Democrats object to $21 million bill to fix governor's 'big goof'

State senators advanced a bill to spend $21 million for a human resources software system after the governor’s use of federal coronavirus relief funds for the program was found to be improper.

Democrats on the Senate Appropriations Committee objected to the legislation, saying it represented misplaced priorities on the part of the majority Republicans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sen. Claire Celsi, D-Des Moines, said the bill was “fixing a big goof” by Gov. Kim Reynolds after the state auditor and federal inspector general found the Workday software system did not qualify as a coronavirus-related cost.

“So in the middle of a pandemic, we are thinking of non-related costs like a software system instead of all the pressing needs of our fellow Iowans like food, rent assistance and other things like that,” Celsi said.

Read more: https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/briefs/democrats-object-to-21-million-bill-to-fix-governors-big-goof/