Iowa Gov. Chet Culver said Monday he'll likely call for tougher state laws after the discovery that mentally disabled men from Texas had for years been lodged in an unsafe and poorly heated house while working at an eastern Iowa turkey processing plant.
The governor said local officials were going to court to allow the state to take guardianship of the men and would launch an investigation of how the situation in Muscatine County was allowed to continue for 20 years.
"It's too soon to know the extent of the potential criminal and civil penalties and fines," Culver said at a Statehouse news conference. "This is going to be a very extensive and thorough legal process."
Culver appeared with Department of Human Services director Gene Gessow, who said the state first became aware of the situation last Thursday when a caller to a DHS hot line reported the abuse.
Iowa may seek new laws after turkey plant reports
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The governor said local officials were going to court to allow the state to take guardianship of the men and would launch an investigation of how the situation in Muscatine County was allowed to continue for 20 years.
"It's too soon to know the extent of the potential criminal and civil penalties and fines," Culver said at a Statehouse news conference. "This is going to be a very extensive and thorough legal process."
Culver appeared with Department of Human Services director Gene Gessow, who said the state first became aware of the situation last Thursday when a caller to a DHS hot line reported the abuse.
Iowa may seek new laws after turkey plant reports
More information:
Bunkhouse case may move slowly
Iowa agency: Housing disabled men was criminal
Iowa probes plant that employed mentally retarded
FBI Investigates Employer Of Mentally Disabled Workers Found In ...
See also:
"Kind Care"
3 comments:
20 years?
Governor Culver will "likely" call for tougher state laws?
Likely?
I am not at all impressed with such a weak statement from a state leader.
I had to look at that again -- 20 years?
No one checked up on this poor man for 20 years? No one? Not his family, not a social worker? No one?
And the gove is "likely" going to call for tougher state laws? Likely? That statement is non-responsive and sounds too much like spin.
We as a society have let our leaders become weak and ineffective. I am very disappointed to read that a governor sounds like a brownie scout.
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