STEVE: THE STATE REVEALED TODAY THAT THERE ARE NO NEW CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAKS AT MANUFACTURING PLANTS IN IOWA. STACEY: BUT KCCI WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE STATE’S RESPONSE AS THE SITUATION DEVELOPED. ONE COMPANY AT THE CENTER OF THE OUTBREAKS, TYSON FOODS. IT TEMPORARILY CLOSED PLANTS IN COLUMBUS JUNCTION, WATERLOO, PERRY AND STORM LAKE BECAUSE OF COVID-19 OUTBREAKS. KCCI’S LAUREN DONOVAN INVESTIGATED THE STATE’S RESPONSE TO THOSE OUTBREAKS AND WHO WAS INCLUDED IN PHONE CALLS WITH THE GOVERNO LAUREN: AN OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS HAVE REVEALED TO US A CHAIN OF EMAILS. AFTER SIFTING THROUGH MORE THAN A HUNDRED PAGES, I’VE HIGHLIGHTED NOTABLE CONTENTS OF A CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN VARIOUS TOP IOWA OFFICIALS AND CORPORATE EXECUTIVES AT TYSON. DOCUMENTS SHOW REPRESENTATIVES FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND LABOR GROUPS WERE NOT INVITED TO THESE CONVERSATIONS. >> I THINK THE PUBLIC WANTS TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF CONVERSATION WAS GOING ON BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE. LAUREN: ON APRIL 22, TYSON REVEALED MORE THAN 200 EMPLOYEES AT ITS WATERLOO PLANT TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19. AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST REVEALS THAT VERY SAME DAY A CALL WAS PLANNED FOR 4:00 PM. TO QUOTE, HAVE A CALL WITH THE TYSON FOLKS TO SEE HOW WE CAN HELP BUT ALSO WANT TO TALK WITH THEM ABOUT THINGS THEY SHOULD THINK ABOUT. INCLUDED IN THE EMAIL ARE BETH TOWNSEND, THE IOWA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR. DEBBIE DURHAM, THE IOWA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, JAKE SWANSON, GOVERNOR REYNOLDS’ POLICY DIRECTOR. ALL HAVE REFUSED ON-CAMERA INTERVIEWS. ONLY THEIR ATTORNEYS HAVE RESPONDED TO ME. AND ACCORDING TO THE ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING THESE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, NOT A SINGLE NOTE WAS TAKEN BY THEIR CLIENTS IN THESE HIGH LEVL MEETINGS. SO THERE’S NO RECORD OF WHAT WAS SAID. THE ONLY OTHER INDIVIDUAL LISTED IS IN THAT MEETING IS LOBBYIST, MATT EIDE. TYSON IS ONE OF HIS CLIENTS. FOLLOW-THE-MONEY.ORG FOUND EVIDENCE THAT EIDE AND HIS WIFE DONATED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO THE REYNOLDS CAMPAIGN IN 2018. >> A CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION DOES REPRESENT A RELATIONSHIP EXISTS OR IS DESIRED AND THAT’S REGARDLESS OF THE SIZE OF THE CONTRIBUTION. LAUREN: BUT EIDE WASN’T THE ONLY MEETING ATTENDEE THAT OPENED THEIR POCKETS TO THE GOVERNOR. AN AGENDA REVEALED TWO TOP TYSON EXECUTIVES ALSO ON THE CALL GAVE HUNDREDS TO GOVERNOR REYNOLDS IN 2018. >> IT DOESN’T MEAN THERE IS A QUID-PRO-QUO OR AN ASK FROM ONE OR ANY OF THAT, THIS IS REALY ABOUT THE CIRCLES IN POLITICS AND HOW SMALL THEY ARE. LAUREN: A SPOKESPERSON FOR GOVERNOR REYNOLDS RESPONDED THAT SHE WAS NEVER AWARE OF THESE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS. HER OFFICE DID NOT DIRECTLY ANSWER ALL OF MY QUESTIONS, BU PROVIDED THIS REPEATEDLY IN WRITING -- QUOTE, DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE GOVERNOR AND HER TEAM HAVE BEEN IN REGULAR CONTACT WITH FOOD MANUFACTURERS AND EMPLOYERS ACROSS THE STATE OF IOWA. THE GOAL OF THESE CONVERSATIONS IS TO MAINTAIN THE FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN, PROTECT EMPLOYEES, AND ENSURE COMPANIES HAVE THE TESTING THEY NEED. >> PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS OUGHT TO BE HEARING FROM ALL PARTIES AND NOT JUST SELECTED ONES. LAUREN RANDY EVANS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE IOWA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION COUNCIL, SAYS HE MEANS LOCAL AUTHORITIES LIKE MAYORS AND COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES. AS WELL AS THOSE ADVOCATING FOR FACTORY WORKERS. >> THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE HAS BROADER RESPONSIBILITY THAN JUST TO THE CORPORATE CITIZEN >> WE NEED HER TO CHANGE HER PRIORITIES. LAUREN: JOE HENRY REPRESENTS THE LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITZENS IN IOWA, ALSO KNOWN AS LULAC. HE SAYS APPROXIMATELY HALF OF ALL FACTORY WORKERS IN THE STATE ARE LATINO. SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, HE SAYS HIS ORGANIZATION HAS NEVER BEEN INCLUDED IN ANY SUCH CONVERSATION >> IT’S PLACING PEOPLE FIRST, THAT’S WHAT THE GOVERNOR RAN ON AND TO NOT PUT PEOPLE FIRST THAT’S VERY DISHEARTENING STACEY: TYSON HAS TAKEN NUMEROUS MEASURES TO KEEP THEIR PLANT WORKERS SAFE INCLUDING TEMPERATURE CHECKS, FACE COVERINGS AND DIVIDERS BETWEEN WORK STATIONS. THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE ALSO TELLS US THEY’VE BEEN IN REGULAR CONTACT WITH NOT JUST TYSON, BUT NUMEROUS COMPANIES IMPACTED BY THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK.
