Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner has released the following statement regarding today’s confirmation votes in the Iowa Senate.
“In breaking the Senate supermajority, Iowans entrusted us with the responsibility of providing additional scrutiny to the governor’s appointees,” Sen. Janice Weiner (D-Iowa City) said. “This is a responsibility we take seriously, and we extended thoughtful and deliberate due diligence to every nominee.”
“Just this session, we have already confirmed roughly 99% of the governor’s appointees. There were a few appointees with whom we had concerns,” Sen. Weiner said. “We would have welcomed outreach from the governor’s office at any point throughout the process.”
“Under Mr. Johnson’s leadership, the Iowa Department of Health & Human Services has demonstrated serious disregard for the transparency and responsiveness that Iowans expect,” Sen. Weiner said. “Even House Republicans have publicly expressed disappointment with the department.”
“The legislature has been forced to run bills without the requisite fiscal information because the department has refused to provide it. The department has failed to respond to critical legislative requests regarding the health and safety of children in the state’s foster and adoptive systems,” Sen. Weiner said. “The department’s rushed reorganization of Early Childhood Iowa and its endorsement of drastic cuts to care for Iowans on Medicaid both represent a failure to provide adequate service to Iowans.”
“Hundreds of thousands of Iowans rely on the Department of Health & Human Services, but under Mr. Johnson’s leadership, those Iowans have been met with diminished care and services and a disrespectful lack of transparency and communication,” Sen. Weiner said. “Senate Democrats believe Iowans deserve more responsible leadership for such an important executive department.”