Iowa Senate Democrats

Fighting for a Better Deal for Iowans.

  • Commerce – All-Bill Summary 2017

    The following bills were passed by the Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

    SF 1 – Administrative rules for jobs impact statements
    SF 230 – Legislative Branch health insurance premiums
    SF 331 – Filing requirements for energy efficiency reports
    SF 355 – Municipal utilities, regulations regarding service disconnection, discontinuation
    SF 404 – Experimental treatments
    SF 408 – Architect licensure
    SF 409 – Credit Union omnibus
    SF 431 – Siting of small wireless facilities
    SF 502 – Consumer Credit Code update
    SF 503 – Deferral of unpaid installments on certain consumer credit loans
    HF 215 – Insurance benefits for autism treatment
    HF 303 – IID update to pre-need funeral, cemetery receivership requirements
    HF 309 – IID insurance certificates
    HF 311 – IID technical updates
    HF 445 – IUB omnibus
    HF 518 – Workers’ Compensation
    HF 586 – IFA rent subsidy program; filing requirement modification; mechanics’ liens
    HF 621 – EDA technical update
    HF 626 – IID long-term-care insurance filing fee elimination

    SF 1 requires that every proposed rule under a notice of intended action or publication without notice contain a jobs impact statement outlining the purpose and statutory authority of the rule, and analyzes and describes the impact on state agencies, local governments, the public and regulated entities, including businesses and self-employed individuals. The statement must indicate if a proposed rule would have a positive or negative impact on private sector jobs and employment opportunities. Before proposing a rule, an agency must minimize any adverse impact on jobs and developing new employment opportunities, and must accept comments from stakeholders prior to the final jobs impact statement. The administrative rules coordinator may waive the jobs impact statement for emergency rules.
    [2/22: 50-0]

     

    SF 230 concerns state health insurance plans for legislators and full-time legislative employees. Those enrolled in a state group insurance plan for state employees follow the enrollment rules for the largest number of non-contract full-time state employees of the Executive Branch (other than employees of the State Board of Regents) and must pay a portion of the premium on the same basis. The bill strikes language relating to premium rates in Code section 2.40(1)(a)(4). The bill is effective upon enactment.
    [2/13: 50-0]

     

    SF 331 streamlines federal and state energy efficiency reporting by giving electric cooperatives the option of filing their mandatory annual federal report (Form EIA-861) with the Iowa Utilities Board to fulfill state energy efficiency reporting requirements. This eliminates duplication and reduces regulatory costs. The Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives estimates a collective savings of $75,000 to $100,000 annually for cooperatives statewide. Electric cooperatives still must offer energy efficiency programs to member-owners, and data and information about energy efficiency programs must be reported.
    [3/9: 48-0 (Anderson, Bertrand excused)]

     

    SF 355 adds “disconnection of service” to Code section 384.84(3), which relates to discontinuing services by municipally owned utilities. Currently, a municipally owned utility is not regulated by the Iowa Utilities Board except in specified instances, including disconnection of service. Board authority to establish rules relating to deposits, which may be required by a utility for the initiation or reinstatement of service, would not apply to municipal utilities. Current Code section 476.20(5) requires the board to establish uniform rules for public utilities with respect to deposits required for the initiation or reinstatement of service. This would not apply to municipal utilities, which are governed by Code section 384.84, and municipal utilities are not subject to the board’s rules regarding deposits and payment plans for delinquent amounts owed and repayment of past-due debt. A city utility may require a deposit not exceeding the usual cost of 60 days of gas and electric service.
    [3/9: 48-0 (Anderson, Bertrand excused)]

     

    SF 404 relates to the use of experimental treatments for terminally-ill patients, known as “Right to Try.” It allows manufacturers of investigational drugs, biological products or devices to make available, and eligible patients with terminal illnesses to attempt treatment with, an investigational drug, biological product or device, as long as they provide written informed consent. An eligible patient’s physician must acknowledge that the patient’s illness is terminal and recommend the patient try an investigational drug, biological product or device. The patient’s written informed consent must acknowledge that treatments currently approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration are unlikely to prolong the patient’s life; the specific treatment sought and the potential best, worst and expected results from the treatment; that the patient’s insurance is not required to pay for the treatment and that hospice service may refuse to accept the patient after receiving the treatment; and that expenses will be credited to the patient, including the patient’s estate, unless otherwise stated in an agreement with the manufacturer. If the patient dies during treatment, the patient’s heirs are not liable for any remaining debts unless otherwise required by law.

    The manufacturer may charge an eligible patient or provide the treatment free of charge. Governmental entities are not required to pay costs associated with the use, care or treatment of a patient with an investigational drug, biological product or device. The bill does not require hospitals licensed under Code chapter 135B or other health care facilities to provide new or additional services. Consistent with existing law, the Board of Medicine cannot take an adverse action against a physician’s license solely for recommending an investigational drug, biological product or device for the physician’s eligible patient. The bill does not create a new private cause of action against for harm done to the patient if they comply in good faith with the law and exercise reasonable care. The new law does not allow a treating physician to assist the patient in committing or attempting to commit suicide.
    [4/17: Concur, 49-0 (McCoy excused)]

     

    SF 408 requires licensure rather than registration of architects practicing in Iowa and makes conforming changes to Code sections that reference registration as an architect. The term “licensure” is used when a professional’s actions are regulated by a Practice Act, and the credentials are more rigorous (i.e., those involving education, training and examination). “Registration” refers to a state roster that may include regulation by a Title Act, which does not apply in Iowa. The Iowa Chapter of the American Institute of Architects requested the legislation to better reflect the occupational regulation based on public health, safety and welfare. In Iowa, engineers and landscape engineers are licensed rather than certified, and all states bordering Iowa (except Wisconsin) require architect licensure.
    [3/28: 49-0 (Rozenboom excused)]

     

    SF 409 is a recommendation by the Iowa Credit Union Division in the Iowa Department of Commerce. It makes technical changes and conforms the statute to current Division practice.

