Iowa Senator Janet Petersen (D-Des Moines) has issued the following statement on the Reynolds Administration’s repeated failure to apply for federal funding opportunities to support Iowa’s children.
“This summer, Gov. Reynolds and her administration failed to apply for a series of federal funding opportunities that could have provided up to $67 million dollars to support Iowa’s children,” Sen. Petersen said. “Iowans deserve answers on why she did not allow the State of Iowa to apply for federal funds to improve maternal health care, expand early childhood education, and help families participate in the USDA’s summer food program.”
This summer’s missed deadlines include:
$17 million for a federal CMS grant for Transforming Maternal Health Care
This cooperative agreement grant seeks to improve state maternal and infant health outcomes by providing funding for state Medicaid agencies to increase workforce availability, increase provider care quality, and help ensure wraparound services are available for pregnancy/postpartum care needs.
$21 million for an HHS Preschool Development Block Grant
This grant awards funds to strengthen existing early childhood education programs and increase access to high-quality early childhood care and education from birth through kindergarten.
$29 million for USDA’s SUN Bucks program
This funding opportunity would have provided an additional $120 per child to eligible families for groceries during the summer months of 2025.
The administration’s alternative proposal eliminating direct support for families was criticized by the USDA, jeopardizing the chances that Iowa families receive assistance next summer.
“It’s infuriating,” Sen. Petersen said. “Iowa’s maternal mortality and infant mortality rates are on the rise, Iowa’s public education funding is falling behind other states, and one in six Iowa children are facing hunger. How can the governor defend her administration’s repeated failure to apply for federal funding designed to support our kids?”
As a public school educator when I am not in Des Moines, I am seeing and hearing first-hand how the governor’s voucher law, AEA law, attendance law, as well as the book banning law have affected the students, their families, and the schools adversely.
There are also unintended consequences like doctors’ offices being swamped by parents needing notes to excuse their children who are ill. Or the county attorney’s office not having the workforce to attend all of the parent hearings for chronic absenteeism for students who have legitimate reasons for being gone.
I get it, attendance is important. I know that first-hand from my experience as an educator. But not all parents are bad parents. We need better ways to deal with families who are chronic abusers, and not do harm to all the others.
The same with books being removed from school shelves. Parents do their jobs well for the most part—they monitor what their kids are doing, reading, watching, saying, etc. That’s their job. Removing literary classics from the shelves also harms the learning opportunities and the critical thinking that has been taught alongside these books for decades. Again, for the few who disagree—they should not dictate for the many.
And again, I get it. Parents have rights, but they’ve always been able to have a different assignment or different opportunities for their kids if they didn’t agree. We should not do harm to all, for the few.
Take the gutting of the AEAs, for example. These were positions and systems in place to make sure that all school districts had equal opportunities for the students regardless of their district size or their funding. Through the “infinite wisdom” of the governor, she has eroded the system built to balance the field, and now urban areas who have more options available to them have better opportunities than those who are in the rural districts, and more personnel to provide those services and programs.
And last but not least, because there are more, but these are the main issues that I’m going to discuss this week—the voucher program.
The governor can play with semantics and call them ESAs (educational savings accounts), but they are vouchers, giving public funding to private schools. This is not how our public taxes were meant to be spent. And they are costing us nearly four times as much as the governor suggested they would—and we haven’t even hit year three yet.
All while she has undercut the funding for public schools for her entire tenure as governor—never meeting the cost-of-living increases or inflation rates. This decision, and others like it, is hurting our rural school districts. From harmful school laws to taxes not being spent on the things they were meant to be spent on, like infrastructure, fire, police, roads, bridges, water quality, conservation, broadband…the list goes on. But instead, she has stockpiled a surplus to utilize as tax giveaways to rich CEOs.
Just remember nearly 500,000 kids are in the public school system being cheated by the governor and the GOP—and 36,000 in private. Who is the GOP working for? Certainly not the majority of the people. And without the funding from President Biden, we would not be able to be fixing the roads and bridges or putting in broadband in rural areas. These are necessities in our communities, and they create jobs for the people.
