A bill designed to bar Iowa cities and counties as well as schools and universities from providing “sanctuary” to undocumented immigrants sparked a statehouse protest Tuesday afternoon. Reverend Russ Melby of Ames was one of the protest’s organizers. “To be supportive of folks who don’t have much of a voice, to be supportive of what our Lord, as a Christian, commands us to be,” Melby says, “namely supportive of those who are, generally speaking, left out.”

The bill would bar any resolution or ordinance that “limits or restricts” enforcement of federal immigration laws. The legislation applies to Iowa’s public schools, community colleges and the three public universities in Iowa as well as private schools that receive state funds. The bill passed the House Public Safety Committee on a party-line vote. Representative Steven Holt, a Republican from Denison, says there’s a public safety concern about providing “safe haven” to people who are not in the country legally.  “Now we all know that the vast majority of people who are not in our country legally have just come here for a better life and they’re contributing in a number of ways in our communities,” Holt says, “but there’s also that number that could have and possibly do have a violent, criminal past.”

Holt points to a San Francisco murder committed by an undocumented immigrant who had returned to San Francisco because it was a “sanctuary city.” President Trump has directed the Department of Homeland Security to deport more undocumented immigrants who’ve committed serious crimes here.  “We don’t want Iowans to be harmed as a result of a sanctuary city policy that might encourage someone with that type of past to come to Iowa,” Holt says. The protests over the bill extended the process, but the legislation cleared the committee late Tuesday afternoon. The Des Moines School Board voted unanimously last (Tuesday) night to require that federal immigration officials get permission from the superintendent if they want to talk with students or staff.

Representative Holt says his message to Des Moines school officials is to “respect the rule of law.”  “If we don’t respect the rule of law, we’ve got very serious trouble,” Holt says. “And all this bill is seeking to do is just to instruct the government, state entities in Iowa that you will cooperate in the traditional sense with federal immigration authorities in the enforcement of our laws.”

The Des Moines School Board passed another resolution last night that expresses support for the 55-hundred students in the district who were brought into the U.S. illegally by their parents. So-called “Dreamers” were temporarily protected from deportation by an executive order issued by former President Obama. President Trump has said “Dreamers” will be treated “very compassionately,” but it’s not clear yet what Trump may propose. His focus thus far has been on the deportation of undocumented criminals.

(Radio Iowa)

Police in Red Oak say a juvenile male was cited for Theft in the 5th Degree, Possession of Alcohol under the Age of 21, and Possession of Tobacco/3rd offense. The unnamed youth was detained after officers called to the Dollar General Store in Red Oak at around 6-p.m. Tuesday, investigated the theft from the store, of two beers. The juvenile had left the scene in a vehicle, but officers located the car at the intersection of N. 6th and E. Prospect Streets in Red Oak, a short time later.

The juvenile was in the passenger seat of the car. Authorities say in addition to having the alcohol, the juvenile was found to be in possession of tobacco. He was cited for the offenses and then released to his parents.

Voters in the Red Oak Community School District, Tuesday, overwhelmingly approved at Public Measure pertaining to a 10-year extension of a Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL), and a PPEL Income Surtax. According to unofficial results from the Montgomery County Auditor’s Office, “Proposition A” received 391 Yes votes and 154 No votes, or 71.74% to 28.26%. A simple majority was needed in order for the measure to pass.

The levy of $1.34 per thousand dollars taxable property valuation will be used for building and grounds maintenance and construction, plus transportation, equipment and technology purchases. It becomes effective on June 30^th 2021, while the Income Surtax starts December 31^st for each calendar year, and commencing with the 2020 calendar year.

Meanwhile voters in the Hamburg School District, Tuesday overwhelmingly rejected a $4.3 million bond issue for a renovation and expansion of Marnie Simons Elementary School. Unofficial results from the Fremont County Auditor’s Office show the bond issue was rejected by a 367-to-274 vote. The referendum received only 42.75% of the vote–well short of the 60% super-majority necessary for its passage.

School officials proposed the project in order to make it more compatible for middle school students. Marnie Simons became a K-8 facility earlier this year. Opponents argued the expansion was unnecessary for the district’s small enrollment, and that the building was in good shape. They also believed the bond issue was too big of an expense for taxpayers.

Governor Terry Branstad says the bill his fellow Republicans in the legislature have crafted to change bargaining rights for public employee unions includes “many of the changes” HE has wanted to make for years. “I’m proud of the fact we have people in the legislature that are willing to do the right thing and are not going to be threatened or intimiated by anybody,” Branstad says. “We have a responsibility to the people that elected us.”

In 1974, Branstad was one of the few legislators who voted AGAINST the state’s current collective bargaining law for government workers and teachers in Iowa. Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds says the changes in this year’s bill are “necessary” because public employees in Iowa are being rewarded for “time served” rather than “merit.”

“It’s just simply not fair and it really demonstrates, I think, how far out of whack in the disparity and the differences that are taking place with the current collective bargaining law,” Reynolds said, “and how it has become in favor of the unions and their special interests.” In a rare move, Reynolds and Branstad held an afternoon news conference WITH the Republican leaders in the House and Senate to discuss the legislation. House Speaker Linda Upmeyer, a Republican from Clear Lake, says this bill should be “no surprise” since House Republicans tried to make many of these changes six years ago.

“The goal is to take another look and make some changes to a process that hasn’t been looked at very thoroughly in 40 years,” Upmeyer says. Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix, a Republican from Shell Rock, says the bill “is a better deal for Iowa taxpayers. “The proposal before us is about local control…It gives school boards the opportunity to improve student achievement by keeping the best teachers in the classroom,” Dix says.And Dix says getting rid of seniority will let school officials fire “the occasional…bad apple” in the teaching profession.

Tammy Wawro is president of the Iowa State Education Association, the union that represents 34-thousand teachers.  “I am beyond angry today,” Wawro said during a statehouse news conference. “I am actually mortified.” Wawro is urging union members to talk with their co-workers and explain the scope of the legislation. “When you’re talking about removing seniority, when you’re talking about not being able even to have a conversation about what your insurance might look like, that doesn’t just impact union members,” Wawro says. “That impacts every public sector worker and employee.”

Iowa Federation of Labor president Ken Sager says isn’t just about STATE employees and teachers. The bill will hit 184-thousand Iowans, including those who work for cities and counties. “There’s been an ongoing effort, an ongoing vendetta if you will to penalize the very people in this state who provide the necessary services to provide for a civilized society,” Sager says. “There’s something fundamentally wrong with that.”

Danny Homan is president of AFSCME Council 61, the union that represents the largest share of state workers. “The Republicans in the House and Senate have cowardly crafted this legislation behind closed doors,” Homan says. “They have been hiding from those that this affects because it’s easier to betray working men and women without having to look them in the eye.”

During a statehouse news conference, the three union leaders said they were NOT planning mass protests at the capitol. Instead, they’re urging union members to attend weekend forums legislators hold in their home districts. Police and fire fighters in Iowa would retain many of their current bargaining rights under the proposed legislation, but fire fighters and police officers were among the union members who flooded the capitol yesterday to object to the bill.

A subcommittee in the Iowa HOUSE will discuss this collective bargaining bill early this (Wednesday) morning. A SENATE subcommittee has a two-hour meeting on the same bill scheduled to start at 11 a.m. It appears the bill is likely to pass both the House and Senate next week. The governor has indicated he’ll quickly sign it into law.

(Radio Iowa)