I found this in my inbox from the good folks (Republicans) in the State Senate. Culver said he wanted more time for Iowans to react to the Collective Bargaining bill. Seems to me the only people supporting the bill are union thugs and Democrat legislators.

Iowa ’s Newspapers Agree “Democrats Abuse Power”

Democrats abuse power on collective bargaining

These important public employee negotiations require good faith from all participants. The heart of this bill began in bad faith. Democrats appear to have muscled it through simply because they could, driving a deeper wedge not only among partisans in the statehouse, but labor and management in the schoolhouse and city hall.

On Tuesday, Culver’s admonition prompted Gronstal to file a motion to reconsider, a legislative tactic that could lead to more debate. But we’re not sure Gronstal gets it. He said his motion will give the “governor and his staff additional time to read the legislation.” Good for the governor and his staff. How about taxpayers? Town councils? School board members? Republican lawmakers? Gronstal’s retort seems to discount any discussion, alternatives or compromise.

Quad City Times Editorial Board March 26, 2008

Legislature needs to slow down

An attempt to fast track a bill that would expand labor unions' collective bargaining abilities is short-sighted.
We concur. More time is needed to better understand and debate this potentially significant measure.
Perhaps that's where the debate should begin.

It appears, however, Senate Democrats have no interest in openly debating this bill. Rather, they want to rush it through right after the Easter holiday. Despite the afore-mentioned plea from the governor, the Senate went about the business of debating the bill Monday morning.
There is little credible evidence that the current law is broken. The rush to judgment appears to signal that even Senate Democrats know they aren't standing on solid ground. If this bill does indeed have merit, let's have a full and open debate.
But if Democrats push this bill through anyway without proper vetting, then Culver should veto it. That much, to quote the Governor, is "crystal clear."

Sioux City Journal Editorial Board March 26, 2008

Send this one back, Gov. Culver

Gov. Chet Culver should veto this one. The bill’s potentially huge impact on taxpayers and the lack of sufficient public debate are ample reasons for the governor to buck fellow Democratic leaders.

The sea-change legislation was tacked on to a non-controversial House bill as an amendment just six days before it got the Senate’s 27-23 OK. Republicans and many school and local government officials objected to the backdoor approach and rush to pass the bill before the Easter weekend. Senate leaders finally agreed to continue debate Monday.

Three Democrats joined 20 Republicans in opposition. It’s notable that one of the Democrats who voted no, Frank Wood of Eldridge, has especially broad perspective on this issue. Wood previously served as mayor of Eldridge. He is the student activities director at North Scott High School and has a long career in education, including 14 years teaching and 20 years in administration.

The governor is right. Now he should support his statements with his veto signature. Send the bill back.

Cedar Rapids Gazette Editorial Board March 26, 2008

Why rush such a big change?

Is this any way for law to be made in a democracy?

The law, or actually the potential law, in this case is a measure in the Iowa Legislature that would dramatically expand the scope of collective bargaining between public employees and their government managers. It represents a big change in the way Iowa government does business, from the schoolhouse to the courthouse to the Statehouse.

You’d expect that such a mammoth change would need to be widely discussed and debated by Iowans.

You’d be wrong.

No, majority Democrats in the Iowa House who favor expanding bargaining rights quietly filed an amendment Tuesday afternoon with hopes of tacking it onto a related but non-controversial bill. Tucked inside that unexpected amendment is the most significant rewrite of Iowa’s collective bargaining law since it was created in the mid-1970s.

Cedar Rapids Gazette Editorial Board March 22, 2008

Union bargaining bill no time for a rush job

A power grab. An end run. Those are some of the ways to describe the attempt by Democrats at the Statehouse to expand union clout by fast-tracking legislation this week with little time for public comment.

Changes in the labor-crafted legislation are not modest.

An especially worrisome provision in House Amendment 8164 would make it mandatory to bargain for cash compensation for unused accumulated leave, such as sick leave or personal leave. Now it is optional for public employers to bargain on this issue. If this provision becomes law, public employers would not have to agree to pay for unused leave, but over time it's likely to go to arbitration to settle disagreements. This eventually could end up costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.

What's going on up at the Statehouse is about the Democrats being in charge of both chambers and having the votes to move forward legislation they have long sought. That's their right. The discussion leading up to the vote, however, has been too hurried for most Iowans to have an impact, which is also their right.

Des Moines Register Editorial Board March 22, 2008

The Register editorial: Keep your veto pen ready, Governor

Gov. Chet Culver was right Monday to ask the Senate to delay voting on a bill that expands the power of public-employee unions because Iowans had little opportunity to comment on it. And, after the Senate passed the legislation anyway, he was right Tuesday to threaten to veto it unless there is "a real effort to listen" to people's concerns.

If not, the governor should veto the bill. Democrats in the Legislature so far have shown a lack of respect for Culver and for Iowans. He shouldn't reward them.

Des Moines Register Editorial Board March 26, 2008