Statement from Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen
“Governor Reynolds needs to put the health and safety of Iowans first. Iowans don’t want to be used as guinea pigs.
“Iowa is experiencing staggering daily infections, record-high deaths, and it has yet to hit its peak. This is not the time to try to make people happy by randomly reopening segments of the economy like crowded farmers markets.
“Governor Reynolds was elected to lead. That means listening to health experts, sharing all the data and analysis with Iowans, and doing what it takes to protect all Iowans. Iowans are strong and resilient. We can do hard things and make sacrifices, especially when we know the lives of our neighbors, families and friends are at stake.
“Safely reopening our economy will require a massive scale-up of testing and contact tracing and more social distancing until we begin to flatten the curve. We need to listen to and follow the advice and guidelines of national health experts to get Iowans back to work and protect the people we love.”
“Our prisons are places where
safety and security have to be given utmost attention at all times or bad
things happen. That’s true in the best of times.
“Over the past few years, though,
stretched thin with staffing issues, we have seen increasing violence and
assaults on staff—one case requiring an inmate to stop an assault on a
corrections officer due to unavailable backup. I raised these concerns—and the
lack of communication from the administration—in February when the Senate
considered the leadership of the Department of Corrections.
“We now are seeing the lack of communication and tendency toward reaction rather than preparation play out in a new, harmful way. With the dramatic increase in positive cases at the prison (IMCC) at Coralville, it is obvious that the State of Iowa has not done enough to protect Iowa’s public servants who are working the front lines during this public health disaster.
“There have been way too many
missed opportunities. Action and planning should have come when the rest
of the state was taking precautions, when the first positive test of a
corrections officer was known, when the first positive test of inmate was
known, or when a jarring ten cases became known this week. IMCC is the inmate distribution hub for
our state. Failure to take precautions and reduce risks there puts our
whole corrections system at risk. While many other states stopped doing intake
of new prisoners from Iowa’s jails, the Department of
Corrections continued to risk a major outbreak through continued intake
and prisoner movement. In addition, proactively testing staff
and inmates should have occurred.
“I’m calling on this Administration
to convene a teleconference today involving all wardens, the Director of the
Department Corrections, Public Health and Department of Human Services, and
AFSCME develop a new plan and improved protocols for keeping our correctional
and DHS facilities as safe as possible, improved PPE standards and usage,
expanded testing, and instituting premium pay for these essential workers
who are required to show up for longer hours and more restrictive break periods
despite the now obvious increased risk of exposure to themselves and
the family members they return home to when their shifts are done.”
For Immediate Release: April 19, 2020 Contacts: Sen. Nate Boulton (515-669-4259); Sen. Bill Dotzler (319-240-5594): Sen. Kevin Kinney (319-631-4667)
As the COVID-19 public health emergency worsens, three
Iowa State Senators are calling for immediate action in response to multiple
outbreaks at meatpacking facilities across the state.
The Senators are calling for immediate action by state
and local officials to:
Protect the health and safety of Iowa’s essential workers when they are on the job.
Stop the community transmission of COVID-19 among family members, neighbors and others who may be in contact with infected essential employees.
Prevent long-term interruption of the nation’s food supply.
“These Iowans are showing up for work, being pressed
into service for our economy and for the food security of our nation, but have
little confidence that their state or their employer are concerned for their
safety. These outbreaks are startling—and so is the lackadaisical attitude
coming from the state on what needs to be done,” said Senator Nate Boulton of
Des Moines.
“While the meatpacking plant outbreaks are drawing
attention now, there are many other manufacturing facilities across
the state that could face similar problems if protocols are not established and
implemented now,” added Boulton, who grew up in Columbus Junction, where the
COVID-19 outbreak is one of the worst in the nation.
