Iowa Leaders Not Planning Oversight of Glenwood Center
Des Moines, Iowa – Iowa Republican legislative leaders said last Tuesday they don’t plan to convene an oversight committee meeting to discuss problems at a Glenwood, Iowa, care center for people with intellectual disabilities until they know more.
Incoming House Speaker Pat Grassley said lawmakers are waiting to hear results of U.S. Department of Justice and state investigations into the Glenwood Resource Center before acting.
Grassley, speaking at a legislative forum hosted by The Associated Press, said last year House leaders were told by the former Iowa Department of Human Services director there was no need for an investigation. Senate President Charles Schneider said that Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and her newly appointed DHS Director Kelly Garcia appear to be handling the situation. Reynolds said she’s confident DHS is handling issues appropriately with outside doctors checking on the welfare of patients and teams evaluating procedures.
Senate minority leader Janet Petersen said Democrats sought an oversight investigation last year, but Republicans refused.
“I don’t know what the point of having a government oversight committee is if the committee is not willing to meet,” she said.
The federal investigation announced in November appears to focus in part on whether the state has violated the federal rights of residents by placing them at risk with experiments that include sexual arousal research. The center cares for about 250 people.
The superintendent was fired a couple weeks ago. An interim director is now in charge.
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