The embattled head of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services was fired today by Governor Branstad, after new evidence surfaced about confidential payments to laid-off state workers.
The former employees reached settlements with the state through mediation. Director Mike Carroll told a legislative committee and the governor that his agency did not approve extra payments to workers who agreed to keep their settlements confidential.
A new document reported by the Des Moines Register backed up one worker’s claims that she was offered $6,500 in exchange for her silence, in addition to a $70,826.25 settlement.
In a statement, the Governor said he was disappointed and troubled that Carroll gave him inaccurate information.
“I terminated Director Carroll today because new facts directly contradict what he told me and what he stated before the Government Oversight Committee. This is unacceptable," the statement read.
The Senate Oversight Committee is scheduled to hear from another DAS employee Wednesday. The Iowa Senate voted Tuesday to cut the DAS budget by $22 million until more information about the confidential settlements becomes available.
Janet Phipps has been named interim head of the agency.