“What we are seeing play out is borderline criminal,”
added Senator Bill Dotzler of Waterloo. “I represent workers who are telling me
that even the voluntary precautions being taken aren’t doing anything. They’re
having temperatures taken and the results ignored. These workers then go to
work in close proximity throughout their shifts, go out into the community and
expose community members, then go back into the plant where it all starts over
again. Action must be taken immediately to stop
further spread of COVID-19 and protect not only the workers at these important
facilities but our communities as a whole.”
“I see problems in two places: the livestock
agriculture community and the meat processing workforce. I’m hearing from
workers that they feel completely expendable right now, particularly immigrant
workers who are trying to make a better life for themselves. They feel
particularly at risk,” said Senator Kevin Kinney of rural Oxford, a grain and
livestock farmer. “But outside those packing plants, farmers across the state
are concerned that unaddressed problems in the packing plants will lead
to widespread outbreaks in those facilities that could shut them down for long
periods of time. If that continues, we are going to have a lot of farmers with
no place to market hogs, chickens and cattle in this state.”
The Senators are calling for three immediate
points of action to address this crisis:
The State Labor Commissioner — with input from representatives of the major livestock processing companies, representatives of the major labor unions representing livestock processing workers, and the department of public health – must issue stricter requirements for worker safety operational standards and protocols that include consideration of systemic disinfecting, reorganizing, and reopening closed facilities after new safety measures are put in place.
As part of the process of seeking input on safety protocols, Iowa’s Labor Commissioner and Iowa Department of Public Health must also develop new public health crisis emergency rules for limiting the spread of COVID-19 in manufacturing and livestock processing facilities.
Iowa OSHA inspectors must immediately inspect each livestock processing facility to ensure current and any newly-enacted emergency rules and standards are being followed. According to the Labor Commissioner, not one meatpacking facility in Iowa has had an OSHA inspection since the public health emergency was declared.
“Protecting both Iowa workers and the nation’s
food supply is just too important for us to wait and see what happens as
individual meatpacking companies are left to lead on this.
Hoping for the best is a high-stakes gamble that threatens the health and
safety of thousands of Iowans,” Boulton said.
When trouble hits our state,
Iowans want leaders who talk straight and make sure all Iowans can be part of
the solution.
That’s true when we are
helping fellow Iowans recover from flooding, tornadoes and other natural
disasters. And it’s certainly true of our efforts to battle the COVID-19
pandemic.
If we are not all pulling in
the same direction, that hurts everyone.
Last fall, I had a
conversation with a member of Gov. Kim Reynolds’ team who was refusing to
invite lawmakers to attend a Maternal Health Summit to discuss such dangerous
trends as labor and delivery departments shuttering across the state at record
speed.
I reminded him, “You are the
Department of Public Health, not the Department of Private Health.”
Like many Iowans, I was
frustrated. I could see our health care infrastructure crumbling, and the
Reynolds administration was continuing its alarming pattern of not sharing
information.
Since the for-profit
privatized Medicaid program began, Iowa’s health care infrastructure has taken
a beating. Iowa’s nursing homes, rural hospitals, ambulance services and public
transportation services, and mental health providers were already financially
reeling before COVID-19 crossed our state’s borders.
The onset of this pandemic
was like pouring lighter fluid on Iowa’s financially shaky health care system.
In this perfect storm, the virus could trigger a wider health care disaster.
It’s impacted our everyday
lives, our jobs, our paychecks, our education, and our future. It’s gone
from being a public health crisis to a full-blown economic crisis, too.
Fortunately, Iowans want to
be part of the solution. That requires more Iowans knowing what is going
on. We deserve straightforward leadership that includes timely, accurate
data, and clear directions.
Iowa should take lessons from
leaders in states who are doing things right.
Governors who have been clear
in their message and have had tough conversations with the people they
represent about what to do to beat the virus are seeing better results. Most
important, they’ve acted quickly to save lives, knowing that time matters.
Leaders shouldn’t keep people
in the dark. There is no reason to withhold knowledge of COVID-19 cases from
Iowans who share the same living space or workspace with those infected. Iowa
families with relatives in nursing facilities and meatpacking plants deserve to
know immediately if their loved ones are being exposed.
