Statement on the March State Revenue Estimate by Senator Janet Petersen, Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee

“Today’s revenue estimate shows lackluster growth for Iowa’s economy, with projected revenues for 2023 and 2024 falling below previous years,” Senate Appropriations Ranking Member Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, said. “It’s time for statehouse Republicans to put aside their nationally-driven, culture-war agenda and focus on our top responsibility: passing a balanced budget that serves the needs of Iowans.”

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This past weekend, Senate Democratic Leaders held our very first listening tour of 2023, traveling to Council Bluffs for a series of meetings with community leaders and everyday Iowans. 

We heard what’s on folks’ minds and how their state legislature could work better for them – from workforce to transit and education to apprenticeships to ethanol. 

More than 40 people turned out for our listening session, where we had a great conversation on the hot buttons in the legislature and how we can push back against the most dangerous parts of Gov. Reynolds’ agenda. 

We’ll be holding more events like these in communities across Iowa. Drop by when we’re in your town and, in the meantime, fill out our survey to let us know what’s most important to you! 

Iowa state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott released the following statement regarding final passage of the Republican school funding plan for the 2023-24 academic year: 

“The school funding bill that passed the House today and the Senate last week fails to  meet the needs facing students and teachers in districts across Iowa,” Sarah Trone Garriott, D-West Des Moines, said. “That’s especially true in rural Iowa, where 72 districts will actually lose state funding compared to the current year.”

The Republican plan increases school funding by 3 percent, or about $107 million, for the upcoming school year. But for 72 largely rural districts across the state, that increase will not offset the funding lost due to declining enrollments, meaning they’ll receive less state support than they’re getting now. 

While state support for school is tied to enrollment numbers, schools must contend with fixed costs for building maintenance, supplies and more. Declining enrollment can mean thousands less in funding, with no equal drop in expenses. Most districts will make up that loss by raising property taxes. 

“If you live in one of these 72 districts, your local senator voted to provide less support for kids and teachers in your community,” Trone Garriott said. “Iowans deserve to know when their elected representatives vote to hurt their communities and leave kids with less. And if you live in one of these districts, your senator needs to hear from you.” 

Below is a list of senators who voted for 3 percent school funding, along with the school districts they represent that will receive less state funding as a result:

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Iowa state Sen. Herman Quirmbach released the following statement regarding Thursday’s debate Senate floor debate on school funding:

“Statehouse Republicans’ low-ball offer on school funding insults parents and teachers and shortchanges our kids,” Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, said. “Democrats have a better plan. We’re calling on the state to invest $267 million in our kids’ education today and Iowa’s future tomorrow.”

“Republicans are spending $267 million on corporate tax giveaways and private schools subsidies this year alone, while refusing to support public education at a time of rising costs and increasing needs,” Quirmbach said. “That’s not fair to our kids. Our priority should be stopping school closures, ending the teacher shortage, and adequately funding our public schools.”

Quirmbach is the ranking member on the Senate Education Committee.

Senate Democrats offered an amendment to increase school funding for the upcoming academic year by $267 million.

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Iowa Senate Democrats will offer an amendment today on Senate File 181, the residential property tax correction bill, to preserve public safety funding and other essential services for local governments. 

“Property taxpayers shouldn’t pay more for a mistake made by the Iowa Department of Revenue – but our police and firefighters shouldn’t get less either,” Sen. Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque, said. “Our Public Safety Protection Plan amendment corrects the state’s error without compromising public safety or costing residential taxpayers more.”

Jochum is the ranking member on the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

At issue is a mistaken calculation made by the Iowa Department of Revenue, which will raise property taxes across the state unless the legislature acts now to fix it. That fix will come at a cost, however: local governments will receive less revenue than they have budgeted for, potentially forcing cuts to services. 

The Democratic amendment replaces the property tax revenue local governments will lose under the bill with state dollars on a one-time basis, filling the gap caused by the Department of Revenue error while protecting property owners from an inappropriate tax hike. 

The measure will ensure local governments have adequate time to plan for the reduced revenues in the future, while avoiding cuts to public safety and other essential services in the coming year.

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Iowa state Sen. Bill Dotzler released the following statement regarding Gov. Kim Reynolds’ move on Tuesday to allocate $440,000 to clear a backlog of grant awards from the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund:

“I’m glad to see Gov. Reynolds has heard our call to action and found a fix for the Veterans Trust Fund shortfall,” Dotzler, D-Waterloo, said. “We can all agree that providing the resources to meet Iowa veterans’ needs is the right thing to do – this year and every year.”

“That said, the governor’s solution is only a temporary one.” Dotzler said. “Senate Democrats have a plan to shore up the trust fund’s finances long-term, and we look forward to working with the governor and Republican lawmakers to get it done. We should never turn away an Iowa veteran in need.”

Dotzler serves as ranking member on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, and earlier this month introduced legislation to provide immediate additional funds for the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund and avoid future funding shortfalls.

That bill, Senate File 82, would boost the fund by $500,000 in the current year and then double trust fund appropriations to $1 million in the fiscal year that begins July 1. The trust fund provides critical help for Iowa veterans, including emergency assistance for medical care and equipment, home and vehicle repairs, and counseling.

The governor’s move on Tuesday draws funds from the state’s allocation of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, which are federal funds made available through the Biden Administration’s American Rescue Plan Act.

