This year’s legislative session saw a change in overall leadership with the Republican Party controlling the legislative and executive branches.

Representative Clel Baudler tells Raccoon Valley Radio News that although Republicans have been voted into power across all branches of government, they should be careful how they restructure Iowa laws.

“When you have the trifecta, that is the senate, house and governor’s office, there are some things that need to be changed, but a lot of them require a spade shovel and a few wheelbarrows and in a couple instances, we brought a Caterpillar with a big blade on it.”

Representative Baulder gave the example of the deconstruction of collective bargaining as an issue that he feels went too far this past session.

“We needed to change re-certification to get bad employees out and keep good ones in, but we didn’t need to blow up chapter 20 completely to do that.”

He says despite his complaints he feels it was a productive session for the legislature and is especially proud of House File 517, which restructured Iowa firearms legislation.