Iowans are frustrated that
Reynolds is basing her decision-making on a “mystery model” instead of the
scientific modeling that other states are using, especially when they are
seeing better results elsewhere.
Iowans deserve to know the
governor’s plan for testing. The lack of widespread testing may give some a
false belief that COVID-19 is not going to hit our state as hard as it has hit
other states. The truth is that the continued lack of widespread testing and
contact tracing puts us at greater risk than states with more aggressive
testing measures.
Our continued shortage of
personal protective equipment should have more Iowans sounding the alarm
because it’s putting our front-line workforce in danger.
Overcoming the COVID-19
crisis will not be simple, but we can get there sooner with bold leadership,
better information, and more confidence that everything possible is being done
to protect the health and safety of all Iowans.
Iowans want to be part of the
solution. We want to help our front-line workforce. We want to protect our
friends and neighbors. Most important, we want more sunshine, especially from
the governor and her team.
For our latest COVID-19 updates, information and resources, go to wp.me/p8aBRy-7oW.
Iowa news on coronavirus
Legislators are receiving regular updates from state officials on coronavirus within Iowa.
It is normal to be concerned, especially with reports of illness and death, so we want to keep you posted on cases of COVID-19 and the state’s response.
At this time, 29 presumptive cases of COVID-19 have been identified in the following countied: Adair, Allamakee, Black Hawk, Carroll, Dallas, Harrison Johnson, Polk and Pottawatomie. The initial cases were people who had traveled to affected areas, but community spread is happening within Iowa.
How is the state responding?
The Governor has proclaimed a disaster emergency.
Iowa
Department of Public Health (IDPH) and their health care partners are doing
what they are trained to do to protect the patients, themselves and the
community. That includes:
** Upon discovery of the existence of substantial community spread of COVID-19 in the state, Gov. Reynolds is recommending that Iowa schools close for four weeks.
** The State Hygienic
Laboratory is equipped to test for cases of 2019 novel coronavirus in Iowa
residents.
** The Long-Term Care Ombudsman notes that many facilities are limiting visitation, but communication with loved ones will be available via phone, Facetime, Skype, etc. Concerns may be directed to the Ombudsman’s office at 866-236-1430.
According to IDPH, relevant information is being provided to schools, child cares, businesses, health providers, long-term care providers, emergency medical personnel, law enforcement and local public health partners.
There is a mandatory disease reporting order in place for
COVID-19. This means all providers must report positive results to IDPH for
public health surveillance and monitoring. Case numbers are updated regularly
and IDPH releases those details to the public.
What is COVID-19?
Coronavirus is a
respiratory illness. Symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath, appearing
two to 14 days after exposure. There is no current specific treatment for
COVID-19, but efforts are underway to evaluate potential therapeutics and
vaccines.
How it can spread
** Between people who are in close contact with one another
(within about 6 feet), via respiratory droplets produced when an infected
person coughs or sneezes. People are likely most contagious when they are most
symptomatic (the sickest).
** By touching a surface or object that has the virus on it
and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes, but this is not thought to be the
main way the virus spreads.
** Early on, many of the patients in the outbreak reportedly had some link to a large seafood and animal market, suggesting a potential animal-to-person spread. But chances are slim that pets or livestock could contract coronavirus.
How to prevent spread
** Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20
seconds, or use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
** Don’t touch your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed
hands.
** Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
** Stay home when you are sick.
** Cover your mouth with your upper arm or tissue when
coughing or sneezing.
** Disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
What precautions should you take?
** Go about your normal routine, but plan what you will do
if you or a loved one gets sick. What would you do if you could not go to work
or school because of illness? What if your daycare provider was ill? How would
you get groceries if you were ill?
** Travelers returning from a country where COVID-19 is
spreading—currently China, Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Japan and South Korea—are
encouraged to voluntarily self-isolate for 14 days following their return. If you
need to seek medical care, call ahead to your doctor’s office.
