!?!
This is not a good law change and all one has to do is look at Wisconsin and see the trickle down effect it has had on wages,benefits not just for Union workers but all workers. Pay has been reduced and their economy is in the tank. So if you like more government regulations then the republicans have done that but they also have taken basic rights away from everyday people.
It puts serve back in public SERVANT.
This does not keep the good and great workers working for the State. Many professionals chose to do public work because, although the pay was not as great as in the private sector, they had good benefits which could economically justify working for the public. With the collective bargaining gone, the good and great will be looking for work in the private sector and will make substantially more money. The change will lower a morale that has been low since Branstad was reelected. Branstad’s intelligence has always been questionable and his replacement’s intellectual abilities are worse.
I bet he is thrilled. He’s done nothing but threaten state workers since day one. Now he can cut their benefits out too. He has already been freezing their wages for years. Now we can eliminate the only decent jobs in this shit town. Great job low life. Get the hell to China.
About time.
I agree with Anonymous, this is good for everyone, it gives the flexibility to pay really good employees better if they are going over and above and recruit great employees and not be put into a box by having to put the employer in a box by only offering first level entry wage. The good employees will be retained by market forces, this will work. It will also help the public employees understand how the rest of us live. It is not that complicated to understand, I don’t think they will be hurt the way they think they will, if they don’t like it, they will find a job that fits them better, that is the free market.
And…potentially it could cost you the taxpayer more to retain or hire those new workers. That is why the private sector pays for insurance. Their wages equal their degree!
I know people in law enforcement that have worked 20us years and make 30,000. Is this high paying by your standard? Now thanks to the Republicans they may make less. I wonder if 400 people will be lined up for their job!!! Hmmm
There is something wrong with any law enforcement officer that only makes 30K after 30 years. Probably should have been fired years ago and couldn’t be because of the union.
Really…check out county correctional officers in all counties around here. Pay has not been based on performance prior to this but years. All are paid poorly and insurance is not great either!
Why is it everyone knows how to run the private sector? I want to go the banks and other businesses and tell them how to run their business with my vast knowledge.
The banks, as well as politicians havent been doing their jobs correctly for a very long time. Corruption, mixed with higher profit margins end up falling on the middle class. My dad lost more than half of his 401k in 2008 due to the housing market collapse. He invested the way he was told to by his financial provider at his bank. The working class of the united states loses money, while government and the absurdly wealthy get richer. Raising wages for public servants yet we are not brining in anymore money. They make cuts to everyone else, but themselves. Anyone who is willing to make laws and regulations that do not apply to themselves is not trustworthy, and should be seen as an enemy of the state.