August 26 & 27: Oversight Hearings on pressuring judges to rule against unemployed Iowans

August 26 and 27 Senate Oversight Committee Hearings

• Did Branstad officials pressure judges to rule against Iowans seeking unemployment benefits?
• The Branstad Administration’s response to overpayments: Why cover-up and conceal the facts?
• Did the Branstad Administration create a hostile work environment for state workers resisting an unfair “pro-employer, anti-employee” approach to unemployment benefits?

News clips below.  More information: Senate Interim Oversight 2014 Home Page 

Other Oversight Committee Documents 

 TODAY: Wednesday, August 27

Live link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Yq9fgWLIdE

Twitter updates: @IowaSenate

• Administrative Law Judge Clerk Joni Benson
• David Eklund, Manager
• Michael Wilkinson, Manager
• Jane Connor, Fraud Investigator
• Karen VonBehren, Fraud Investigator
• Philip Peacock, Factfinder
• Kim Rieger, Factfinder
• IWD Director Teresa Wahlert

Documents referenced

• Eklund email march 13 2014

SPEAKERS and DOCUMENTS

The following speakers testified under oath

Tuesday, August 26  Video: http://bit.ly/1BWfDeV

• Legislative Services Agency staffer Holly Lyons on LSA’s review of Branstad Department of Administrative Services claims of financial savings
•  Sworn testimony from Iowa Workforce Development Administrative Law Judges (ALJs)
  • Judge Devon Lewis
  • Judge Teresa Hillary
  • Judge Joe Walsh (former Chief Administrative Law Judge)
  • Judge Marlon Mormann
  • Judge Susan Ackerman
  • Judge Bonny Hendricksmeyer (retired)

Sen. Petersen Opening Statement:

Report by non-partisan LSA Fiscal Director Holly Lyons on alleged Dept. of Administrative Services savings

Judge Joe Walsh Statement (pdf)    (Word Version)

Wednesday, August 27  http://bit.ly/1qHwlFW

• Administrative Law Judge Clerk Joni Benson
• • David Eklund, Manager
  • Michael Wilkinson, Manager
  • Jane Connor, Fraud Investigator
  • Karen VonBehren, Fraud Investigator
  • Philip Peacock, Factfinder
  • Kim Rieger, Factfinder
  • IWD Director Teresa Wahlert

  end

More information: Senate Interim Oversight 2014 Home Page 

March 19th news conference by Sen. Bill Dotzler which got things started

http://www.senate.iowa.gov/democrats/key-senator-calls-for-federal-investigation-into-branstad-administrations-efforts-to-harass-and-improperly-influence-judges/

Staff told to stay quiet about extra payments computer glitch –KCCI-TV—August 20, 2014

http://www.kcci.com/news/staff-told-to-stay-quiet-about-computer-glitch-extra-payments/27642384#!bJX1HR

Agency sends extra benefits after computer glitch–Centerville Daily Iowegian (AP)-Aug 20, 2014

http://www.dailyiowegian.com/news/national_news/article_f75178dc-28d5-11e4-a608-0019bb2963f4.html

Branstad treatment of judges is wrong—Des Moines Register — August 16, 2014

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/editorials/2014/08/17/branstad-treatment-judges-wrong/14178601/

Godfrey leaving Iowa post for federal job—Quad City Times — August 4, 2014

http://qctimes.com/news/local/government-and-politics/godfrey-leaving-iowa-post-for-federal-job/article_6d00d9fd-5fbb-5eb6-9920-4c580b29bb56.html

Ruling reinstates defamation claims against Iowa Gov. Branstad—The Associated Press – June 7, 2014

http://www.omaha.com/news/iowa/ruling-reinstates-defamation-claims-against-iowa-gov-branstad/article_e3eedd1d-5dd7-5bc6-ad32-6393b0f4b9c6.html

Wahlert gave positive reviews to judge she criticized—AP—April 17, 2014

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2014/04/17/wahlert-gave-judge-positive-reviews/7811307/

Chief: Board pressured to hire Branstad friend—Des Moines Register — April 17, 2014

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2014/04/17/leader-says-state-board-felt-heat-hiring/7811263/

Feds review Iowa Workforce Development bias claims—The Des Moines Register — April 11, 2014

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/local/government/2014/04/11/feds-investigate-workforce-development-bias-claims/7583377/

Former administrative law judge sues Iowa Workforce Development director—Radio Iowa — April 4, 2014

http://www.radioiowa.com/2014/04/04/former-administrative-law-judge-sues-iowa-workforce-development/

Lawsuit claims Wahlert tried to tilt unemployment comp appeals process against Iowa workers—The Des Moines Register — April 3, 2014

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2014/04/03/iowa-jobless-compensation/7273347/

Lawsuit alleges IWD head pursued ‘anti-employee agenda’—KCCI  TV—April 3, 2014

http://www.kcci.com/news/lawsuit-alleges-iwd-head-pursued-antiemployee-agenda/25306624#!bGPtBm

Lawsuit: Iowa official retaliated against judge—The Washington Times – April 3, 2014

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/3/lawsuit-iowa-official-pursued-anti-worker-agenda/?page=all

WORKFORCE WOES: Judge Files Lawsuit Against Director–WHOTV — APRIL 3, 2014

http://whotv.com/2014/04/03/workforce-lawsuit-wahlert-state-named/

Branstad’s ‘investigation’ was disappointing—The Des Moines Register editorial – April 2, 2014

http://muscatinejournal.com/news/opinion/editorial/columns/branstad-s-investigation-was-disappointing/article_ceb6bd0b-97e0-5dcb-94d1-a8dad07c2e0b.html

State Senator Calls for Federal Investigation Into Iowa Workforce Development—Iowa Public Radio – MARCH 20, 2014

http://iowapublicradio.org/post/state-senator-calls-federal-investigation-iowa-workforce-development