** Call 911 if you need immediate medical attention.
** Call 911 if you need immediate medical attention.
Upon discovery of the existence of substantial community spread of COVID-19 in the state, Gov. Reynolds is recommending that Iowa schools close for four weeks.
Experts train State Senators on Cyber Security as Russia and Other Foreign Actors Ramp Up Interference in 2020 Elections
As foreign countries
ramp up their cyber operations to disrupt the 2020 elections, Iowa State
Senators are responding by bolstering their defenses.
Senator Zach Wahls, Senate
District 37, organized a training for State Senators on the issue. It was provided
by Foresight2020, a non-partisan group that provides free cyber security
defense and preparedness trainings for political candidates, office holders,
and their staff.
“Over the past few
years, we have seen the devastating effect that mistakes in the realm of cyber
security can have on individual campaigns, as well as on the political system
more broadly,” said Senator Wahls. “No one wants to make front page news by
having their systems compromised.”
U.S. intelligence
officials have confirmed that Russia is once again meddling in the 2020
elections. Cybersecurity professionals have noticed additional activity that
has been largely attributed to Iran, China, and North Korea. Some methods are
similar to those employed during the 2016 election cycle, such as phishing
attacks designed to provide access to valuable campaign data.
Alex Bores and Amy Larsen of Foresight2020.
The training was led
by Amy Larsen and Alex Bores, the founders of Foresight2020 (https://foresightpartners.us/).
They have trained Congressional candidates and their staff on cyber
defense and preparedness.
“The goal of
Foresight2020 is to help campaigns realize what makes them targets and
vulnerable to particular kinds of attacks. For better or worse, 95% of breaches
involve human error. When viewed as an opportunity, this means you can
essentially eliminate nearly 95% of risk by changing behavior and implementing
basic safeguards,” says Larsen, a lawyer who has worked in national politics.
“The point is to use this foresight to avoid having serious security-related
regrets in hindsight.”
“Lawmakers are
realizing that they are actively targeted. That creates unique cyber security
challenges that don’t apply to the average citizen,” said Bores. “For example,
Sarah Palin was once hacked because the answers to all of her security
questions were on her Wikipedia page. “Lawmakers need specifically crafted
guidance on how to protect themselves.”
Key Takeaways:
Use a password manager like Lastpass.com or 1Password.com
Check if your accounts have already been exposed. Got to https://haveibeenpwned.com/, enter your email address, and change your passwords for compromised accounts.
By State Sen. Pam Jochum, Dubuque (Senate District 50)
Iowa communities may soon have a new tool to spur affordable
housing, local investment and economic growth.
Bipartisan legislation (SF
2369) establishing “land banks” has passed the Senate Local Government
Committee. Land banks are public-private partnerships to rehabilitate rundown,
vacant and tax-delinquent properties for productive use.
This has been a priority for many in Dubuque. I appreciate
the local advocacy and all who have traveled to the Statehouse to speak up for
land bank legislation.
The Local Government Committee made great progress to ensure this program can improve housing in blighted areas. Members listened to the input of organizations like Habitat for Humanity, local governments, and legal and financial experts to make sure this initiative will work well for all concerned.
Vacant and abandoned properties signal a community is in
decline. They can be magnets for crime, pose health and safety risks, and lower
property values throughout the neighborhood.
For communities and local governments committed to
redevelopment and reuse, SF
2369 addresses some of the challenges they’ve faced.
Under the legislation, local governments can create a public
agency to purchase abandoned or blighted properties at a special tax sale and
contract with private organizations to rehabilitate the sites. The land bank
may rent or sell the renovated properties, and the money they make will go back
into the pot to continue buying and fixing up additional properties.
Renovated properties may be sold as homes, rented as
apartments, turned into restaurants, offices or stores—and much more. It’s
great for the local economy because it takes problem properties and turns them
into assets.
