The Democratic leader of the Iowa Senate's accusing the Republican leadership there of changing the rules to allow for "backroom" budget deals.
Senate Minority Leader Janet Petersen Tuesday said that in the Senate Human Relations Committee, Republicans voted as a block to remove a requirement that all subcommittee meetings be public. And she says the GOP majority voted to remove a requirement that the public be notified 24 hours in advance of any subcommittee meeting and location.
She says Democrats on the committee voted against the rules changes.
Petersen says she's heard that Senate Republicans plan to do the same in other committees.