IWD offices must be re-opened

As most Iowans are aware, several of us have filed a lawsuit against the governor of Iowa that asks for an immediate end to the closings of Iowa Workforce Development offices.

There are two reasons why we initiated this lawsuit on behalf of many hardworking Iowans.

First, our top priority is creating jobs and putting Iowans back to work. With the lingering national recession and unemployment holding steady at 6 percent in our state, we believe that unemployed Iowans would be better served if these workforce offices remain open. In addition to helping unemployed Iowans find work, the offices work with local community colleges and help the 100,000 Iowans who are unemployed and those who are underemployed find a better-paying job.

If the governor continues to unilaterally close down these offices, services that unemployed rural Iowans are able to receive would be negatively impacted. Jobless Iowans will be forced to drive long distances for the one-on-one support that they need to search for jobs, prepare for interviews and improve their skills. Without personal assistance from IWD, many unemployed Iowans won't even be able to use a kiosk to search for a job. Services to local small businesses looking for qualified employees also will be negatively impacted.

Second, we initiated this lawsuit because Gov. Terry Branstad is attempting to expand his constitutional authority and subvert the bipartisan will of Democrats and Republicans in the Iowa Legislature. We listened to Iowans, heard loud and clear that the offices should remain open, and then worked across party lines to keep the workforce offices open. We don't believe any Iowans should be left behind, especially in tough economic times.

The governor does have the authority to veto items from an appropriations bill. However, what he did following the 2011 regular session was to veto certain items in legislation and then spend the funds associated with those items in ways that Republicans and Democratic legislators did not approve. Simply put, he does not have the right to “take the money and run.”

Iowans are now left with a very important question: Do we want to have a governor who can ignore the will of the Legislature, ignore the will of the people, and act however he wants no matter what the Iowa Constitution says?

If the governor has his way, we fear that a dangerous precedent will be set that may never be reversed.

Submitted jointly by Danny Homan, president, AFSCME Iowa Council 61; state Sen. Bill Dotzler, D-Waterloo; Sen. Daryl Beall, D-Fort Dodge; state Rep. Bruce Hunter, D-Des Moines; Rep. David Jacoby, D-Coralville; and Rep. Kirsten Running Marquardt, D-Cedar Rapids. Comments: dhoman@afscmeiowa.org and www.legis.iowa.gov/Legislators/find.aspx