Despite staunch Democratic opposition that fueled three days of contentious debate, the Iowa Legislature on Thursday gave final approval to a bill that will dramatically scale back a four-decades-old collective bargaining law that governs union contract negotiations for the state’s public workers.
House File 291 was approved along mostly party line votes. In both chambers, only Republicans cast votes in favor of the legislation, although in the House six Republicans broke ranks and joined Democrats in voting against the changes.
“This bill, I believe heart and soul, is a win for all Iowans and the delivery of a promise from Republicans that we would reform governments to make it more efficient for the people for Iowa,” said Rep. Steven Holt, R-Denison and the bill’s floor manager in the House. “Smaller, smarter, innovative government is in this bill.”