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Iowa House and Senate Democrats on Tuesday proposed a $267 million investment in Iowa schools for the 2023-24 school year, drawing a sharp contrast with Republicans’ misplaced priorities and continued underfunding of public education. 

“Show me your budget and I’ll show you your priorities,” Senate Education Committee Ranking Member Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, said. “Instead of blowing $160 million on a corporate tax giveaway and $107 million on subsidizing private schools for the few, we owe it to the 92% of kids who attend public schools to invest in their future.”

The proposal offered by Democratic lawmakers would not only prevent budget cuts, layoffs and loss of academic programs in public schools, but also expand mental health support for students, raise pay for teachers, and reduce class sizes.

“Iowa Democrats believe every kid deserves a quality education, regardless of where they live,”  said House Education Committee Ranking Member Sharon Steckman, D-Mason City. “If there is anything we’ve heard in the first weeks of session, it’s that Iowans want strong public schools. It’s time for the Governor and Republican lawmakers to stop playing politics and put our kids in public schools before corporate tax cuts and private schools.” 

Already in 2023, the Governor and Republican lawmakers have committed $107 million in state funds to exclusive private schools and handed out $160 million in tax cuts to the largest corporations in the state. A $267 million investment in public schools ensures our students, teachers and communities receive equal priority.

“Six years of Republican neglect have allowed inflation to run far ahead of state support for our schools,” Quirmbach said, “Our proposal begins to fill that gap.”

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Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls, Senate Education Committee Ranking Member Herman Quirmbach, and Sen. Molly Donahue, a public school educator, released the following statements regarding Senate passage of House File 68, the private school voucher bill on Monday night:

“Private school vouchers will hurt local schools, weaken rural communities, and reduce opportunity for the vast majority of Iowa kids,” Iowa state Sen. Molly Donahue, D-Cedar Rapids, said. “The bill pushed through the Legislature by statehouse Republicans on Monday is a betrayal of Iowa’s commitment to high-quality public education serving every kid and every parent in our state.”

Donahue is a 32-year veteran teacher in the Cedar Rapids Community School District and serves on the Senate Education Committee.

“Iowa voters did not give Gov. Reynolds and statehouse Republicans a mandate to defund public education and spend taxpayer dollars on private schools with no accountability, but that’s exactly what they’ve done by passing this voucher scheme,” Iowa state Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, said. “This bill is a grave mistake for Iowa – fundamentally, financially, and morally. The only way to pay for this program is to continue to bleed our public schools.”

Quirmbach is the ranking member on the Senate Education Committee.

“The private school voucher scam passed tonight by Republican politicians in Des Moines is a giveaway to out-of-state interest groups and wealthy families who have already chosen private education,” Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, said. “The way Republican politicians rammed this bill through the legislature once again reveals their misplaced priorities and commitment to serving big donors and special interests – not the people of Iowa.”

“This bill is wrong for students, wrong for families, and wrong for a state that built its reputation on high-quality public education,” Wahls said.

Senate Democrats voted unanimously against House File 68. 

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Iowa state Sen. Bill Dotzler, D-Waterloo, introduced legislation this week to provide immediate additional funds for the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund and avoid future funding shortfalls.

The Iowa Veterans Trust Fund provides critical support for veterans, including emergency medical care and equipment, home and vehicle repairs, and counseling. But it ran out of money after just four months earlier this year.

Dotzler’s bill, Senate File 82, will boost the fund by $500,000 in the current year and then double trust fund appropriations to $1 million in the fiscal year that begins July 1.

“As a state, we should never turn away veterans in need, but that’s exactly what’s happening now,” Dotzler said. “This bill will erase the existing shortfall in the Veterans Trust Fund and help ensure we’re keeping our promises to those who served.”

“We owe it to our veterans to honor their service and meet their needs – especially in emergency situations,” Dotzler said. “I look forward to working with my Democratic and Republican colleagues to move this bill forward.”

The bill is co-sponsored by Sens. Liz Bennett, D-Cedar Rapids; Eric Giddens, D-Cedar Falls; Janice Weiner, D-Iowa City; and Cindy Winckler, D-Davenport.

Dotzler’s bill introduction coincides with Veterans Day on the Hill, the annual event welcoming hundreds of service members to the Capitol to meet their legislators and honor their service.

The Veterans Trust Fund is administered by the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs, and funded with proceeds from the Iowa Lottery.

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Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls released the following statement regarding Gov. Kim Reynolds’ Condition of the State Address on Tuesday:

“The agenda offered tonight by Gov. Reynolds is full of promises and paybacks for the ultra-rich, big corporations and out-of-state interests trying to impose their will on our state,” Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, said. “But it offers almost nothing for Iowa’s middle-class families.”

“Iowans did not give the governor a mandate to defund public education and weaken our community schools. Iowans did not give Republicans a mandate for more giveaways to the ultra-rich or culture wars that pit us against each other,” Wahls said. “Governor Reynolds’ speech tonight badly misread the needs of our state and the priorities of the folks she was elected to represent.”

“Senate Democrats are ready to set aside the ideological agendas, skip the special interest giveaways, and serve the needs of everyday Iowans,” Wahls said. “We hope Gov. Reynolds will join us.”

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