Labor union sues Branstad over closing Iowa mental health facilities

DES MOINES - Iowa's largest public employee labor union and 20 state lawmakers are suing the governor over the closure of two state-run mental health care facilities.

AFSCME Iowa Council 61 President Danny Homan announced the lawsuit Monday in a news release.

Republican Gov. Terry Branstad decided to close the state-run mental health facilities in Clarinda and Mount Pleasant, saying the state needs to shift toward community-based mental health care services and away from institutions. He halted funding to the facilities, which closed on June 30, at the end of the state's fiscal year.

The union said state law requires the facilities to be open.

'Iowa law clearly states that the State of Iowa shall operate mental health institutes in Mount Pleasant and Clarinda,” Homan said in a statement. 'This was the law when the governor announced his decision to close these facilities. This was the law when the legislature passed, with bipartisan support, the funding to keep these facilities open. This was the law when he closed these two facilities. It still is the law today.

'No one is above the law. That includes the governor. We are filing this lawsuit to hold him accountable for breaking the law.”

Each of the 20 lawmakers who signed onto the lawsuit is a Democrat.

A spokesman for Branstad reiterated the governor's belief in shifting to community-based mental health care and said more Iowans have access to quality mental health care and substance abuse treatment than ever before.

'We understand that Mr. Homan's top priority is protecting union jobs, but Gov. Branstad's top priority is ensuring Iowa's mental health patients have access to modern mental health care delivered in accredited facilities,” Branstad spokesman Jimmy Centers said in an email response. 'Mr. Homan and AFSCME may be resistant to change that improves Iowans' health, and eager to sue on behalf of their members to protect the status quo, but Gov. Branstad will continue putting patients first and working to improve care, increase access and modernize our state's delivery of services.”