Senate Democrats

Homepage                                             Feedback                                               Subscribe

Senate Republican Assistant Leader calls police officers, teachers, and others "bottom-feeders"

On April 20, 2005, Senate Republican Assistant Leader Mark Zieman specified a list of public employees which he referred to as "bottom-feeders" during Senate debate. 

At issue was a Republican effort to change House File 729, a bill updating the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System (IPERS).  The same bill had previously passed the Iowa House with a bipartisan 94-5 vote.

Bottom-Feeders One  
(Transcript)  (MP3 Audio)
Statement by Sen. Mark Zieman
Duration: 1:24

Bottom-Feeders Two  
(Transcript)  (MP3 Audio)
Senate Co-Leader. Mike Gronstal Rebuttal and Zieman Apology
Duration: 1:47

 

 

 

Transcript: Bottom-Feeders One   (top)

Senator Mark Zieman (R-Postville):  "This has been quite an interesting discussion.  It's quite interesting.  I went down and met with the BAC Board on Monday.  The Benefits Advisory Committee.  Maybe let's go over and see who sits on this board.  We have the Iowa State Education Association.  We have the Iowa Association of Community College Trustees, the School Administrators of Iowa, the Iowa Association of School Boards, Retired School Personnel Association, Sheriffs and Deputies, Sheriffs Association, Iowa Association of Counties, State Police Officers, State of Iowa, Chiefs of Police Association, Iowa League of Cities, the IPERS Improvement Association, AFSMCE, and, guess what, one public member representing the taxpayer.  Every fall, when I start going to meetings, I get to meetings and here they are, the bottom feeders, out there with their hand out.  They've got their hand out."

 

Transcript: Bottom-Feeders Two    (top)

Senate Democratic Leader Mike Gronstal (D-Council Bluffs): "I would say (that) Senator Zieman referring to public employees, people like teachers in this state that earn $5,000 less than the national average, corrections guards in our overcrowded prisons that we have reduced over the last couple years, public law enforcement people that are risking their lives every day, social workers that are out there with the highest caseloads in the country – the highest caseloads in the country for social workers in this state – (and) thousands and thousands of good public employees working every day to make this state a better place -- referring to them as bottom feeders is just wrong, Senator Zieman. I know everybody on this side of the aisle resents that and doesn't think it was appropriate.  

Senator Zieman: "Senator Gronstal, you saved me doing this tomorrow morning.  I do apologize for the statement.  I probably should have said 'public servants' that were asking for more.  My employees ask for more also.  I was going to handle this tomorrow morning, but I do apologize for that statement.  It was a little strong, but some of the accusations coming the other way were pretty strong, too."