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Oversight committee: state officials stalling

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Democratic lawmakers, determined to question state administrators about confidential settlements reached with fired state workers, are accusing top administrators at the Department of Administrative Services of stalling.

The Senate Government Oversight Committee asked the agency's director, Mike Carroll to appear Thursday but he declined. Two other to administrators also said no.

Democratic Senator Matt McCoy, a member of the committee says it's the Legislature's role to provide oversight and he won't give up.

The DAS spokesman did not immediately return messages.

More than 320 state workers have been fired since Republican Governor Terry Branstad took office in 2011. Several were paid more than $427,000 to keep quiet about their dismissals.

Republican leaders say Democrats are pushing so hard because it helps Senator Jack Hatch, who's running against Branstad for governor.

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