Area state legislators who voted for changes to Iowa's collective bargaining laws for public employees get criticized at a Decorah Town Hall

A large crowd attended and brought signs (Photos by decorahnews.com's Paul Scott)

Around 200 people jammed into the city council chambers at Decorah City Hall on Saturday afternoon to get a chance to talk with State Senator MIchael Breitbach and State Representatives Mike Bergan and Kristi Hager.

While a wide range of topics was discussed, the majority of the Town Hall was devoted to discussion of the state legislature's action late last week to change the laws covering collective bargaining by public employees in Iowa.  Breitbach told those attending that there has been "a lot of misconceptions" about the legislation.  For instance, he said it prohibits discussing health insurance coverage during contract negotiations, but does require health insurance to be provided. 

Audience members, however, were critical of the legislation.  Jodi Enos-Berlage of Decorah said the legislation is demoralizing to teachers and could cause a huge loss of Iowa teachers, as similar legislation in Wisconsin caused.  Jim Tripp of Decorah, a teacher in Postville, told the legislators, "This is bad for our schools."  Several Luther College students said the legislation would cause them to rethink wanting to teach in Iowa and might cause them to head to Minnesota instead.  One student called the legislature's vote "shocking and appalling."

The three legislators blamed their Democratic counterparts for opposing the legislation without making suggestions for how it could be approved.  Hager said she had heard from many people who support the legislation.  She told the group, "There's a silent majority out there,"--a statement that drew laughter from the audience.

Decorah resident Steve McCargar asked the legislators if they had gotten an opinion on whether House File 291 was constitutional, since it exempted police officers, firefighters and other emergency workers from the law.  The three lawmakers said they expected that issue to be handled by the courts.

The audience attending Saturday's forum also criticized proposed changes in Iowa's family planning services funding, which would remove the existing system and create a replacement system that would use Iowa tax dollars.  Another topic discussed was proposed legislation that would ban county boards in Iowa from setting their own minimum wage levels.

Winneshiek County Democratic Party Chair Matt Tapscott was among those asking questions

Jodi Enos-Berlage

A number of attendees came with signs to hold up

(This photo courtesy of Paul Edison-Swift)(Click on photo for larger image)