    It adds language to Code section 533.113 regarding exam confidentiality to codify what has been noted on each examination report for many years. These additions, along with penalty provision, will make the language printed on the examination report enforceable. In addition, the Division has formalized a process for authorizing delivery of examination reports to third parties, such as auditors, the Federal Home Loan Bank and potential merger partners, via the completion of a confidentiality agreement by all parties.

    Previously, the board of directors had to meet after receiving the report of examination and whenever the superintendent deemed it necessary and advisable. Recognizing there may be circumstances where the superintendent finds it necessary to call a meeting not directly related to an examination, the Division’s Assistant Attorney General advised moving this provision to a section calling for a meeting of the board. Subsections 4 and 7 from section 533.113 are combined, placed in new section 533.113A, and deleted from section 533.113.
    [3/9: 48-0 (Anderson, Bertrand excused)]

     

    SF 431 relates to siting small wireless communication facilities and expands current law (Code chapter 8C) that provides a series of uniform rules and limitations for the deployment of and applications for wireless communications facilities and infrastructure. Wireless companies want to deploy services to their customers that may include access to rights-of-way, public facilities, traffic signals and utility poles. The proposal adds specific rules and limitations for the application and deployment of small wireless facilities (SWF). It prohibits an authority, such as a city, from restricting the siting of small wireless facilities. An authority with planning and zoning regulations must authorize such facilities in zoning districts where the facilities are located on public rights-of-way or authority property, or where the facilities are sited on certain existing structures. Facilities not sited on such property or in such a manner may be classified as special or conditional uses. An authority may also require a person to obtain a special or conditional land use permit to install new utility poles or wireless support structures on certain property. An authority may require a person to obtain building, electrical or public way use permits for the siting if it is of general applicability and does not deny a facility access to a public right-of-way. However, an authority cannot require a person to obtain a permit for the routine maintenance or replacement of a previously approved facility unless it contains the same terms and conditions provided for other commercial projects or uses in the public right-of-way.

    A House amendment:

    • Limits use of traffic signal poles for SWFs to the vertical portion, not any horizontal cable or arm.
    • Gives local governing authority over placement of new poles in right-of-way.
    • Limits the size of micro wireless facilities to a very small size (12” x 15” x 24”). They are self-contained, requiring no equipment, electric source or meter.
    • Allows placement of a micro wireless facility on operator-owned overhead lines, as long as it complies with national safety codes, without a permit or fee.
    • Preserves pre-existing ordinances requiring a permit for micro wireless facilities.
    • Allows an authority to require a right-of-way use permit if the work to install or maintain the micro wireless facility requires closure of a highway lane or otherwise disturbs a highway.
    • Details a process for modification or relocation of an SWF due to road widening or other authority projects.
    • Extends time for the authority to act on permit from 60 days to 90 days.
    • Clarifies that authority can obtain additional time to process a large volume of applications by providing notice rather than a request.
    • Adds more details to the process for determining that a proposed SWF would compromise the safety of a structure.
    • Limits the duration of a permit for SWF on an authority structure outside of the right-of-way to 10 years with a five-year renewal.
    • Eliminates the flat $100 per year option (one of three) for establishing the annual rate for placement on an authority structure.
    • Provides additional flexibility for an authority to remove SWFs in an emergency.
      [4/18: Concur, 50-0]

     

    SF 502 is an agreement among the Iowa Attorney General, Iowa Bankers Association and Iowa Credit Union League to modernize the Iowa Consumer Credit Code. Many fees for creditors and remedy awards for debtors have not been adjusted since the Code was created in 1974. The legislation:

    • Allows the Attorney General greater latitude to declare supervised loans void when made by parties who do not have proper authorization to make them.
    • Provides for a credit reporting charge, a $30 charge for returned checks and over-limit violations on credit cards.
    • Increases the allowable late-payment charge cap from $15 to $30 on all consumer credit and changes the rebate rules for deposit-taking lenders, which will make it easier to provide smaller consumer loans.
    • Raises the remedy award for a consumer’s private right of action for violations of the consumer credit code along with violations of disclosure provisions from a minimum of $100 to $200 and from a maximum of $1,000 to $2,000. It also raises the civil remedy for the Attorney General to bring an action against a creditor from no more than $5,000 to no more than $10,000.
    • Raises the annual notification fee for credit sellers and debt collectors from $10 to $50, and increases the allowable charge for late filing by these credit sellers and debt collectors from $20 to $75.
      [4/12: 49-0 (Bertrand excused)]

     

    SF 503 clarifies the Iowa Consumer Credit Code related to deferred payment on a closed-end, simple interest loan. Currently, the parties to a pre-computed consumer credit transaction may agree in writing to a partial or full deferral of any unpaid installments and the creditor may receive a deferral charge. The bill adds deferrals with respect to interest-bearing consumer credit transactions that are not pursuant to open-end credit arrangements, and other than consumer lease or consumer rental purchase agreements. The parties may agree in writing to a partial or full deferral of any unpaid installments in addition to any interest accrued, pursuant to the terms of the transaction. The creditor may receive a deferral charge not to exceed $30 (this mirrors the fee language in SF 502).
    [4/12: 49-0 (Bertrand excused]

     

    HF 215 creates Code section 514C.31, requiring state-regulated health insurance policies, contracts and plans for large employers (more than 50 employees) and those covering public employees other than state employees (Code chapter 509A) to provide coverage benefits for applied behavior analysis to treat autism spectrum disorders in children. This does not include individual health insurance plans or small employer group plans. Treatment must be provided by a board-certified behavior analyst or licensed physician or psychologist. The required maximum benefit for coverage is $36,000 per year through age six; $25,000 per year from seven to 13; and $12,500 per year from 14 to 18. Required coverage can be subject to preauthorization, prior approval or other care management requirements, including limits on number of visits. Required coverage can be subject to dollar limits, deductibles, copayments, coinsurance provisions or any limitations that apply to other covered medical or surgical services.

