Blog | Iowa Senate Democrats

Senator-Elect Smith meets 2019 Intern Shelby Young

6 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Official

Senator-Elect Jackie Smith of Sioux City attended an orientation for new members of the Iowa House and Senate. While at the state Capitol, Smith met legislative intern Shelby Young of Exira, who is earning college credit while helping lawmakers communicate with Iowans about policy issues.

2019 Iowa Senate Democratic Committee Assignments

6 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, News releases, Official

Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen released committee assignments today for Democratic State Senators for the 2019 session of the Iowa Legislature. The 88th General Assembly will begin on Monday, January 14, 2019.

Partial review of privatized Medicaid disaster doesn’t answer concerns

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

A partial review of the Medicaid privatization disaster is a big pile of excuses with no good answers for Iowa taxpayers who are being ripped off. Departing State Auditor Mary Mosiman is one of a long line of Republican politicians who still cannot answer simple questions about the cost and quality of privatized Medicaid.

Senate Dems select leadership team

6 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, News releases, Official

We believe every Iowan deserves affordable health care, strong schools and the chance to get ahead. We will work with the Governor and Republican legislators where we can find common ground. But, if we continue to see Republicans push an agenda that hurts the health care, education and financial security of working Iowans, we will be fierce in our opposition.

Is rationing health care the Iowa GOP’s secret plan to “fix” Medicaid mess?

6 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Consumer protections, Fiscal responsibility, Health care, Issues, News releases, Official, Quality of life

A Northwest Iowa legislator may have mistakenly released the Republican Party of Iowa’s secret plan to “fix” the Medicaid privatization mess. During a forum, State Senator Jim Carlin of Sioux City proposed rationing health care for Medicaid recipients, saying lawmakers should “look into limiting the number of doctor visits” by people on Medicaid.

Iowa workers vote for strong unions

6 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Issues, News releases, Official, Working families

Our friends and neighbors across the state who work every day to teach our kids, keep our families and communities safe, and protect the most vulnerable Iowans need to have a voice in the workplace. Iowans depend on their voices being heard.

Privatizing IPERS: An Analysis of SF 45 (Updated 10/26/18)

6 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Issues, Official, Quality of life, Transparency & accountability, Working families

Privatizing IPERS: An Analysis of Senate File 45: The bill directs each retirement system to submit a plan to create an alternative defined contribution plan to the public retirement systems committee by October 1, 2018. This is a bad bill – built on a bad idea. While Senate File 45 would get rid of all public defined benefit pensions, this year most discussion is around the IPERS pension system…

HWY 20 shows the promise of rural Iowa investments

6 years ago by ContentAdmin · Ag & Farming, Blog, Issues, Jobs & Economy, News releases, Official, Quality of life, Safer communities

“Safe, efficient roads for Iowans, travelers and commerce have been top priorities over my last eight years on the Senate Transportation Committee. We’ve accomplished a lot in that time through bipartisan efforts focused on making Iowa the best place to live, work and do business.”

Statement on latest revenue estimates

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

The fiscal mismanagement by Governor Reynolds and legislative Republicans is like a slow train wreck for everyday Iowans. It’s no wonder that Iowans are clamoring for new leadership that will put their needs ahead of the self-interest of Wall Street corporations, special interests and millionaires.

Appropriations Ranking Member on year-end balance

6 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Fiscal responsibility, Issues, News releases, Official

The Governor is cheering today because there’s still money in the state’s bank account. That would be great news if she and the Republican-controlled Legislature hadn’t slashed funding for job training and higher education, reduced protections for seniors and other vulnerable Iowans, and made health care less accessible for thousand of Iowans.

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