Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Sue Dvorsky testified before the Iowa House on Tuesday in a public hearing, arguing against the omnibus budget bill proposed by Republicans.

Dvorsky said Republicans “didn’t do their job” to prevent layoffs and “responsibly fund education.”

Gov. Terry Branstad was not present at the hearing, which Dvorsky noted in her speech.

“In fact, today, as this bill is debated, Gov. Branstad continues to spend thousands of taxpayer dollars on a campaign tour across the state,” she said. “We need a House majority and governor who will work in good faith, not resort to gimmicks.”

Many days were “wasted” at the beginning of the legislative sessions, when Republicans “failed to create a single job in Iowa or improve our quality of life,” she said.

At the end of her testimony, Dvorsky “urged” the legislators to vote no on the Republican bill. She said doing so would “uphold our state’s rich tradition and truly stand by our democratic principles.”

— by Katie Heine