    This new Code section does not limit benefits otherwise available to an individual under a group policy, contract or plan, and does not affect any obligation to provide services to an individual under an individualized family service plan, education program or service plan. A carrier, organized delivery system or plan may request to review a treatment plan not more than once every three months during the first year of the treatment plan and not more than once every six months every year thereafter, unless the insurer and the treating physician or psychologist agree that more frequent review is necessary. The cost of the review is paid by the insurer. The provisions of a treatment plan cannot be changed until the completion of a review.

    The new Code section applies to third-party provider payment contracts, policies or plans specified in the bill, or plans established for state and other public employees in Iowa on or after January 1, 2018. Those eligible for coverage are not eligible to participate in the state autism support program (Code sections 225D.1, 225D.2) effective January 1, 2018.
    [3/23: 48-0 (Shipley, Zaun excused)]

     

    HF 303 is a recommendation by the Iowa Insurance Division (IID). It allows the Insurance Commissioner to notify the Iowa Attorney General of a potential need for a receivership for both a pre-need seller of cemetery and funeral merchandise or funeral services and for a cemetery itself. This eliminates the red tape of meeting a list of requirements in those situations where the pre-need seller or cemetery has consented to a receivership, and allows the Commissioner to move more quickly to protect the remaining funds held by either the pre-need seller or cemetery.
    [3/13: 49-0 (Bertrand excused)]

     

    HF 309 codifies current practice that prohibits a person from preparing, issuing, requesting or requiring a “certificate of insurance” that contains false or misleading information about the policy or purports to amend, extend or alter the policy’s coverage. A “certificate of insurance” is evidence of property and causality insurance coverage. A certificate does not include a policy, insurance binder, policy endorsement or automobile insurance identification or information card.

    A certificate does not warrant that the insurance policy complies with the insurance or indemnification requirements of a contract, and the inclusion of a contract number or description in a certificate cannot be interpreted as warranting compliance. A person is entitled to notice of cancellation, non-renewal or material changes in an insurance policy if they have such rights under the terms of the policy. A certificate does alter those rights.

    The Iowa Insurance Commissioner may examine and investigate anyone they believe violates the law. Enforcement may include cease and desist orders and a $500 penalty per violation. The Commissioner may adopt rules to administer the law, which takes effect upon enactment and applies to certificates of insurance prepared, issued, requested or required beginning 90 days after that date.
    [4/4: 50-0]

     

    HF 311 is an Iowa Insurance Division (IID) recommendation that makes technical updates based on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) models, including conforming language with federal regulations. NAIC is the U.S. standard-setting and regulatory support organization. The IID proposal was widely circulated to interested parties and stakeholders for review and comment.
    [3/8: 49-0 (Chelgren excused)]

     

    HF 445 is a recommendation by the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB). Rate-regulated utilities have collected different rates on a temporary basis, subject to refund, while a rate review is pending. There were two options under which this occurred. The utility could ask the Board to approve temporary rates based regulatory principles, and the Board would rule on that request within 90 days. If the final rates include rate design changes that result in over-collection from some customer classes and under-collection from others, the utility was not typically required to make refunds on a class-by-class basis.

    The second option allowed the utility to implement temporary rates without Board review or approval within 10 days after the rate case is filed. If the Board later determined that the temporary rates were not based on established regulatory principles, the Board would consider requiring refunds based on overpayment made by each individual customer class, rate zone or customer group.

    In recent rate cases, the utilities tended to use the second option, which allowed the utility to begin collecting temporary rates sooner, and allowed the Board and the other parties to avoid devoting resources to temporary rate issues, while retaining the right to review the rates at a later date. The law strikes first option (allowing utilities to implement Board-approved temporary rates within 90 days of filing), leaving automatic implementation of temporary rates 10 days after filing as the only option.

    The law adds an exception to Code Chapter 22 that would apply to the IUB and the Department of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HSEMD). It would cover the confidentiality of certain information and records relating to cybersecurity or critical infrastructure, the disclosure of which could expose or create vulnerability to critical systems for safeguarding telecommunications, electric, water, sanitary sewage, storm water drainage, energy, hazardous liquid, natural gas systems or other critical infrastructure. It also strikes a requirement that HSEMD provide a list of critical assets used in the critical asset protection plan.

    Iowa Code requires a board member, board counsel, or a hearing examiner designated by the board to serve as the presiding officer at each informational meeting on an electric transmission franchise petition. This replaces the undefined term “hearing examiner.”
    [3/21: 49-0 (Shipley excused)]

     

    HF 518 makes sweeping changes to Iowa’s Workers’ Compensation law. The new law:

    • Cuts benefits to Iowa workers who get injured on the job:
      • It reduces benefits for workers who suffer a shoulder injury. Previous law treated shoulder injuries as an injury to the body as a whole. The law now treats shoulder injuries as a scheduled member injury. A workers’ loss of earning capacity would no longer be taken into account when calculating benefits for a shoulder injury. Shoulder injury compensation would be for 400 weeks.
      • If the shoulder injury results in permanent partial disability and the employee cannot return to gainful employment, the employee can be evaluated by Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) to see if they would benefit from new career vocational training and education programs offered through an area community college. The employer would be responsible for up to $15,000 in tuition and fees that will result in (at the minimum) an associate’s degree or completion of certificate program.
      • There are a lot of requirements on the Workers’ Compensation Commissioner for evaluating and monitoring this new vocational rehabilitation section. This education funding does not address employees who would need adult basic education. The law eliminates benefits based on an employee’s loss of earning power because of an injury if the employer returns the employee to work for a short time, but then terminates the employee, leaving the employee with no compensation for lost access to other employment because of the injury.
    • Reduces an employer’s liability to provide benefits to injured workers:
      • It makes a positive drug or alcohol test grounds for an employer to deny benefits for an injury without regard to whether drugs or alcohol caused the injury. The worker must prove the injury was not caused by drugs or alcohol.
      • It changes the point at which an employee must report an injury or lose the right to claim benefits for an injury. It defines the “date of the occurrence of the injury” to mean the date that the employee knew or should have known the injury was work related. It does not take into account whether the worker discovers the seriousness of the injury during the time limitation enforced by the law.
      • It forces injured workers to move and work at the company headquarters for light duty or be terminated. An injured worker who is offered work by the employer while recovering from an injury must decline the offer in writing if the employee believes the work is not suitable, or lose the right to continue receiving benefits while recovering.
      • It changes an employer’s liability for compensating an employee’s preexisting disability that arose because of prior employment-related injury with the employer to the extent the injury has already been compensated. Previously, employers were considered fully responsible for a workers’ injury, regardless of previous injuries. The law eliminates the ability of injured workers to seek payment of future weekly benefits owed in a lump sum without the agreement of the employer and its insurance carrier.
    • Encourages employers and insurance carriers to avoid on-time payment of benefits: It allows employers to avoid payment of benefits awarded by the Commissioner while the employer seeks a judicial review of the award, leaving the injured worker without benefits for two to three years; eliminates the current rate of 10 percent interest on late-paid weekly benefits; reduces the interest rate on benefits to the one-year treasury rate plus 2 percent (currently less than 3 percent total). This rewards insurance carriers and employers who do not comply with the law for timely payments.

