Reynolds fails to protect more than Iowa workers

"Reynolds fails to protect Iowa workers" wrote former Sen. Joe Bolkcom. Wait, there is more. Our Governor fails to protect Iowa's children, as noted in another Gazette editorial. The governor had the opportunity to beef up enforcement of current worker health and safety laws and compliance with our long-standing right to know laws (communities, emergency responders and workers have the right to know of presence of hazardous chemicals) signed by Gov. Terry Branstad. The governor, in considering the child labor law, could ask the legislature to first strengthen workplace health and safety protections and give communities and families greater local enforcement capabilities of environmental and labor work and safety laws.

Our governor fails to protect our residents of our nursing homes. Rarely a week goes by, without reading of another allegation of abuse or neglect. The governor fails to protect our rivers and streams — we have over 700 impaired bodies of water. I ask readers to add their own examples.

Ralph Rosenberg

Ames