Chuck Holz Comments On The Collective Bargaining Bill
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Democrats in the Republican-controlled Iowa Senate have debated through the night to delay voting on a bill that would eliminate most collective bargaining rights for public workers in the state.
The minority party led an hourslong effort that began Wednesday morning and continued after 5 a.m. Thursday. It’s unclear when the Senate will adjourn.
The bill would prohibit public sector employees such as teachers, nurses and correctional officers from negotiating over several issues including health insurance, evaluation procedures and extra pay. It’s similar to a 2011 collective bargaining law in Wisconsin. The Iowa House recessed late last evening, but the
Senate continued the debate all night long.
(Des Moines) — Debate continues on the controversial collective bargaining bill that is before both chambers of the state legislature. Many people have the belief that the collective bargaining bill came about fairly quickly, and is
being rushed through the legislature without proper discussion. However, Republican State Representative Chuck Holz of Le Mars says that simply is not the case.
Holz says in the state House chambers, nearly 100 amendments have been introduced for the bill, but so far, legislators have not been able to act on many of the amendments.
The Le Mars state representative says the House is trying to modify the original bill. He says both sides are using scare tactics and telling people the worst case scenario.
Holz offers a timetable of this week’s actions regarding the collective bargaining bill.
Holz says the discussion continued on Tuesday and went into the evening before the House took a recess. The House did the same on Wednesday.
The state representative isn’t certain as to when the bill will be voted on by the full House chamber, but says it is a priority with leadership, so he believes it will either be yet this week, or early next week.
Museum’s Kimball Village Program Post-poned Until March
(Le Mars) — Plans for a program about the Kimball Village American Indian Site have been changed from the original date of Sunday, Feb. 19, to Sunday, March 26, at the Plymouth County Historical Museum in Le Mars.
The change in schedule became necessary due to a death in the family of the main speaker.
The program will begin at 2 p.m. in the Study Hall on March 26.
The event is free and open to the public.
Auditions Scheduled For Monday For Community Theater’s Next Play “Two Across”
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community Theater production of “The Boys Next Door” will open tomorrow (Friday) evening at the Postal Playhouse. “The Boys Next Door” is scheduled to run from February 17th through February 26th.
Auditions for the next Le Mars Community Theater play “Two Across” are scheduled for Monday, February 27th and Tuesday, February 28th at 7:00 pm. There are two roles, one male and one female, both in their mid-30s to mid-50s. Two strangers, a man and a woman board a San Francisco BART train at 4:30 AM. They’re alone in the car, each is married, both are doing the New York Times crossword. She’s an organized, sensible, psychologist. He’s a free spirited, unemployed ad exec. She is a crossword pro, he always quits. When he tosses his puzzle away, she snaps, “Crosswords are a metaphor for life, those who finish, succeed, those who don’t, fail.” Now he vows to finish. Why? He’s a competitor and she happens to be lovely. This starts an 80 minute ride described by critics as “Hilarious,” “Witty,” “Romantic,” “Poignant,” “Wonderfully entertaining.” Two opposites in an enclosed space, attacking each other’s values but also being swayed and intrigued by them. They each have serious life problems that the other helps them solve. Their trip is filled with unpredictable but believable surprises, even a passionate kissing embrace or two. As the train ride ends it’s obvious each of them has been changed for the better.
Judge Rules Against Landowners In Dakota Access Pipeline Case
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A district court judge has ruled against 14 Iowa landowners who sued to block the Dakota Access pipeline from crossing their property, concluding that the Iowa Utilities Board properly approved a permit for
its construction.
Judge Jeffrey Farrell says in a decision filed Wednesday that the board adequately considered whether the pipeline provides a public convenience and necessity and its decision to grant a license was supported by state law and
evidence.
The landowners challenged the board’s decision claiming it was illegal to take farmland for a pipeline that provides no public service to Iowans.
The pipeline moves oil out of North Dakota across South Dakota and Iowa and into Illinois.
The attorney for the landowners, Bill Hanigan, says the decision will be appealed to the Iowa Supreme Court.
University Of Iowa Official Takes Job In Florida
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The longtime No. 2 administrator at the University of Iowa is leaving to become president of a Florida college that focuses on aerospace education.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University said Wednesday that UI Provost P. Barry Butler would start next month as the school’s president.
The university is based in Daytona Beach and claims an enrollment of more than 30,000 at campuses in Florida, Arizona and online.
Butler had been UI provost since 2010 and at the university since 1984, serving previously as dean and professor in the engineering college.
Embry-Riddle’s Board of Trustees chairman Mori Hosseini says Butler received a “100 percent endorsement” from everyone involved in the search. Hosseini says Butler will take the school “to the next level.”
Butler says he’s thrilled to join “a very special institution.”
State Audit Questions Spending By A Southern Iowa Crime Commission Executive Director
FAIRFIELD, Iowa (AP) – A state audit has questioned spending by a former executive director of the South Iowa Crime Commission who’s also facing child sex abuse charges.
The audit report issued Wednesday said the commission asked for the audit because of concerns regarding commission credit card purchases by former executive director Matt Murphy.
Murphy didn’t immediately return a call Wednesday from The Associated Press. His attorney in the two criminal cases declined to comment. Murphy’s pleaded not guilty to two counts of child sexual abuse. His trials are scheduled to begin April 4 and July 25.
Auditors say they identified nearly $13,200 in personal or otherwise improper charges by Murphy from April 2015 through March 2016. The report says Murphy paid more than $12,000 of the charges, leaving the commission to pay nearly $1,200.