Iowa deserves far better, and you have an opportunity to make those needed changes in November. I hope that you do!
It’s been an incredibly busy fall, and I expect it to stay that way through the first week in November, and then maybe things will slow down a little bit.
Enjoy this week’s newsletter, and I hope to see you around the district!
A New School Year Brings New Challenges
I recently posted a public survey that asked, “How are policies enacted by Iowa Republican legislators affecting your public schools?” I combed through your survey responses to discover what changes you and your kids are experiencing this school year. Here’s what you said:
By far the biggest change you said was affecting your public schools this year was private school vouchers. Respondents said vouchers are taking money away from public schools, creating an unfair imbalance that favors private schools and larger, urban districts. In rural districts, vouchers are leading to budget cuts, which in turn lead to overburdened teachers, unfilled vacancies, a lack of resources, and teacher burnout.
Over a dozen respondents worried that the state was becoming unwelcoming and unsupportive of teachers and paraeducators. A lack of professional development resources, growing class sizes, and reduced services are leading to teachers leaving Iowa altogether.
Cuts to Iowa’s AEAs were another primary concern. You worried that AEA employees are being stretched too thin and that funding cuts are causing school districts to do more with less.
I hear you.
Iowa’s public schools, especially those in smaller, rural districts, are facing unprecedented challenges this school year. Where we should be eliminating barriers to a child’s success, lawmakers have instead erected new ones.
Not so long ago, Iowa was a national leader in public education. We can get there again. Next session, I will work with my colleagues to strengthen public education that supports students, families, and teachers.
Iowa’s Public School Funding Gap
Iowa’s public education funding lags well behind inflation and our public school kids have been severely shortchanged over the past seven years. This is according to data from Iowa Senator Herman Quirmbach (D-Ames). Sen. Quirmbach, who has a Ph.D. in Economics, worked with the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency to dig deeper into the state’s K-12 funding history since Kim Reynolds became governor. Iowa’s K-12 funding is down $440 million for the 2024-2025 school year when taking into account inflation-adjusted dollars.
An average student entering eighth grade this year has seen their individual education funding shortened by $3,663 since starting first grade. The total shortfall since 2017, under the Reynolds administration, when compared to inflation comes to $2.1 billion.
This chronic underfunding of our public schools must change, our kids deserve better.
Quick Updates
Nursing Homes: The Iowa State Auditor released a report last week that found that the gap between inspections of nursing facilities are 17 months on average, which does not meet federal requirements. The audit report also shows that staffing levels remain low in Iowa, while staff turnover remains high. It’s clear that the nursing home legislative package I co-sponsored with other Senate Democrats needs to be a priority next session.
National Voter Registration Day is a voter registration drive that took place on September 17, 2024. As many as one in four eligible Americans are not registered to vote. Each year, millions of Americans are walled off from the democratic process due to easily solvable issues such as missing a registration deadline or failing to update their registration after moving. If you aren’t sure if your voter registration is up-to-date for November’s election, you can check your registration status here or fill out an online voter registration.
Make a Plan to Vote! Whether you vote absentee by mail, vote early in-person, or vote at the polls on Election Day, make a plan for how and when you are going to vote. You can find voting resources at https://voterready.iowa.gov/.
National Farm to School Month: Iowa Local Food Day, September 25, 2024 is designated as Iowa Local Food Day to kick-off a month-long celebration of bringing locally-grown food to school cafeterias. Local schools are encouraged to serve Iowa-grown or produced items as features in meals. Ask your kids if they noticed locally-grown products for school lunch or continue use Iowa-focused foods at home with some of these suggested Iowa Gold Star Menus.
Walk and Bike to School Day on October 2nd: The Annual Walk is an opportunity to join thousands of other Iowans biking or walking for 30 minutes. Workplaces, schools, organizations, and cities are all encouraged to register a walk for free at Iowa’s Annual Healthiest State Walk.
