"This is not a time for half measures. This is not a time for Band-Aids. There are serious systemtic problems with state government…..Iowans deserve better," said Sen. Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, the bill's' floor manager.
But Senate Republicans strongly objected, saying the legislation contains a glaring omission because it doesn't require public disclosure of the reasons why public employees are fired.
"We should assure the people of Iowa that we really mean it when we say we want transparency and openness," said Sen. Julian Garrett, R-Indianola, who offered an amendment that was defeated on a party line vote.
Senate File 2358, which was approved 26-22 after a heated partisan debate, was sent to the Republican-controlled Iowa House, where it faces almost certain rejection, according to Senate Republicans. But Senate Democrats said they remained willing to negotiate with Republicans on the issues.
The Senate bill would ban confidential settlements with former public employees throughout state government, including state universities and state agencies, the Legislature and the courts.
It also would expand protections for state employees and others who act as whistle-blowers and would establish due process in the state's use of a "do-not-hire" database for former state workers.
In addition, the bill would require the state auditor to investigate previous secret settlements; prevent no-bid state contracts; outlaw cronyism in the hiring of state employees; and mandate the disclosure state worker bonuses.
The Senate bill is the Democrats' response to a separate government accountability bill approved by the Iowa House. House File 2462, approved in the House on a bipartisan vote, would prohibit confidentiality agreements and require public disclosure of the reasons for the termination of state employees.
One of the biggest issues in a lelngthy Senate debate focused on disclosing why state workers have been fired. Republicans insisted the information should be public, while Democrats strongly opposed it.
"Unfortunately, Iowans had the lights turned out on them today by this bill being passed by Senate Democrats,"" said Senate Minority Leader Bill Dix, R-Shell Rock.
Dix accused Democrats of trying to serve "union bosses," which brought an immediate objection from Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs.
Sen. Rich Taylor, D-Mount Pleasant, disagreed with disclosing the reasons for a public employee's termination. He said such information typically only represents allegations that a former employee may not choose to dispute because it is easier after a time to simply resign and move to other employment.
Sen. Matt McCoy, D-Des Moines, saidhe has no confidence in the state's ability to give out accurate information about former public employees. "We are going to be destroying peoples' lives," he warned.
Republicans argued otherwise. "I believe that taxpayers deserve to hear the whole story," said Sen. Jack Whitver, R-Ankeny. "Iowans have a right to know about the misconduct of state workers when it is serious enough for them to be fired."