Senator Donahue’s Oct. 25 Newsletter

From the Desk of Senator Donahue

It has been a very busy fall! Only a week and half left until the election. I hope you have a plan to vote. If you need more information about who is running and what they’re running for, here is the Linn County voter guide of ALL candidates:

Candidate Profiles | The Gazette 2024 Voter Guide

Make a Plan to Vote!

While many of you have already taken advantage of Iowa’s early in-person voting and mail-in absentee ballot options, I want to provide a few resources and options for folks who haven’t voted or returned their ballots yet.

If you plan to wait and vote in person, Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. The polls will be open on Election Day from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. CT. You can find your local polling place here. Please keep in mind that polls close an hour earlier than they have in the past, so be sure to leave yourself enough time!

Absentee ballots were mailed out on Oct. 16. We recommend that you return your ballot as quickly as possible. Your auditor must receive your ballot by 8 p.m. on Election Day. In order to make sure it arrives on time we are suggesting that you get your completed ballot in the mail by Oct. 25. If it is after Oct. 25, you can deliver your completed absentee ballot to your County Auditor in person or bring it with you to your polling place on Election Day (you will surrender that ballot and vote on a regular ballot from the poll workers). You can track your ballot online anytime at bit.ly/trackmyiowaballot. When filling out your absentee ballot, be sure to complete and sign the affidavit. Your vote will not be counted if you skip this step.

Iowa voters can also vote early in person before Election Day at their County Auditor’s office. You can find your County Auditor’s contact information and location here. Some counties also provide additional, satellite locations for early in-person voting. You can find hours and locations at iwillvote.com. County Auditors are a great source of voting information in general, so if you have any questions or concerns, I encourage you to reach out to them.

You can check your voter registration status at the Iowa Secretary of State’s website or by visiting iwillvote.com. If you are not registered, you can register on Election Day.

To register on Election Day, you must bring both a proof of residence and a valid form of ID with an expiration date to your polling place. Acceptable forms of proof of residence include a residential lease, utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, other government document, or a property tax statement.

Iowa now requires voters to provide identification in order to vote, so be sure to have one of the valid forms of ID with you when you go to the polls. Valid forms of ID include:

Iowa Driver’s License (not expired more than 90 days)
Iowa Non-Operator ID (not expired more than 90 days)
U.S. Passport (not expired)
U.S. Military ID or Veteran ID (not expired)
Iowa Voter Identification Card (must be signed)
Tribal ID Card/Document (must be signed, with photo, not expired)

Senate Democrats Committed to Fighting for Workers Year Round

This month, Senate Democrats joined AFSCME Council 61 in demanding action to address the escalating safety crisis in Iowa’s correctional facilities following a recent assault on correctional officers at the Iowa State Penitentiary.

October also saw Cargill employees in Cedar Rapids begin to strike for fair wages. Several members of the Senate Democrats joined Teamsters Local 238 on the picket line in support.

We believe all working Iowans have the right to fair pay and safe working conditions, and we will always stand in solidarity with the men and women who fight for those rights.

Reynolds Administration Leaves Money on the Table

Earlier this month, we brought to Iowans’ attention the Reynolds Administration’s repeated failure to apply for federal funding opportunities aimed at helping Iowa families.

In total, the missed funding opportunities could have provided up to $67 million to improve maternal health care, expand early childhood education, and help families participate in the USDA’s summer food program.

Iowa’s maternal mortality and infant mortality rates are on the rise, our public education funding lags behind our neighbors, and one in six Iowa children are facing hunger. And yet, the Reynolds administration has repeatedly failed to apply for federal funding designed to support Iowa families. Iowans deserve answers.

Quick Updates

Iowa’s Revenues are Declining. The Iowa Revenue Estimating Panel met on Oct. 17 and estimated that Iowa’s revenues will decline this current fiscal year and the next fiscal year. This is very concerning because, despite declining revenues, Gov. Reynolds’ and Statehouse Republicans’ private school voucher program is set to remove its income eligibility cap next year. Iowans will see even more money siphoned away from our public schools with virtually no accountability or transparency on how those dollars are being spent. Their private school voucher scheme is growing, and the state’s revenues are declining. That’s not a winning combination.
October is Dyslexia Awareness Month. These four resources can help you become more informed about dyslexia, the most common learning disability. Efforts like the Iowa Dyslexia Task Force brought together educators, parents, and experts to assess the needs of students with dyslexia and made recommendations to improve support, including better screening and teacher training.
October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Bullying affects kids everywhere and can lead to long-lasting, negative effects. While kids are usually the first to see bullying happen and can have the power to stand up against bullying and model acceptable behavior to their peers, parents and adults play an important role as well. To prevent and stop bullying, kids should know what to do when bullying happens and can get involved in a bullying prevention program at their school. Bullying won’t stop overnight but working together we can make positive changes and work to stop bullying!
Federal Funding for Broadband Expansion. The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has approved Iowa’s initial proposal for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. NTIA allocated the State of Iowa over $415 million to fund buildout of broadband infrastructure to all unserved and underserved locations throughout Iowa. This approval enables Iowa to request access to the funding and begin implementation of its BEAD program. For more information and to see a detailed view of the State’s BEAD program, visit the Department of Management’s website here: https://dom.iowa.gov/broadband/bead-program
Congratulations to Cedar Rapids Public Schools for expanding opportunities for their students. Cedar Rapids Public Schools were awarded nearly $15 million in federal grant funds to enhance college and career readiness programs. The district is one of only 12 nationwide, and the sole recipient in Iowa, to receive this funding from the U.S. Department of Education’s Magnet Schools Assistance Program. Approximately $6.5 million of the total will be available immediately, enabling the launch of the Future Ready College & Career Academies at Washington and Jefferson High Schools next fall. The Cedar Rapids district already has several magnet programs at the elementary and middle school levels, focusing on themes like sustainability, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), and leadership.
Medicare Open Enrollment. From Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, Medicare enrollees have the ability to consider different plans for Medicare coverage. There are several changes coming to Medicare coverage following federal action, including a cap on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs at $2,000/member. Check out these tips from the AARP on open enrollment, and consider contacting our Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) for free counseling on available plans at 1-800-351-4664.
Check with your doctors on measles vaccination. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services has issued guidance to Iowa providers after dozens of cases of measles have been confirmed in Minnesota. There have been no confirmed cases in Iowa, but the best way to prevent cases is to ensure proper vaccination.
Autumnal activities! Start planning your autumn excursions today with these great resources:
- Travel Iowa haslists of apple orchards, pumpkin patches, must-visit fall attractions, fall festivals, scenic drives, and more.
- MyCountyParks.com: Attend a fun fall program for the whole family at a local county park.
- Iowa State Park Passport: Discover your new favorite parks, check in to track your outdoor adventures and earn prizes.

Fall Foliage alert!Sign up to get fall color reports emailed to you weekly. Get details on where to see the best fall colors in Iowa.
Stay safe this harvest season. As fall harvest continues across Iowa, the risk of wildfires in crop fields increases. Iowa is seeing dry conditions for this fall with potential for wildfires in the fields. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages farmers and others to get reacquainted with fire prevention practices.