Business Builder Grants Available for Farm and Food Businesses: Small farms and food entrepreneurs can apply for grants from the United States Department of Agriculture to help reimburse costs related to growth and expansion. Known as the Business Builder Grants, the $3.7 million in funding is made available through the Heartland Regional Food Business Center. Grants are intended to promote business expansion, job creation, business capacity building, and increase local products in the marketplace. ISU Extension and Outreach is one of 34 Heartland Center partners working to fill gaps in resources available to local food and farm businesses that are looking to start and grow. The Heartland Center is accepting applications for its first-round funding through Oct. 15, 2024. Grant proposals will be accepted semi-annually for competitive subawards of $5,000 to $50,000 each. For more information, including a checklist of required application materials, visit the Business Builder Grant program online. Christa Hartsook can be reached at hartc@iastate.edu or 515-294-4430.
Local Schools awarded grants to purchase local fresh food: Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will provide $2,000 grants to 137 participating school districts or schools to purchase meat, eggs, produce, dairy, and other local foods from area farmers. Launched in 2022, Local Food for Schools (LFS) pairs school lunch programs with a local food hub to connect to area farmers. Through strategic partnerships and collaborative efforts, the program facilitates direct relationships between schools, food hubs, and farmers. To find out more information about LFS or how to participate as a vendor, visit the Farm to School and Early Care Network website.
St. Joseph Catholic School (Marion)
Free Mental Health Counseling: The University of Iowa’s Telepsychology Training Clinic (TPTC) offers free, short-term (5-10 sessions) counseling to Iowans who may have limited access to mental health care. The TPTC is currently accepting referrals for new clients. Please contact scheduling@uitptc.com or 319-535-0437 to inquire about services. Iowans who’d like to use the free service can find more information at the clinic’s website.
Learn More about Work-Based Learning Opportunities: With work-based learning (WBL) programs growing in popularity, Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) has launched a new website with resources for employers, businesses, and schools across Iowa looking to learn more about WBL programs. The website marks the first time Iowans can access all IWD resources related to work-based learning in one place. The website will be a critical entry point for employers looking to start or expand work-based learning programs, schools seeking business partners, and students and adults wanting to learn more about WBL options. Resources, including examples of WBL programs, funding opportunities, and ways to connect or start a new WBL program can be found at https://workforce.iowa.gov/wbl. This resource hub follows the announcement of a new webinar series that will guide a statewide discussion on how to build new WBL programs across industries. The series begins Oct. 1. For more details, visit https://workforce.iowa.gov/wbl-series.
September is National Preparedness Month: Be sure to check out ready.gov and ready.iowa.gov for information on emergency plans and kits. I’m especially a fan of the section for kids that can teach them preparedness through games.
Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Pam Jochum (D-Dubuque) has issued the following statement in response to the latest Iowa Poll results show that a majority of Iowans oppose the six-week abortion ban:
“Senate Democrats stand with the majority of Iowans who oppose the six-week abortion ban,” Jochum said. “We believe that everyone should have the freedom to make personal health care decisions without interference from the politicians.”
“It’s long past time statehouse Republicans listened to their constituents,” Jochum said. “Iowans deserve the freedom to make their own medical decisions.”
Des Moines — Iowa state Sens. Claire Celsi and Janice Weiner released the following statements regarding Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand’s new report on Iowa’s failure to meet federal nursing home inspection mandates.
“The auditor’s report released today validates with cold, hard data what we’ve known for months: Gov. Reynolds’ administration is failing to protect seniors in Iowa nursing homes,” Sen. Claire Celsi (D-West Des Moines) said. “Iowa lags behind our neighbors and the country as a whole on key indicators of nursing home resident care and safety. In a state where reports of abuse, neglect, and unnecessary death are a regular occurrence, the consequences of these failures couldn’t be more obvious.”
“The data revealed by the state auditor today is simply unacceptable,” Sen. Janice Weiner (D-Iowa City) said. “We must do better as a state, which is why Senate Democrats have put forward a comprehensive plan to ensure safety, support, and accountability in Iowa nursing homes. Iowa’s seniors cared for us, and it is past time for us to care for them.”
Senate Democrats’ legislative package includes four bills providing a comprehensive approach to improve the quality of long-term care across Iowa and address instances of abuse and neglect.