    The law is effective July 1, and applies to injuries on or after that date. The law applies to commutation applications filed on or after that date.
    [3/27: 29-21 (party-line, with D. Johnson voting “no” with Democrats)]

     

    HF 586 revises antiquated language concerning bonds and notes that require a copy of each agreement be filed with the Secretary of State to be valid. A pledge made in respect of bonds or notes will be valid and binding from the time the pledge is made; and the resolution, trust agreement or any other instrument by which a pledge is created does not need to be recorded or filed to be valid, binding or effective. It also eliminates a requirement that IFA award grants from the shelter assistance fund on an annual basis. IFA must establish and administer a rent subsidy program to help approved participants under a home and community-based services Medicaid waiver and approve participants in the federal “money follows the person” grant program under the medical assistance program. The law adds “an owner-builder” who contracts to provide labor or furnish material for the property to those who must post a notice on the Mechanics’ Notice and Lien Registry no later than 10 days after work begins.

    This language was proposed after IFA, the Iowa Bankers Association, Iowa Credit Union League, Real Estate Section of the Iowa State Bar Association, Iowa Association of Realtors and the Iowa Land Title Association worked to restore the intent of the 2012 mechanics’ lien changes in light of an Iowa Court of Appeals case in 2016. It ruled that because of the grammatical construction of the statute, only general contractors who use subcontractors must post a notice with the Secretary of State as a prerequisite to filing a mechanics’ lien on residential property.

    This new law allows a general contractor to post a notice with the Secretary of State within 10 days of beginning work regardless of whether they use subcontractors so that real estate professionals can see if money is owed the contractor before closing. This is a prerequisite to filing a lien, and restores the intent of the 2012 legislation. It ensures contractors and subcontractors receive payment prior to closing a loan and clear title is preserved for the new homeowner.
    [3/30: 46-0 (Anderson, Bertrand, D. Johnson, Kapucian excused)]

     

    HF 621 makes technical changes to eligibility for financial assistance from the sports tourism program; transfers responsibility for certifying targeted small businesses (and associated reporting requirements) from the Department of Inspections & Appeals to the Economic Development Authority (EDA), and allows EDA to establish standards for public access to information under the program.
    [4/19: 50-0]

     

    HF 626 eliminates a $25 filing fee for independent review of a benefit trigger determination under a long-term-care insurance policy. Previously, the Insurance Commissioner could waive this fee, which became the practice 100 percent of the time for the past five years. The IID routinely helps Iowans with insurance issues without charging a fee, and removing the provision eliminates confusion.
    [4/11: 49-0 (Allen excused]

  • Agriculture Committee – All-Bill Summary 2017

    The following bills were passed by the Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

    HF 410 – Classifying Palmer Amaranth as a primary noxious weed
    HF 440 – County Agriculture Extension publications
    HF 469 – Soil and water commissioner elections
    SF 447 – Nuisance protection for animal feeding operations
    SF 357 – Electrical licensing
    SF 362 – County fairs and State Fair not liable for damages from animal pathogens

     

    HF 410 classifies Palmer Amaranth as a primary noxious weed.
    [4/5: 50-0]

     

    HF 440 provides an additional month to file and publish county Agriculture Extension reports, and allows members to lobby all elected officials.
    [4/6: 49-0 (Bertrand excused)]

     

    HF 469 allows two out of five soil and water commissioners to reside in the same township.
    [4/6: 49-0 (Bertrand excused)]

     

    SF 447 establishes a new section in the Iowa Code, 657.11A, to provide nuisance protection for animal feeding operations (defined in Iowa Code Chapter 459), which includes confinement feeding and open feedlot operations. A habitual violator of Iowa environmental law (Chapter 459) does not qualify for nuisance protection.

    Nuisance protection encourages producers to “adopt existing prudent and generally utilized management practices” for animal feeding operations. Nuisance lawsuits under the new section are presumed to be permanent nuisances (meaning successive lawsuits cannot be filed for the same alleged nuisance), and compensatory damages awarded by a judge or jury cannot exceed:

    • Any decrease in the fair market value of the property (residence, etc.).
    • Any compensatory medical damages, if the nuisance is the proximate cause of an adverse medical condition.
    • Any special damages (annoyance and loss of comfortable use and enjoyment of property), which are limited to no more than 1.5 times the decrease in fair market value of the property plus medical damages.

    A producer qualifies for nuisance protection unless the person suing can prove that the producer did not comply with state and federal law or did not use existing management practices considered reasonable for the operation.
    [3/14: 31-18 (party-line with Bowman, Kinney voting “yes”; Horn excused)]

     

    SF 357 puts into Iowa Code the Department of Public Safety’s special order of June 2012 by creating a definition for commercial electrical installation that does not include farm or industrial installation.
    [3/6: 36-14]

     

    SF 362 exempts district and county fairs and the Iowa State Fair from damages and liability sought by a person (spectators and participants) alleging injury or death by a pathogen transmitted from an animal, if signs are posted.
    [3/8: 48-0 (Bisignano “no”; Chelgren excused)]

  • Three-point plan to end string of Iowa child deaths

    A three-point reform plan to prevent another Iowa child from being injured or killed by abuse has been put forth by two members of the Iowa Senate Government Oversight Committee.

