Republicans at the statehouse may seek changes in union benefit packages for government workers in Iowa. Janet Phipps is director of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services and she’s the governor’s lead negotiator on union contracts.

“What we’re anticipating and what has been mentioned is there’s going to be some conversation about how the state is going to deliver group health care benefits to public employees,” she says.

Republican Terry Branstad has trying to get the state’s union workers to pay more of their health insurance premiums since he returned to the governor’s office in 2011. After election victories this month, Republicans will have sizable governing majorities in both the House and Senate in 2017. Branstad’s considering the idea of consolidating health insurance policies for union employees at ALL levels of government in Iowa.

“He has mentioned that in the past, that he would like to look at pooling resources, if you will, of all public entities, whether it’s schools or counties or municipalities,” Phipps says. “I think he envisions something big that could be explored and have a big master contract. He’d like to do that.”

State officials on Monday began contract talks with the union that represents 600 state law enforcement officers, including state troopers. There were NO insurance benefits included in management’s initial offer. AFSCME represents the largest percentage of state workers and negotiations with AFSCME begin Wednesday afternoon. By state law, contracts must be finalized by March 15th. If an arbitrator has to make the call, Phipps says that means management and the unions involved have to stake out their final positions by late February. “So it would be moving briskly along, certainly, if there were going to be discussions legislatively to do something different,” Phipps says.

On Monday, state officials made their initial offer to the State Police Officers Council. It’s the union that represents 600 employees in state government. The offer? A one percent raise in each of the next two years. The union’s initial request was for pay hikes in each year of three percent.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

VERSAILLES, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri state trooper charged in the death of a man who drowned while in his custody is scheduled for trial this summer. The Kansas City Star reports a July 10 trial was set Monday for Trooper Anthony Piercy, who is charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Brandon Ellingson at the Lake of the Ozarks in May 2014. Piercy had pulled over the 20-year-old Ellingson from Clive, Iowa, on suspicion of boating while intoxicated and handcuffed him before Ellingson fell into the lake.

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. (AP) — St. John’s senior linebacker Carter Hanson is among 10 semifinalist for the 2016 Gagliardi Trophy. Nine seniors and one junior were announced Monday for the annual award honoring the best football player in Division III. The trophy is named after former St. John’s football coach John Gagliardi, who retired with 489 career victories, most in college football history. The Gagliardi Trophy will be presented Dec. 14 in Salem, Virginia.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A U.S. Marine from Oelwein who died fighting a World War II battle on a Pacific Ocean island is scheduled to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington on Monday, the 73rd anniversary of his death.

ORANGE CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Jan. 9 sentencing has been scheduled for a northwest Iowa day care operator convicted of injuring a toddler. A Sioux County news release says a jury found Dianna Winder guilty Friday of felony child endangerment causing injury and misdemeanor assault causing injury. The incident leading to the charges occurred on Nov. 11, when the 15-month-old boy’s mother pick him up and noticed marks on his face.

The City Council in Griswold will hold a special meeting Tuesday night. Among the items of discussion, is the resignation last week of Griswold Rescue Department Captain, Julie Kline. Kline’s resignation was followed by at least nine other members of the Department that same day.

The meeting begins with a Rescue Department report, followed by Public Comments. New Business includes: A new Rescue Captain; Amended Rescue By-Laws; ISG Payment Schedule & approval of Pay Application #2; and, approval of an Annual Urban Renewal Report for FY 2016.

Afterward, will be messages and remarks from City Manager Laura Hansen, and Mayor Jeb Peck, followed by propositions and remarks from Council Members.

Linda Taulborg, an 18-plus year member of the Griswold Rescue Department, is encouraging all citizens served by their Department to attend the meeting as a show of support, and means of resolving the issues the Department has with City leaders.

The meeting begins 6-p.m., at the Griswold City Hall.