At the center of the package is Senate File 2304, which increases oversight and requires new transparency and accountability standards for long-term care facilities – ensuring regulators can adequately monitor nursing homes, enforce state law, and issue meaningful penalties for violations to help ensure residents are better protected.
“Senate File 2304 alone would go a long way toward correcting the failures revealed in the auditor’s report,” Celsisaid. “Republicans have so far failed to join us in advancing these commonsense reforms that will address an ongoing crisis in our senior care system.”
Other elements of the package include legislation-expanding alternatives to nursing home care for Iowa seniors; increasing pay for direct care workers to address staffing issues and increasing the personal needs allowance provided to residential care facility residents through Medicaid.
More about the package:
Oversight, Transparency, and Accountability in Long-Term Care: SF 2304
This bill creates a new Long-Term Care Facility Safety Council, adding citizen review and input into the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing’s oversight of Iowa’s lowest performing care facilities.
The bill requires more regular facility inspections, stiffer penalties for violations, and hires 30 additional nursing home inspectors.
Alternatives to Institutional Long-Term Care: SF 2306
The bill launches a robust study of alternatives to institutional long-term care led by a group of advocates. The study will review innovative models for elder care in effect in other states and identify paths forward for Iowa.
This bill invests in alternatives to institutional care, including home health care, adult day care, and dementia care specialists to enable Iowa seniors to stay at home.
The bill also expands the Return to Community pilot program to provide coordinated care for Iowans following hospitalization so they can return home, rather than enter and remain in an institutional care facility.
This bill establishes a $15/hour minimum wage for direct care workers that will rise to $20/hour over a period of years and then match inflation. Increasing the wage offered to direct care workers will help attract direct care workers to Iowa, retain current workers, and encourage younger Iowans to consider entering the profession. The minimum wage is contingent on Medicaid reimbursement rate increases.
Ensuring Independence and Self Care for Residents: SF 2303
The Iowa Medicaid program currently includes a $50/month personal needs allowance for long-term care residents who rely on Medicaid. That allowance has stayed the same for 20 years, despite rising costs of living. This bill raises the allowance to $85/month, allowing residents to purchase self-care items and live more independently in long term care facilities.
Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Pam Jochum (D-Dubuque) has issued the following statement in response to Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg’s resignation announcement.
“I am keenly aware of the unique requirements demanded of public servants and the constraints those requirements put on the time we are able to spend with loved ones,” Jochum said. “Stepping away from public life is never an easy decision, but I commend the Lieutenant Governor in choosing to focus his time and efforts on his family.”
“I thank Lt. Governor Gregg for his dedicated service to the people of Iowa these past seven years,” Jochum said. “I wish him and his family well as he begins his next endeavor.”
Des Moines — Iowa State Sen. Claire Celsi (D-West Des Moines) issued the following statement regarding recent reports on unpaid fees owed by nursing facilities to state agencies.
“Iowans expect accountability and oversight when it comes to taxpayer dollars and enforcement of our state laws, especially when it comes to nursing home care.
The reports regarding unpaid quality assurance fees are just another example of why we need change that brings better oversight of these facilities, and better care for their residents. Ten years is far too long for Iowa taxpayers to wait on these facilities to pay what they owe.
In addition to introducing a comprehensive package to address nursing home safety last session, Senate Democrats called for Government Oversight committee meetings to discuss the ongoing nursing home crisis in Iowa. Republicans have failed to address these issues in any meaningful way, but they have a chance next session to join with Senate Democrats and do the right thing.”
Sen. Celsi is the ranking member of the Senate Oversight Committee.
Des Moines — Iowa state Sens. Izaah Knox and Sarah Trone Garriott released the following statement in response to the news of Gov. Kim Reynolds’ waiver request to the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 2025 SUN Bucks program, which provides food aid for hungry kids.
“Rather than participate in the existing efficient program with proven effectiveness, the Governor has asked the Federal Government to instead fund an entirely new and untested proposal,” Sen.Sarah Trone Garriott, D-West Des Moines, said. “The governor’s proposal raises more questions than it answers.”