    “The state has failed at-risk children again and again,” said Senator Janet Petersen, a member of Oversight Committee.  “Iowans are demanding change, they are demanding results, and they do not want to see another child die due to the failures of the Branstad/Reynolds Administration.

    Petersen and Senator Matt McCoy, the ranking member of the Oversight Committee, released the following three-point plan to prevent another death like that of Sabrina Ray.  The Iowa teen had been adopted out of foster care and was being home-schooled when her body was found last Friday in a Perry home.

    • We call on Chuck Palmer, Director of the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS), to either resign or be fired by the Branstad/Reynolds Administration.
    • We call on Governor Branstad and Lt. Governor Reynolds to replace Director Palmer with a director experienced in, and deeply committed to, the protection of abused and at-risk children.
    • We call on Governor Branstad, Lt. Governor Reynolds and Legislative Republicans to fix the deadly mistakes they made this spring when they cut $24 million from the DHS budget, including $16 million cut to the field service workers who investigate and protect children at risk of abuse.

    Senator McCoy said he is committed to working on a bipartisan solution with Republican legislators.  A Oversight Committee meeting on this issue is planned for Monday, June 5th.

    “I am still extremely disappointed that Republican legislators refused to investigate these issues during the legislative session,” McCoy said. “If they had, I’m certain there would have been strong bipartisan support for increasing our investment in child protective services, rather than the cuts imposed by Republicans.”

    -end-

     

  • Prescription Drug Take Back Day is TOMORROW

    The next National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, April 29. 

    Health and safety officials urge Iowans to take advantage of its many benefits, including safely disposing leftover medicine, preventing prescription drug theft, misuse and addiction, protecting the environment, and saving lives.

    Opioid pain relievers are among the most misused and abused medicines prescribed in Iowa, often leading to addiction, overdose or death.

    More than 100 Iowa sites will accept leftover medicine between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. tomorrow. 

    During previous Prescription Drug Take Back Days, Iowans have safely disposed of nearly 39 tons of obsolete medicine.

    To find Take Back collection sites, go to https://odcp.iowa.gov/rxtakebacks.

  • Senate Democratic Leader Rob Hogg’s 2017 Session Review

    Senate Democratic Leader Rob Hogg visits with Craig Chase and Lynn Heuss from the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University.

    Iowa Republicans Attack Workers, Break Promise To Create Jobs and Raise Family Incomes

    Iowa Democrats Support Broad Prosperity and Expanded Opportunity

    Statement by Senate Democratic Leader Rob Hogg of Cedar Rapids

    Republicans gained complete control of Iowa’s state government in the 2016 elections by promising to invest in education, create new jobs, raise family incomes, and clean up Iowa’s water.

    That’s not what they did.  Instead, Republicans short-changed our schools, cut water quality funding, and pursued special interest legislation that helps out-of-state corporations at the expense of Iowans.

    Rather than creating jobs and raising family incomes  as promised, Republicans pursued an anti-worker, anti-women, anti-family agenda that hurt Iowans and our economy.

    Iowa needs a new direction. Democrats will continue to listen to Iowans, hold Republicans accountable, and encourage more Iowans to get involved as citizens. That’s the way to build a safer and healthier future with broad prosperity and more opportunity for all Iowans.

    Here are key details:

    Republicans reduced the minimum wage for 65,000 Iowans. They circumvented “Buy American” and “prevailing wage” rules for road projects. They took away rights from our public service workers (teachers, firefighters, police, social workers, sanitation workers). They created barriers and reduced workers compensation for all future injured workers.

    Republicans failed to couple with federal tax changes, hurting farmers, teachers, and small businesses.

    Republicans hurt our students, our families, our economy, and our future by cutting funding for our community colleges and our universities. For the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, funding is now at its lowest level since 1998.  Republicans hurt people with disabilities and our economy by cutting vocational rehabilitation funding.

    Republicans hurt Iowa families, especially low-income working women, by taking away access to Planned Parenthood for birth control, cancer screenings, and other preventive health services.  They hurt Iowa families by cutting funds for our remaining two mental health institutions and by cutting funds for field investigations of child abuse and elder abuse.

    Republicans hurt rural Iowa, by short-changing our schools, by closing the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University, by cutting natural resource and water quality funding, and by cutting hospital reimbursements.  They did nothing – nothing – to address the fact that over 70 counties in Iowa have lost population since 2010.

    ###

    15 Specific Bills – Bad For Iowans, Bad For Our Future

    SF130 –    Made major mid-year budget cuts for community colleges and universities, courts, corrections, public safety, and human services, and emptied the Cultural Trust Fund

    SF166 –    Short-changed Iowa’s public school students with 3rd lowest school aid formula investment ever (1.11%)

    SF438 –    Prohibited local governments from using pre-qualification for project bidders

    SF509 –    Cut state funding for services to survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault by 26% ($1.7M cut) and made additional cuts to corrections ($7.3M total cut)

    SF510 –    Closed the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State, eliminated Watershed Improvement Review program, and slashed natural resource funding (REAP) by 25% ($4M cut)

    SF516 –    Despite budget cuts, gave $150,000 for Lt. Gov. Reynolds to “transition” to new office

    HF203 –   Circumvented “Buy American” and “prevailing wage” rules for road projects

    HF291 –   Took away rights from more than 180,000 public service workers

    HF295 –   Reduced the minimum wage for 65,000 Iowans, took away local regulation of consumer sales

    HF516 –   Created new government barriers to voting, issued costly new voter cards (cost: $700K+)

    HF518 –   Created barriers and reduced compensation for future injured workers

    HF625 –   Took away outreach for our children’s health insurance program (HAWK-I)

    HF640 –   Cut funds for nursing home inspections ($270K cut) and food safety inspections ($700K cut)

    HF642 –   Made deeper cuts to university funding (total $24M cut – for University of Iowa and Iowa State University, lowest level since 1998), cut Iowa Flood Center ($300K cut); cut early childhood programs ($1M cut), cut vocational rehabilitation for workers with disabilities ($300K cut), and reduced National Guard tuition assistance ($1M cut)

    HF653 –   Cut field operations for department of human services (over $10M cut), reducing child abuse and elder abuse investigations; cut local hospital reimbursements (over $27M cut); cut veterans home ownership assistance by 20% ($500K cut); cut two remaining mental health institutions ($1.7M cut); and made Planned Parenthood ineligible for Medicaid reimbursement for birth control, cancer screenings, and other preventive health services starting July 1, taking away access to health care and costing Iowa approximately $3 million in federal funding

     

    Iowans who would like more information should read “2017 Legislative Session in Review” at www.senate.iowa.gov/democrats, visit www.legis.iowa.gov, or contact Senator Hogg at rob.hogg@legis.iowa.gov or call his office at (515) 281-3901.


