Iowa state employee files lawsuit, alleges retaliation

An Iowa state employee who criticized his boss at a public demonstration says in a lawsuit that he's been punished for exercising his First Amendment Rights.

The Des Moines Register says Daniel Noonan filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday. He says he lost three days' pay for comments at an April 17 rally in Ames. Noonan works for Iowa Workforce Development.

A newspaper account of the rally included Noonan's criticism of Workforce Development Director Teresa Wahlert for not taking a pay cut "'like her predecessors did during tough times.' "

Noonan says he made the comments during an approved vacation and union day off.

A department spokeswoman wouldn't comment on the lawsuit, but said Noonan was on paid union leave and not a vacation day when he made the remarks.