Iowa House Leadership Afraid to Talk to Citizens (shuts down switchboard b4 anti-worker vote)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.afscmeblog.org/2011/03/14/iowa-house-leadership-afraid-to-talk-to-citizens/

March 14th, 2011

In a show of solidarity with Iowa working families, former Speaker Pat Murphy (D-Dubuque) blasted Iowa’s Republican House Leadership Friday after they shut down the switchboard during the most critical point of debate on HF 525, a bill that would eliminate collective bargaining rights for public employees.

Before beginning debate, House leaders had shut down the phone system to block constituents from reaching their representatives to voice their opinions on this anti-worker bill.

Rep. Murphy blasted Republican leadership for their lack of transparency in the public debate, saying, “We’ve done bills that talk about transparency within the state of Iowa, and then in one of the most contentious debates, we shut down that switchboard. Shame on you!”

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX3lSw1KLaA&feature=player_embedded

U.S. Representative Bruce Braley (D-IA) stood with Iowa’s working families in this statement released after the vote:

“Today’s action by the Iowa House of Representatives is a blatant attack on our state’s middle class. At the very moment that our economy is showing signs of improvement, the Republicans in the Iowa House have thrown a punch to the gut of thousands of Iowa family. This bill is shameful.”

The bill will now go to the Senate, where Leader Michael Gronstal (D-Council Bluffs), has said he doesn’t believe it will have enough support to make it out of committee.

[fascisthunter]

1. elitist cowards

[Lefta Dissenter]

2. chickenshit republicans

following the example set by the Fitzgerald Brothers in Wisconsin.

sorry about that... :(