     

     

  • 2017 Session Wrap-up

    Download a pdf of our 2017 Session Wrap-up

    Education & worker training

    Jobs & economy

    Health & health care

    Safe communities

    Quality of life

    Good government

    Veterans & service members

     

    Education & worker training

    Bipartisan successes

    Helping schools use limited resources effectively by allowing them to spend various categories of school funding on a broader range of expenses that still achieve the intended goals (HF 564).

    Allowing some unused school funding to go into a “Flexibility Account” to be used in a broader fashion to achieve the intended goals (HF 565).

    Expanding the ways Iowans can earn a high school equivalency diploma when they meet academic standards. New pathways include a test battery, credit-based measures, and attaining academic credentials of equivalent or greater rigor (HF 473).

     

    Republican failures

    Limiting Iowans’ ability to get ahead with mid-year cuts of more than $26 million to education, community colleges and state universities (SF 130).

    Failing our schools with inadequate funding that doesn’t keep up with inflation, let alone make up for years of unmet needs. School superintendents say this will cause teacher layoffs and larger class sizes (SF 166).

     

    Missed opportunities

    Creating greater equity among school districts with consistent per-pupil school funding (SF 455).

    Fixing the huge disparity in school transportation costs so that each student gets the same amount for their education once they arrive at the school doors (SF 455).

    Improving efficiencies by offering financial incentives for school districts to share administrative functions (HF 633).

    Clarifying that FFA programs qualify as Career Technical Education (CTE) programming (HF 648).

    Providing necessary help for students learning English (SF 427, HF 6).

    Providing necessary help to better ensure low-income pupils can succeed in school (HF 8).

    Including age-appropriate information on dating violence and prevention in human growth and development instruction (SF 119).

    Offering financial incentives to expand Iowa’s preschool offerings to meet needs (SF 136).

     

    Bad ideas stopped

    Taking $200 million from public schools, and eliminating the Iowa Department of Education and Iowa Public Television (SF 29).

    Instituting a political party litmus test for university faculty (SF 288).

    Banning teachers and school leaders from voicing their opinion on education issues (HSB 47).

     

    Jobs & economy

    Bipartisan successes

    Offering incentives for smaller communities to increase affordable housing for working families (SF 488).

    Increasing opportunities for local small businesses that make and sell Iowa beer, wine and distilled spirits (HF 607).

    Adding to the list of invasive plants that can quickly crowd out corn and soybean crops. Palmer Amaranth is an edible flowering plant that can no longer be imported, sold or distributed in Iowa (HF 410).

    Helping thousands of Iowans become homeowners and boosting our economy by providing a state income tax exemption for First-time Homebuyer Savings Accounts (SF 505).

    Ensuring state-provided Apprenticeship Training funding goes to Iowa residents only (HF 231).

     

    Republican failures

    Passing an anti-worker, anti-growth budget that significantly cuts Economic Development funding (SF 130, SF 513).

    Eliminating support for the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University, which jeopardizes a successful program that has encouraged entrepreneurship and small business development across the state (SF 510).

    Lowering wages and stepping on local communities by rolling back minimum wage increases already in force in four counties—Polk, Johnson, Linn and Wapello (HF295).

    Preventing local governments from setting better standards for minimum wage, hiring practices, leave, benefits, scheduling or other terms of employment (HF295).

    Interfering with efforts to ensure high-quality local construction by eliminating Project Labor Agreements and pre-qualification questionnaires on complex public improvement projects (SF 438).

    Driving down wages in rural areas by eliminating the requirement that prevailing wage rates be paid to laborers and mechanics on federal construction contracts (HF 203).

    Hurting Iowa jobs and businesses by removing the Buy American requirement that U.S. steel be used on federal construction projects (HF 203).

    Hurting 185,000 family budgets and the communities where they live and shop by prohibiting public employees from collectively negotiating terms of employment, including health insurance and safety (HF 291).

    Cutting protections for Iowans hurt on the job through no fault of their own, reducing an employer’s liability for injuries, and encouraging employers and insurance carriers to avoid paying claims (HF 518).

     

    Missed opportunities

    Stimulating and diversifying economic and agricultural development by creating a marketing and production program for industrial hemp, which is a low-input, sustainable cash crop (SF 329).

    Saying “no” to tax relief for Iowa farmers, small businesses, teachers and families by refusing to couple state taxes code with federal changes (SF 428).

    Raising the minimum wage for hard-working Iowans (SF 156)..

    Preventing bad employers from stealing wages from their workers (SF 80).

    Ensuring equal pay for equal work (SF 340).

     

    Health & health care

    Bipartisan successes

    Ensuring timely, appropriate help for kids with autism spectrum disorders (HF 653, HF 215).

    Limiting the harmful effects of congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV), which can cause hearing or vision loss, lack of coordination, muscle weakness, cognitive impairment and seizures (SF 51).

    Reducing breast cancer deaths by requiring that mammography reports sent to patients include information on breast density if the patient has dense breast tissue (SF 250).

    Improving mental health and disability services in rural areas by allowing counties to equally share in regional funding (SF 504).

    Ensuring appropriate treatment for sick and disabled Iowans by allowing a physician to override an insurance company’s step therapy protocol in certain cases (HF 233).

     

    Republican failures

    The Republican-controlled House failed to approve an expanded, comprehensive medical cannabis program to properly treat more Iowans with debilitating conditions, and allowing medical cannabis to be grown, manufactured and dispensed in Iowa (SF 506).

    Cutting help for abused kids, the elderly, and sick, disabled and vulnerable Iowans by reducing access to quality health care, mental health care and other critical services at a time when the safety net for our most vulnerable is already in trouble (SF 130, HF 653).

    Cutting help for Iowans trying to give up smoking and other tobacco products by $1 million (HF 653).

    Cutting $8 million for Department of Human Services field operations. These are the people who protect children and seniors from abuse (HF 653).

    Increasing the cost to Iowa taxpayers with a new State Family Planning Program while reducing the number of Iowa health care providers (HF 653).

    Making it harder for Iowa parents to find out if their family qualifies for Medicaid and Hawk-I health insurance (HF 625).

    Increasing the likelihood of unintended pregnancies and abortions by shutting down a successful family planning program (HF 653).

    Making it more difficult for Iowans to get fair compensation when they’ve suffered at the hands of a negligent health care provider (SF 465).

    Making it extremely difficult for Iowans who are sick or dying from asbestos exposure to be adequately compensated for their pain and suffering (SF 376).

    Continuing Iowa’s Medicaid privatization mess that has dramatically increased costs to taxpayers, forced businesses to close and hurt the health care of thousands of vulnerable Iowans; and refusing to consider marginal improvements (SF 368).

     

    Safe communities

    Bipartisan successes

    Expanding the criminal offense of “sexual exploitation by a school employee” to include full-time, part-time and substitute employees, as well as volunteers and contract employees (SF 238).

    Allowing survivors of sexual assault to get a sexual abuse civil protective order to keep abusers away from them, their home and their place of work (SF 401).

    Enhancing public safety by improving law enforcement and emergency communications systems (SF 500, HF 467).

    Making roads safer by requiring drivers to remove their vehicle from the traveled portion of the road if it was damaged in an accident, but is operable and can be reached safely (HF 313).

    Saving lives by making texting while driving a primary offense. That means law enforcement can pull over a driver and ticket them if they see the driver texting (SF 234).

    Stopping deceitful and damaging adoption practices that harm Iowa’s families by toughening penalties for scamming prospective adoptive parents (SF 433).

    Charging a motorist with reckless driving (a Class “C” felony) when texting while driving causes an accident that seriously injures or kills another (SF 444).

    Protecting kids by updating the definitions of “child in need of assistance” and “child abuse” to apply in additional cases with dangerous substances in the home, including cocaine, heroin and opioids (HF 543).

    Cracking down on stalking and domestic violence, and enhancing monitoring and penalties for violations (HF 263).

    Expanding the definition of “criminal stalking” to include repeated use of an electronic device to track a person’s whereabouts with no legitimate purpose (HF 263).

    Reducing drunken driving fatalities and other drug and alcohol-related crimes by establishing 24/7 Sobriety program in counties that want to try this accountability-based program (SF 444).

    Requiring temporary staffing agencies to do background checks on employees for nursing homes and assisted living centers (HF 576).

    Prohibiting government offices open to the public (including public libraries and schools) from using a monitoring device where a person expects privacy, such as in a toilet, bath, shower or locker room (SF 499).

     

    Republican failures

    Jeopardizing the safety of Iowans, neighborhoods and communities by cutting services for victims, reducing access to the courts, delaying prosecution of crimes and making prisons even more dangerous (SF 130, SF 508, SF 509).

    Hurting kids with cuts to the Court Appointed Special Advocate program, which will no longer be available in all in all 99 counties (HF 640).

    Hurting elderly, disabled and vulnerable Iowans by cutting inspections of nursing homes (HF 640).

    Putting food safety at risk with cuts to the Iowa Department of Inspections & Appeals (HF 640).

     

    Missed opportunities

    Reducing fatalities by updating Iowa law for safely passing bicyclists on our roads. Improving safety for all road users by requiring bicycles to use a rear light visible from 300 feet between dusk and dawn (SF 450).

    Helping fire fighters and other public safety organizations raise money for charity or local public safety efforts from passing motorists. “Filling the Boot” is not legal in every Iowa community (SF 163).

    Helping victims with crime-related expenses that may arise years later and ensuring family members are compensated for lost wages when attending court proceedings (SF 276).

    Protecting students from worsening a concussion injury and requiring school coaches to be certified in CPR (HF 563).

    Protecting the health of students and educators by requiring radon testing in public schools (HF 7).

    Requiring that human growth and development instruction include age-appropriate information on dating violence and prevention (SF 119).

    Implementing health and safety checks for homeschooled students, in light of instances of child abuse and child death (SF 138).

    Establishing training requirements, procedures and prohibitions on physical restraint and seclusion of students by school districts and accredited nonpublic schools (SF 204).

    Training school personnel on suicide awareness, suicide prevention and on crisis plans (SF 378).

    Protecting all students by strengthening anti-bullying policies and programs (SF 390).

     

    Bad ideas stopped

    Ending licensing for such occupations as social work, mental health counselors and respiratory therapists (HSB 138).

     

    Quality of life

    Bipartisan successes

    Protecting homebuyers by ensuring construction lien disclosures before the sale of a house (HF 541).

    Keeping traffic moving efficiently by updating traffic laws for turns on red. On a red light, a driver may turn right from all lanes designated for right turns, or left from all lanes designated for left turns on a one-way street (HF 372).

    Protecting kids by providing consistency in child custody laws for married and unmarried couples, including completing a court-approved Children in the Middle course (HF 253).

    Reducing harassment and invasion of privacy by making it illegal to share images of another person in the nude or engaged in a sex act without their consent (HF 526).

     

    Republican failures

    Failing to pass any legislation to seriously address the state’s water quality problem.

    Scaling back nuisance protections for local residents in the vicinity of animal feeding operations (SF 447).

    Cutting funding for state parks to such an extent that some will likely be closed (SF 510).

    Cutting the Resource Enhancement and Protection program (REAP), which supports cities and counties that want to enhance quality of life through urban conservation and by developing natural, cultural and historic resources (SF 510).

