The senator who represents Mount Pleasant in the Iowa legislature is lamenting the now permanent layoffs of workers at the two state-run Mental Health Institutes in southern Iowa. Senator Rich Taylor, a Democrat from Mount Pleasant, notes that Monday was the last day for three dozen workers at the M-H-I in his town.

Some legislators have suggested the closure of the state-run institutes for patients with acute mental illness needed to be delayed until adequate alternatives were in place, but Governor Terry Branstad made it clear he believes he had the authority as chief executive of state government to close the facilities now. Taylor made an appeal to his fellow senators yesterday.

May 18th is the target date to complete layoffs at the Clarinda Mental Health Institute. May 31st is the target date for complete closure of the M-H-I in Mount Pleasant. Branstad has said the state “can’t continue to just throw money at a broken system” and he told reporters on Monday he has was elected “to reduce the size and cost of government.”