From the Desk of Senator Donahue
Upholding the Rules, Protecting the Institution
At the Capitol, our work is guided not just by the bills we debate, but by the rules and traditions that ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability for Iowans. Senate Joint Rules exist for a reason—they are the guardrails that keep the legislative process honest and prevent abuse of power, no matter which party is in control.
For decades, senators on both sides of the aisle have understood that abiding by these rules is not optional—it is foundational. There has long been a shared understanding that “doing the right thing” matters just as much as winning a vote. That tradition has helped preserve trust in the process, even during moments of deep disagreement.
Unfortunately, what we are seeing now is a departure from that standard.
Time and again this session, new GOP legislators have chosen to ignore both the letter and the spirit of our rules. From pushing amendments that are clearly not germane, to votes on legislation that is not yet legally eligible for consideration, these actions undermine the integrity of the legislative process.
This is not about partisan politics—it is about protecting the institution itself.
When rules are bent or ignored, it sets a dangerous precedent. If one side can disregard the rules today, the other side can do the same tomorrow. That cycle erodes public trust and turns what should be a deliberative body into a purely political one where process no longer matters.
Iowans deserve better.
They deserve a legislature that respects its own rules, honors long-standing traditions, and operates with integrity—even when it is inconvenient. Following the rules is not a barrier to getting work done; it is how we ensure that the work we do is legitimate, transparent, and fair.
I will continue to stand up for those principles, because the strength of our democracy depends on it.
Events happening around the district:
Chew on This: Grant Wood Seriously Silly
Community Days at the Marion YMCA
We have some BIG birthdays again this week. If you know any of these folks, make sure to wish them a very happy birthday!
| Lee | Schmidt |
| Nick | Nassif |
| Nicole | Ashby |
| Michael | Neece |
| Mallory | Dudley |
| Martha | Sundberg |
| Terry | Zaruba |
| William | Yirkovsky |
| Kathy | Zimmerman |
| Darrell | Lentner |
| Tracey | Niemann |
| James | Harrison |
| Melissa | Cohn |
| Jonathan | Kabagi |
| Brenda | Blazek |
| Keith | Johnston |
| Richard | Lohse |
| Kay | Crowley |
| Eric | Henderson |
| Susan | Gonzalez |
| Kellie | Steffenson |
| Coleman | Boley |
| Jeffrey | Frazer |
| Heather | Hardman |
| Jon | Thomas |
| Dennis | Baier |
| Whitney | Clarahan |
| Matthew | Wallace |
| Marilyn | Chambers |
| Kelly | Collier |
| Zane | Mustion |
| Geraldine | Hasley |
| Kimberly | Crawford |
| Amy | Crawford |
| Angela | Denker |
| James | Moore |
| Thomas | Strait |
| Sharon | Neilly |
| James | Kennebeck |
| Tracy | Feye |
| Jack | Bradley |
| Laura | Stucker |
| Timothy | Sallis |
| Jacob | Gordon |
| Marvin | Yeater |
| Roy | Jordan |
Majority Party Raising Healthcare Costs
These are interesting times in the Iowa Senate. This week, Senate Republicans rushed to bring a bill to the floor for debate – breaking internal legislative rules to do so – just so they could narrowly pass it and send it to the governor’s desk as quickly as possible. What was so important that it couldn’t possibly wait, you ask? A tax increase that will raise Iowans’ healthcare costs.
HF 2739 (originally introduced in the Senate as SF 2464) increases taxes on Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) – including HMOs under the state’s Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) and private insurance firms. The bill sets a retroactive tax increase, beginning January 1, 2026, and running through September 30, 2026, and also a permanent increase beginning October 1, 2026, and running for all subsequent years.
I know what you’re thinking. Why should you care about whether health insurance companies have to pay higher taxes? There are two main reasons you should care.
Who will really pay for this tax hike?
While the tax increase will be levied on insurance companies, Iowans will ultimately bear the cost. At a public hearing on the bill, a representative for Wellmark said the increase would be passed along to consumers, raising health insurance costs for Iowans on HMO plans by an additional $115 per person, or nearly $500 for a family of four.
The folks most affected by these spikes will be the Iowans who are already struggling with rising healthcare costs. We’re talking about people like Iowa farmers and small business owners whose health insurance premiums skyrocketed in January thanks to changes at the federal level. Times are tough enough as it is, now Republican lawmakers are cordially inviting folks to fork over even more.
Why is this happening?
During COVID, Iowa saw a massive influx of federal funds. The state’s Medicaid program, especially, benefited from these new federal dollars. We were experiencing high revenue growth at the time, which made some state lawmakers a little too comfortable. The majority party began slashing taxes, starting with corporations and the wealthy.
Like I mentioned last week when we talked about the “plan” unraveling, state revenues continue to sink, rather than rebound. But Senate Republicans are spending like nothing has changed. Now we have these growing deficits – $1.3 billion for FY26, a projected $1.2 billion for FY27 – and a $90+ million Medicaid shortfall which will balloon even more next year.
Republican lawmakers are using this tax hike – which, again, Iowans will pay for through higher health insurance costs – to drum up new revenue to fill the massive budget deficit hole that they created. Iowans will pay the price for the majority party’s budget mismanagement.
Here’s the bottom line: Iowans don’t want this. Republican lawmakers are rushing this bill through the process, trampling over procedural rules they agreed to, in the hopes that you won’t notice and you won’t know who to blame when your healthcare costs go up again.
Senate Democrats are laser-focused on affordability, and that means, unlike the majority party, we’ll continue to fight for policies that actually lower your costs, not raise them even higher.
The Second Funnel
Last week was the second funnel. Here is our updated list of where things stand.
Quick Updates
Learn how to hunt! Participants in this year’s Field to Fork program will spend the summer becoming proficient archers with compound bows provided by Iowa Hunter Education Instructor Association. As summer progresses, participants learn basic strategies for hunting deer, such as proper equipment, where to hunt, safe shooting practices, and tree stand placement. During the fall, the course focuses on how to field dress, clean, and cook deer taught by professional butchers and local chefs. The six-month course will be hosted in Ames, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, and Iowa City. Click here to apply by June 1!
Request your absentee ballot: The June 2 primaries are just around the corner, and you can now request your absentee ballot from the Iowa Secretary of State’s office. The deadline to request your ballot is May 18 at 5:00 p.m. Ballots must be returned by June 2. To print the ballot request form, click here.
150 years of UNI: This week, the Iowa Senate adopted SR 111, a resolution recognizing and honoring the 150th anniversary of the University of Northern Iowa. UNI began as the Iowa State Teachers College and has grown into one of our proud Regents universities, alongside the University of Iowa and Iowa State University. Go Panthers!
This Week around the district and in the Capitol:
