Blog | Iowa Senate Democrats

Future Caucus tours renewable energy facilities

5 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Energy & Enviroment, Issues, News releases, Official

Four state lawmakers who created the Iowa Future Caucus this year led a tour of renewable energy facilities, including an ethanol plant, a biodiesel plant, a wind farm and a solar energy facility.

Iowa needs better medical cannabis program that meets patient needs

5 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Health care, Issues, News releases, Official, Quality of life

Residents of 32 other states — the majority of all Americans — have much better access to affordable, effective medicines made from cannabis. In Iowa, the medicine is too expensive and not potent enough to help most people. Getting approved as a patient is cumbersome and bureaucratic.

Oversight Committee should investigate DHS chief allegations, resignation

5 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Issues, News releases, Official, Transparency & accountability

A 2017 state law requires that the reason for firing (or demanding the resignation of an employee) is made public. Reynolds has declined to explain why Foxhoven was asked to resign and claims no documents related to his termination exist.

Statement on latest privatized Medicaid contracts

5 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Health care, Issues, News releases, Official

Gov. Reynolds has again agreed to give the MCOs the largest dollar increases for Medicaid in the last decade. The publicly managed Medicaid system grew at an average of 5% each year over a 10-year period before privatization. Last year, the increase was 8.4%. The increase announced today is a whopping 8.6%!

Legislative leaders to decide on medical cannabis special committee

5 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Health care, Issues, News releases, Official

For Immediate Release: July 9, 2019 Special committee would provide path for bipartisan agreement on medical cannabis — Decision to be made by legislative leaders this Thursday, July 11, at Iowa Statehouse This Thursday, the leaders of the Iowa Legislature will be asked to create an interim committee to hammer ...

Fight for medical cannabis reforms continues

5 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Health care, Issues, News releases, Official, Post includes video, Quality of life

Legislative advocates for reforming Iowa’s “worst in the nation” medical cannabis program will keep fighting for much-needed reforms vetoed by Gov. Reynolds. In April, HF 732 passed the Iowa House 96 to 3 and the Iowa Senate 40 to 7.

Spread the word about abuse hotline

5 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Issues, Official, Safer communities

The Iowa Attorney General’s office recently established a new toll-free hotline for adult survivors to report child sexual abuse. This is an important step to ensure that survivors of child sex abuse get the justice they deserve. Iowans will be safer when we know the truth about sex offenders among ...

Iowans urged to ask legislators to stand by votes

5 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Health care, Issues, News releases, Official, Quality of life

Iowans pushing to overturn Gov. Reynolds’ veto of medical cannabis reforms are more than halfway to their goal of calling for a special session. HF 732 was overwhelmingly approved by the Iowa House (96-3) and Senate (40-7).

Statement on appointment of new DAS director

5 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Fiscal responsibility, Issues, News releases, Official, Transparency & accountability

We have seen numerous problems in recent years – multi-million dollar harassment settlements, hush money payments, understaffing that puts at risk the safety of state workers, and unfair bargaining tactics, and biased hiring and procurement practices – that need to be addressed, not ignored.

Statement on Governor’s explanation of DHS shakeup

5 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Health care, Issues, News releases, Official

If the Governor has been working behind closed doors for nearly six months on a new direction, a new team and a new vision for the Department of Human Services, she needs to back up her rhetoric with positive action.

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