Iowa Governor Terry Branstad’s anti-bullying bill that was a legislative priority for his administration last session was declared dead in June after passing twice in the Iowa Senate, once as a stand alone bill, and another time as part of an appropriations bill. On Monday he responded with an executive order creating an Office of Bullying Prevention at the University of Northern Iowa Center for Violence Prevention.
The executive order accomplishes much of what the bill that failed would have done had it passed.
Branstad apparently is taking a page from President Barack Obama’s playbook. If the legislative branch doesn’t do what you want issue an executive order. Bypassing the legislative branch is an abuse of power regardless of what party does it.