Senator Donahue’s April 4 Newsletter

From the Desk of Senator Donahue

The second funnel has now come and gone. All bills from the House and the Senate should be through a committee — or they should be “dead” for this session. But we all know about the “zombie bills” that keep coming back, showing up in budgets to get them through.

These are bills that really had no path to pass, so they attach them to a budget that has to pass to close session out. So, we will be looking for those and looking to amend the budgets to remove the bad policies being stuck on them, as well as trying to make sure that policies that help the people in Iowa get the funding they need. Enjoy the rest of my newsletter this week with more information in detail below.

All bills that have made their way through a committee are available for debate until the end of session, as are the funnel-proof bills that are in Ways and Means or the Appropriations committees.

Here are a few of the events around the district this week:

This week we have another group of people with someone BIG birthdays. I don’t divulge what that actual number is, but I do hope that if you know these folks, that you will make sure to wish them a very happy birthday week!!

Karen	Bonser
Sean	McKee
Emma	Steiner
Carolyn	Cook
Jill	Sage
Dawn	Duskin
Ruth	Neppl
Mandi	Gaylord-Robertson
Cara	Farmer
Cheryl	Burns
Elise	Flanagan
George	Heitzman
Sherry	Carolan
Paige	Beall
Kurt	Kraus
Marsha	Kramer
Janet	Schminkey
Jacqueline	Towley
John	Dawson
Marilyn	Beahm

Warning Signs for Iowa’s Economy

What impact are we having on Iowans’ day-to-day lives? Are our constituents feeling positive effects from our choices?

As legislators, these questions should be at the top of our minds when we make decisions at the Capitol that affect Iowans and their families. Unfortunately, recent evidence and economic indicators paint a clear picture that, after eight years of total Republican control, Iowans are not experiencing positive effects.

In a recent release, the Bureau of Economic Analysis showed that in real, inflation-adjusted terms, Iowa’s gross domestic product (GDP) contracted in 2024. That’s a distinction only awarded to Iowa and North Dakota – the 48 other states and the District of Columbia all saw real GDP growth in 2024. The BEA’s release also laid out the change in personal income by state. The good news: personal income grew in Iowa in 2024. The bad news: 47 other states grew more.

Iowa’s economy is simply not keeping pace with our neighbors or the rest of the country.

Part of the problem lies with Iowa’s slow population growth. A report from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that between 2020 and 2024, 98% of Iowa’s population growth was a result of international immigration. During the same time period, Iowa lost over 9,000 residents to domestic migration – meaning over 9,000 Iowans left the state to live somewhere else.

The Iowa Business Council cites Iowa’s slow population growth as an impediment to the state’s economic progress, while also noting Iowa’s worsening healthcare delivery system as a factor. Iowa’s national ranking for active primary care providers, obesity rate, percent of the population lacking health insurance, and well-being index have all fallen, while the availability of mental health providers continues to stagnate as Iowa ranks 43rd in the country.

Finally, the percentage of Iowa children eligible for free or reduced price lunch rose between the 2023-2024 school year the 2024-2025 school year. More than 42% of Iowa’s public school students now qualify, indicating a growing number of Iowa families in need of economic support.

Contributing to all these worsening economic markers is the constant presence of mass layoffs around the state. Just this week, Whirlpool announced it was laying off one-third of its workforce in Amana. The end of March saw the 16th round of layoffs at John Deere facilities in Iowa, and layoffs at Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids go into effect this month, affecting another 160 Iowa families. We can hardly go a week without another mass layoff notice in our communities.

All of these indicators should be a bright, flashing warning sign to our communities and to the Legislature. Where Iowa’s economy hasn’t stalled, it’s regressed. Under Republican control, the Legislature has not done enough to decrease the burden for Iowa workers, to lower costs for Iowa families, or to improve the lives of our constituents.

Something has to change.

Quick Updates

Healthcare for Firefighters: HF 969, a bill to expand healthcare for firefighters and other first responders to include all types of cancer, advanced through the Senate State Government Committee this week. The bill was passed unanimously in the House and is now eligible for a vote on the Senate floor. I am an enthusiastic supporter of this bill. Our first responders put their lives on the line for our benefit and they deserve healthcare that respects their sacrifice.
Subject to Confirmation: A responsibility afforded to the Iowa Senate is the confirmation of certain appointments made by the governor. The governor submits a list of appointees that fall under the Senate’s purview and each appointee is referred to a specific committee where they are reviewed. Confirmation of each appointment submitted to the Senate requires the approval of two-thirds of the members of the Senate. This process has begun and will continue through the first couple weeks of April.
More layoffs for Iowa workers: It seems like we can hardly go a week without hearing about another round of layoffs in our communities. Whirlpool announced this week it would be laying off 651 workers – roughly one third of the workforce at their Amana facility. The layoffs are a significant hit to the small community and, after years of benefit cuts, these workers will now navigate a complex and unfriendly unemployment process. Working Iowans deserve better protections. The Legislature should restore unemployment benefits and address the bureaucratic hurdles in the unemployment process to better serve impacted Iowans.
Pick a license plate: Iowans can now vote for a new education license plate online. The designs feature artwork from 16 student semifinalists from across the state. A committee representing art teachers from across the state reviewed and selected the semifinalists from over 100 qualified designs. You can access the online voting form to select their top three overall favorite designs. The winning design will be announced at the end of the school year and will tentatively go into production this summer. All semifinalist and finalist art designs will be permanently displayed at the Grimes State Office Building.
Graduation Rate Rises: Iowa’s high school graduation rate climbed to 88.3% for the class of 2024, marking a 0.8 percentage point increase from the previous year. This is the first time since 2020 that the state’s graduation rate has returned to pre-pandemic levels, matching the rate last seen in 2019. In total, 34,158 students earned their diplomas this year, reflecting continued progress in education across the state. More information on Iowa’s graduation rates, including rates by school district, are available on the Department of Education’s Graduation Rates and Dropout Rates webpage.
A Thank You to Public Safety Telecommunicators: April is National 911 Education Month and next week is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. I want to take a moment to thank our public safety telecommunicators. They are often the first point of contact for the public in emergencies, and they handle people’s worst days around the clock, seven days a week. Please take a moment to check out their crucial work.
Hail Damage: Hailstorms can cause significant damage to homes, vehicles, and other property, leading to costly repairs. Understanding how to handle an insurance claim after a hailstorm can make the process smoother, and taking preventative measures can help mitigate future damage and reduce potential losses. Learn more about handling hail damage claims here.
IEC webinar series: The Iowa Environmental Council has launched a new four-part webinar series focusing on climate change, resiliency, and disaster preparedness in Iowa. Free and open to the public, the series starts April 23, from 12:00-1:00 p.m., with a conversation about the relationship between climate and agriculture. Participants will learn about Iowa’s agricultural landscape and how climate change impacts farms and fields. You can read more about the series here.

Iowa Senate Democrats