KCCI Investigates: Who was involved in high-level conversations about COVID-19 outbreaks at meatpacking plants
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Updated: 10:42 PM CDT Jun 18, 2020
KCCI 8 News investigated who was involved in conversations with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds following COVID-19 outbreaks at meatpacking plants across Iowa.At various times during the pandemic, Tyson Foods temporarily closed plants in Columbus Junction, Waterloo, Perry and most recently Storm Lake because of COVID-19 outbreaks. All of those plants have since re-opened.On April 20, 2020 during her daily COVID-19 news conference, Governor Reynolds said, “I’ve been on the phone with the CEO and the management team for all Tyson plants to talk about what they’re doing proactively to make sure that they’re protecting their workforce, the strategies that they put in place to mitigate, to let them know that we do have the capacity to do surveillance testing.” Two days later, on April 22, 2020, Tyson revealed more than 200 employees at its Waterloo plant tested positive for COVID-19. KCCI 8 News Reporter Lauren Donovan filed an open records requests to find out just what was being said between state officials in Iowa and corporate executives at Tyson Fresh Meats later that day. A chain of emails revealed who was on a 4 PM conference call. The call included the governor, representatives from Tyson, Tyson lobbyist Matt Eide, Iowa Workforce Development Director Beth Townsend, Iowa Economic Development Authority Executive Director Debbie Durham, and Governor Reynolds' policy director Jake Swanson. Attorneys for Townsend, Durham, and Swanson told KCCI no notes were taken by their clients in these high level meetings. Therefore, no record exists of what was said. Randy Evans is the Executive Director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council. “The public wants to know what kind of conversation was going on between the company and the governor’s office. The governor’s office has broader responsibility than just to the corporate citizens,” said Evans.Evans said local authorities like mayors and county representatives deserve a seat at the table as do advocacy groups for factory workers. Joe Henry represents the League of United Latin American Citzens in Iowa also known as LULAC. According to Henry, approximately half of all factory workers in the state are Latino. Since the pandemic began, he says his organization has never been included in any such conversations. “It’s about placing people first. That’s what the governor ran on and to not put people first that’s very disheartening,” said Henry.Included in that conference call was Tyson lobbyist Matt Eide. Follow the Money.org found evidence that Eide and his wife donated thousands of dollars to the Reynolds campaign in 2018. A meeting agenda revealed two Tyson employees also scheduled for the call donated hundreds to Governor Reynolds during the 2018 campaign as well. “It doesn’t mean there is a quip-pro-quo or an ask from one or any of that. This is really about the circles in politics and how small they are,” said Pete Quist, Research Director at the National Institute of Money and Politics.A spokesperson for Governor Reynolds responded that she was never aware of these campaign contributions. Her office issued this statement to KCCI: "During the COVID19 pandemic, the governor and her team have been in regular contact with food manufacturers and employers across the state of Iowa. The goal of these conversations is to maintain the food supply chain, protect employees, and ensure companies have the testing they need." The governor’s office also provided a list of other companies the governor has been in regular contact with including: Agristar, ADM, Cargill, JBS, Seaboard Triumph, KraftHeinz, Smithfield Foods, Christensen Farms, Versova, GMT Corporation, Stine Seed, Tyson, Redwood Farms, Prestage, National Beef, Upper Iowa Beef, TPI Composites, West Liberty Foods, Perdue Farms, Midwest Premier Foods, Roseacre Farms, Red Star Yeast Company, Lynch Livestock, GOMACO, Sioux City Farmers Market, Hormel, Bayer, Crop Science, Iowa Select, SEKISUI Aerospace, Rembrandt Foods, Iowa State Dairy Association, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship, Iowa Cattlemen Association, Iowa Turkey Federation, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, Iowa Biodiesel Board, Iowa Chamber Alliance, Iowa Biotechnology Association and Association of Iowa Fair.Tyson Foods has told KCCI it has implemented numerous safety measures to protect plant workers including temperature checks, face coverings and dividers between work stations.
