Legislators should support prison workers

After two Anamosa prison workers were killed by inmates, several lawmakers toured the facility. They urged Iowa’s Republican lawmakers, who hold a majority in both the House and Senate, to add hundreds of corrections officers and staff, restore collective bargaining rights and allocate funding for new equipment.

While lawmakers from around the state visited, our local legislators seem to have disappeared from the area. State Sens. Carrie Koelker and Dan Zumbach and State Reps. Lee Hein and Steve Bradley have remained silent on supporting legislation to protect prison workers and ensure that the corrections system is properly funded. Shouldn’t they be the loudest voices in Des Moines to safeguard those they represent?

Please contact your senators and representatives and demand that they support Iowa's prison workers.

Robert Gertsen

Oxford Junction