Commissioner Godfrey Files Lawsuit Against Governor for Reduction of Salary
As previously reported, the Governor reduced Commissioner Godfrey's salary to the lowest level for the position after the commissioner refused to resign, as the Governor had requested. The commissioner had noted at that time that his term was for six years, and was not a political appointment, as are those of so many other government officials. The Governor then reduced the salary based on his assertion that under the commissioner's tenure, Iowa's workers' compensation system had suffered. The commissioner noted that his performance reviews had been exemplary.
On January 11, 2012, the commissioner filed a lawsuit against the governor and the state, alleging that defendants had engaged in defamation, harassment, sexual discrimination and extortion. The documents can be found at http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2012/01/11/iowa-workers-compensation-commissioner-files-1-million-lawsuit-against-the-state/.
The state tort law claims relate to the manner in which the commissioner was treated in the press, with his job performance being impugned. The extortion claims are based on the fact that the governor's office attempted to force the commissioner to resign by reducing his salary. Also included are claims that the actions taken against the commissioner were based on his sexual orientation, as the commissioner is gay. Defendants generally denied the claims, and alleged in the press that they did not know that the commissioner was gay.
Regardless of the outcome of the lawsuit, the actions that have taken place unnecessarily politicize the workers' compensation system, and make it more difficult to assure that the work of the commissioner's office can be completed as efficiently as could be expected. Had the legislature wished the commissioner's office to be subject to political forces such as these, it would not have made the commissioner's term independent of that of the governor. The commissioner should be applauded for not bowing to pressure and continuing to perform the activities of the office to which he was appointed.
On January 11, 2012, the commissioner filed a lawsuit against the governor and the state, alleging that defendants had engaged in defamation, harassment, sexual discrimination and extortion. The documents can be found at http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2012/01/11/iowa-workers-compensation-commissioner-files-1-million-lawsuit-against-the-state/.
The state tort law claims relate to the manner in which the commissioner was treated in the press, with his job performance being impugned. The extortion claims are based on the fact that the governor's office attempted to force the commissioner to resign by reducing his salary. Also included are claims that the actions taken against the commissioner were based on his sexual orientation, as the commissioner is gay. Defendants generally denied the claims, and alleged in the press that they did not know that the commissioner was gay.
Regardless of the outcome of the lawsuit, the actions that have taken place unnecessarily politicize the workers' compensation system, and make it more difficult to assure that the work of the commissioner's office can be completed as efficiently as could be expected. Had the legislature wished the commissioner's office to be subject to political forces such as these, it would not have made the commissioner's term independent of that of the governor. The commissioner should be applauded for not bowing to pressure and continuing to perform the activities of the office to which he was appointed.
wow!! nice blog....thanks for post about Iowa Workers' Compensation....
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