“Today’s press release offers very little detail about how such a statewide food distribution effort would be accomplished. I’ve been a part of local efforts to distribute meals and food boxes – it’s very complex. It is a huge undertaking, requiring so many staff, volunteers, vehicles, and sites. It is more cost-effective to mail EBT cards worth $120 for Iowa families to spend at their local grocery stores.”
“This summer, food pantries across the state have been overwhelmed by record numbers of families needing assistance. It’s time for the Governor to listen to those who are doing the work of helping their neighbors in need and apply for the 2025 SUN Bucks program. Even though this first deadline has passed, it is not too late for our state to take part.”
“The need is real, I see it every day in my line of work,” Sen. Izaah Knox, D-Des Moines, added. “Last month, our food pantry served 1,900 visitors – and food insecurity in our state needs to be meaningfully addressed.”
“I look forward to continuing to work with our state government leaders on their summer food waiver application to the USDA, and will do everything I can to get this new program off the ground successfully for summer 2025 and potentially year-round in the future.”
Des Moines – Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Pam Jochum released the following statement regarding the six-week abortion ban going into effect July 29.
“The ban on abortions as early as six weeks of pregnancy will have serious ramifications to Iowans’ health and future,” Sen. Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque, said. “Senate Democrats stand with the majority of Iowans who support safe and legal access to abortion.”
“In the face of this injustice, Iowans must stand up to attacks on their basic freedom and privacy – and they’ll have an opportunity to do so this November at the ballot box.”
Des Moines — Iowa State Senator Herman Quirmbach released the following statement regarding State Auditor Rob Sand’s new report on the Iowa Department of Education’s contracting with Odyssey, the private company that manages individuals’ private-school voucher accounts.
“Senate Democrats knew the voucher scheme Gov. Kim Reynolds and Republican legislators cooked up would take advantage of Iowa taxpayers,” Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, said. “The auditor’s report released today reveals an alarming lack of transparency and accountability from the Department of Education when it comes to the proper stewarding of taxpayer funds.”
Quirmbach added, “Today we learn that Gov. Reynolds and her administration agreed a year ago to double the payments to Odyssey, the private firm administering the voucher program. The Reynolds administration agreed to the increased payments to Odyssey in July 2023 but did not disclose the required justification until this month.”
“It is bad enough that the voucher program is syphoning hundreds of millions of dollars out of our public schools, but now we find that the Reynolds administration low-balled the estimated payments to the private company running the program and hid the cost increase until the State Auditor forced the disclosure. Reynolds has broken faith with the public’s trust on both education and stewardship of taxpayers’ money,” Quirmbach concluded.
Quirmbach is the Ranking Member on the Senate Education Committee.
Des Moines – Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Pam Jochum released the following statement regarding Friday’s Iowa Supreme Court ruling on the Republican-passed state law banning abortion after 6 weeks.
“June 28 will be remembered as a tragic day in Iowa history,” Jochum, D-Dubuque, said. “With today’s Supreme Court ruling, a small group of extreme Republican politicians and activist judges have violated nearly two centuries of tradition in Iowa – eliminating fundamental rights rather than expanding them and attacking personal freedom rather than defending it.
“Extreme anti-choice Republicans are obsessed with controlling Iowans’ lives and dictating their personal health decisions. And today, an activist court used its power to enforce that restrictive ideology rather than applying common sense, legal precedent, and the Iowa constitution.
“With this ruling, Iowans’ healthcare options are being decided by politicians rather than doctors. Iowans’ futures will be chosen for them. Many Iowans will suffer because of this ruling, and some will die because of it.
“Senate Democrats stand with the majority of Iowans who support safe and legal access to abortion. This despicable and dangerous ruling cannot be the last word on reproductive rights and personal freedom in Iowa. Activist judges and anti-choice Republicans cannot be allowed to control Iowans’ lives.
In the face of this injustice, Iowans must stand up to attacks on their basic freedom and privacy– and they’ll have an opportunity to do so this November at the ballot box. Extreme Republicans must pay a political price for ignoring the will of the people and trampling on fundamental rights.
“Finally, this ruling is also a warning for Iowa’s future. If extreme Republicans and activist judges are willing to reject clear public sentiment to undermine longstanding rights, then no other freedoms are secure either. What rights will they come for next?”
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