WATERLOO, Iowa — KCCI 8 News investigated who was involved in conversations with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds following COVID-19 outbreaks at meatpacking plants across Iowa.
At various times during the pandemic, Tyson Foods temporarily closed plants in Columbus Junction, Waterloo, Perry and most recently Storm Lake because of COVID-19 outbreaks. All of those plants have since re-opened.
On April 20, 2020 during her daily COVID-19 news conference, Governor Reynolds said, “I’ve been on the phone with the CEO and the management team for all Tyson plants to talk about what they’re doing proactively to make sure that they’re protecting their workforce, the strategies that they put in place to mitigate, to let them know that we do have the capacity to do surveillance testing.”
Two days later, on April 22, 2020, Tyson revealed more than 200 employees at its Waterloo plant tested positive for COVID-19.
KCCI 8 News Reporter Lauren Donovan filed an open records requests to find out just what was being said between state officials in Iowa and corporate executives at Tyson Fresh Meats later that day.
A chain of emails revealed who was on a 4 PM conference call. The call included the governor, representatives from Tyson, Tyson lobbyist Matt Eide, Iowa Workforce Development Director Beth Townsend, Iowa Economic Development Authority Executive Director Debbie Durham, and Governor Reynolds' policy director Jake Swanson.
Attorneys for Townsend, Durham, and Swanson told KCCI no notes were taken by their clients in these high level meetings. Therefore, no record exists of what was said.
Randy Evans is the Executive Director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council.
“The public wants to know what kind of conversation was going on between the company and the governor’s office. The governor’s office has broader responsibility than just to the corporate citizens,” said Evans.
Evans said local authorities like mayors and county representatives deserve a seat at the table as do advocacy groups for factory workers.
Joe Henry represents the League of United Latin American Citzens in Iowa also known as LULAC. According to Henry, approximately half of all factory workers in the state are Latino. Since the pandemic began, he says his organization has never been included in any such conversations.
“It’s about placing people first. That’s what the governor ran on and to not put people first that’s very disheartening,” said Henry.
Included in that conference call was Tyson lobbyist Matt Eide. Follow the Money.org found evidence that Eide and his wife donated thousands of dollars to the Reynolds campaign in 2018.
A meeting agenda revealed two Tyson employees also scheduled for the call donated hundreds to Governor Reynolds during the 2018 campaign as well.
“It doesn’t mean there is a quip-pro-quo or an ask from one or any of that. This is really about the circles in politics and how small they are,” said Pete Quist, Research Director at the National Institute of Money and Politics.
A spokesperson for Governor Reynolds responded that she was never aware of these campaign contributions.
Her office issued this statement to KCCI: "During the COVID19 pandemic, the governor and her team have been in regular contact with food manufacturers and employers across the state of Iowa. The goal of these conversations is to maintain the food supply chain, protect employees, and ensure companies have the testing they need."
The governor’s office also provided a list of other companies the governor has been in regular contact with including: Agristar, ADM, Cargill, JBS, Seaboard Triumph, KraftHeinz, Smithfield Foods, Christensen Farms, Versova, GMT Corporation, Stine Seed, Tyson, Redwood Farms, Prestage, National Beef, Upper Iowa Beef, TPI Composites, West Liberty Foods, Perdue Farms, Midwest Premier Foods, Roseacre Farms, Red Star Yeast Company, Lynch Livestock, GOMACO, Sioux City Farmers Market, Hormel, Bayer, Crop Science, Iowa Select, SEKISUI Aerospace, Rembrandt Foods, Iowa State Dairy Association, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship, Iowa Cattlemen Association, Iowa Turkey Federation, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, Iowa Biodiesel Board, Iowa Chamber Alliance, Iowa Biotechnology Association and Association of Iowa Fair.
Tyson Foods has told KCCI it has implemented numerous safety measures to protect plant workers including temperature checks, face coverings and dividers between work stations.
