Court: Veto used to close workforce office was unconstitutional
DES MOINES — Despite a district court ruling Gov. Terry Branstad’s line-item veto closing the Iowa Workforce Development office in Red Oak was unconstitutional, the local office won’t be reopening anytime soon.
Gov. Branstad announced in a conference call this morning he is requesting a stay of the Polk County district court decision, which he will appeal to the state Supreme Court.
Earlier in the year, Branstad used a line-item veto on a bi-partisan bill to remove a one-time funding source to keep the Iowa Workforce offices open. Red Oak’s office was one of several closed as a result throughout the state.
Two Democratic state Senators, Bill Dotzler of Waterloo and Daryl Beall of Fort Dodge, along with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Em-ployees, filed a lawsuit challenging Branstad’s authority.
“As Iowans were attempting to recover from the worst national recession since World War II, the Governor’s decision to close dozens of local workforce offices could not have come at a worse time,” Sen. Beal said. “The Governor has the authority to line-item veto legislation, but he can’t then keep the money. This is a political and policy issue that affects the lives of Iowans, but it’s also a constitutional issue.”
Branstad contends this is a case that will determine the governor’s line-item authority.
“It’s really more of a question of precedent and the power of the governor to control spending through the item veto process,” he said. “This is an important case because it is going to determine for the future and for future governors their ability to control spending and provide the best and most efficient services to the people of Iowa.”
The state workforce offices help Iowans search for jobs, prepare for interviews, im-prove skills and help businesses find qualified employees. They have been replaced with “virtual access points” which are dedicated computer terminals that provide access to the workforce development website and resources available there.