From this week’s Republican Caucus Newsletter:

Last session, the Legislature approved House File 2645, a bill that dramatically changed Chapter 20, the public employee collective bargaining rules and 260C, which deals with teacher contracts and termination. The bill was rammed through in the cover of darkness and approved by the Legislature before the public outcry became loud enough to prevent its passage.

The Governor vetoed HF 2645, stating that it was “a poorly written bill with sometimes-ambiguous language that raises troubling, unanswered questions and unresolved uncertainties for management, labor and taxpayers alike. At the heart of the ambiguities is the ‘open scope’ language of the bill, which does not define what is, and what is not, a part of the ‘other terms and conditions not already excluded,’ that could be made subject to mandatory bargaining…. all of which could be made subject to binding arbitration upon impasse and which could potentially result in untold and unintended obligations resulting in substantial tax increases.” (Governor’s Veto Message, May 15, 2008)

After the Governor’s veto, he pledged to work with the unions, management and taxpayers to come up with a compromise bill. Legislative Democrats said they would wait for the Governor to lead on labor issues. “The ball’s in the governor’s court,” said Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal. “I think it’s highly likely there will be something.” (Des Moines Register, December 15, 2008)

However, in his Condition of the State speech on January 13, the Governor made no mention of any changes to labor laws. He did not even repeat what he said in his 2008 Condition of the State speech that “For the benefit of working Iowans, I challenge you to try to find consensus, and to not be afraid to debate difficult issues, like, prevailing wage, independent contractor reform, choice of doctor, fair share, and the right to bargain matters like employee discipline and discharge.”

The Governor did not mention any of those proposed bills. While it is likely Legislative Democrats will resurrect plans to weaken Iowa’s Right to Work law and expand the collective bargaining law, Republicans appreciate the Governor’s decision to drop these ideas from his agenda in 2009.

House Republicans will judge every bill this session with the question “Does this bill help grow Iowa’s economy?” Any version of HF 2645 will harm the economy and will be opposed by the caucus.

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