Iowa lawmakers set aside the old Supreme Court chambers on the first floor of the capitol rotunda for a public hearing Monday. They didn't have nearly enough room. Several hundred Iowans showed up to express their displeasure in parts of the state reorganization bill.
Many in the group bussed up from Clarinda in southwest Iowa. They strongly oppose plans to close the Clarinda Mental Health Institute. Supporters of the Clarinda facility say they brought at least 60 people to make sure lawmakers knew of the hardships closing the facility would have on the community. Holly Mauer, a Clarinda business owner, questioned whether lawmakers should even be in the position of making this type of decision. Mauer said, "You are not equipped to be making decisions based on patient care. You are not medical professionals."
House State Government Chairwoman Mary Mascher, a Democratic representative from Iowa City, said the house expected to take up the reorganization bill later this week. The bill is part of a savings plan Governor Chet Culver needs lawmakers to pass to help him pay for the budget he submitted to them for the 2010-11 fiscal year.
Many in the group bussed up from Clarinda in southwest Iowa. They strongly oppose plans to close the Clarinda Mental Health Institute. Supporters of the Clarinda facility say they brought at least 60 people to make sure lawmakers knew of the hardships closing the facility would have on the community. Holly Mauer, a Clarinda business owner, questioned whether lawmakers should even be in the position of making this type of decision. Mauer said, "You are not equipped to be making decisions based on patient care. You are not medical professionals."
House State Government Chairwoman Mary Mascher, a Democratic representative from Iowa City, said the house expected to take up the reorganization bill later this week. The bill is part of a savings plan Governor Chet Culver needs lawmakers to pass to help him pay for the budget he submitted to them for the 2010-11 fiscal year.