    Emptying the Cultural Trust Fund account, which provided grants to arts and cultural organizations throughout Iowa (SF 130).

     

    Good government

    Bipartisan successes

    Using resources efficiently by giving county auditors the flexibility to combine staff and polling locations when low voter turnout is expected in primary and general elections (HF 471).

    Protecting the rights of Iowans by setting higher standards for law enforcement to seize property— especially money and cars—that may be related to a crime (SF 446).

    Saving taxpayer dollars by ensuring private parties cover more of the costs of civil services they require from county sheriffs, such as bills of sale and deeds for land sold (SF 501).

    Ensuring indigent Iowans obtain legal counsel when they’re charged with a crime that carries the possibility of jail or prison time (SF 374).

     

    Republican failures

    Eliminating the Watershed Improvement Funding Program, which encourages cooperative projects within watersheds (SF 510).

    Delaying access to justice and necessary services with cuts that require further scaling back clerk of court hours and specialty courts (SF 508, SF 509).

    Preventing local governments from voluntarily entering into agreements with local contractors that ensure good-paying jobs, quality work and cost-effective projects (SF 438).

    Weakening the rights of thousands of Iowans by making it more difficult for them to vote in elections, including elderly and disabled Iowans, college students and others (HF 516).

    Creating a costly registration card program for voting (HF 516).

     

    Missed opportunities

    Establishing a better way for Iowans to identify themselves at the polls by allowing them to present common forms of ID (Amendment on floor).

     

    Bad ideas stopped

    Jeopardizing the drinking water of nearly a million Iowans, raising water bills and robbing local taxpayers of a major asset by dismantling Des Moines Water Works (SF 456/HF 484).

    Ending retirement security for public employees, including teachers, fire fighters, and police officers ( SF 45).

    Discouraging Iowans from filing legitimate lawsuits by placing a financial burden on plaintiffs, even before the case is heard by a judge or jury (SF 71).

     

    Veterans & service members

    Republican failures

    Decreasing funding for National Guard readiness centers, armories and facilities, and upgrades to Camp Dodge sewers, which causes Iowa to also lose significant federal matching funds (HF 643).

    Cutting 20 percent from the Veterans Home Ownership Program (HF 653).

    Cutting $1 million from National Guard Tuition Assistance, a 24 percent decrease from what the Legislature originally approved and the Governor signed (HF 642).

  • 2017 Closing Day Remarks by Senate Democratic Leader Rob Hogg

    Mr. President, Mr. Majority Leader, and all my Senate colleagues:

    During my address on the opening day of this session, I expressed hope the Senate would govern wisely and take action to make life better on the bread-and-butter issues that Iowans face every day.

    I noted that – in recent years – the Legislature has worked together in a bipartisan manner on policies that were designed to:

    • Create jobs and broaden economic prosperity across our state.
    • Create more educational opportunities for Iowans.
    • Expand access to health care and make it more affordable.
    • Improve public safety for families, neighborhoods and communities.
    • Help safeguard our people and our property from disasters.

    With that in mind, I pledged on the first day of the session that Senate Democrats would focus on real solutions to real problems.

    I specifically cited six real problems that need to be addressed:

    First, the increase in deadly Iowa traffic accidents.

    Second, the Medicaid managed care mess that is failing Iowa patients and families, failing Iowa providers, and failing Iowa taxpayers.

    Third, the lack of pension and retirement security for too many Iowans.

    Fourth, the statewide problem of impaired waters.

    Fifth, the loss of population in over 70 counties and its impact on local schools.

    Sixth, the problem of stagnant wages paid to Iowa workers.

    So how did the Legislature do on these six key problems facing Iowa?

    On traffic safety, Democrats joined with Republicans to pass Senate File 234 to address texting while driving and Senate File 444 to increase penalties when texting causes an accident that seriously injures or kills someone.

    That same legislation will also help reduce drunken driving fatalities and other drug and alcohol-related problems by establishing the 24/7 Sobriety program in counties that want to try it.  This is probably the best news of this legislative session.

    Unfortunately, this body did not take up Senate File 450 to address bicycle safety, and we have much, much more to do for better driver’s education and traffic safety to save lives.

    On the Medicaid managed care mess, the Republican majority did not take any action to fix the problem.  The Republican majority failed to take up bills Democrats proposed to improve the system, and even blocked a vote on an amendment just to study ways to improve managed care.

    To make matters worse, the human services budget (House File 653) slashed funding for hospital reimbursements, slashed funding for child abuse investigations through the field offices, and made further cuts to our mental health system that is already in crisis.

    On retirement security, the Republican majority did not take any action to improve retirement security.  None.  The only good news is that no action was taken on a Republican proposal, Senate File 45, to end the retirement system for peace officers, fire fighters, teachers, and other public employees.

    On water quality, the Legislature was much more talk than action.  In fact, the Ag and DNR budget (Senate File 510) reduces funding for REAP, CRP, and other water quality programs and would eliminate the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, which Governor Branstad established at Iowa State University in 1987.  I still hope that Governor Branstad will exercise his veto pen and save the Leopold Center.

    On the declining population in over 70 counties in Iowa, the Republican majority did not enact any positive vision for revitalization in our counties and small towns.

    Instead, the Republican majority provided inadequate funding for our schools – again (Senate File 166) – along with cuts to our community colleges (Senate File 130), cuts to the REAP program (Senate File 510), and cuts to our hospitals (House File 653).

    These cuts do nothing to reverse the decline in population and revitalize our communities across our state.  We should be investing in our natural resources, our schools, and access to health care across our state to reverse declining population and stop school consolidations and closures.

    On stagnant wages, the Republican majority failed to make progress, despite the promise of Governor Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds to raise family incomes.  In fact, the Republican majority voted for House File 295 – which was signed by Governor Branstad – to cut the wages of 85,000 hard-working Iowans in counties that had already moved forward to raise the minimum wage.

    There were other bills that undermine wages and family incomes in our state.  The Republican majority voted for Senate File 130 and House File 642 to slash education funding for our community colleges and our universities.  The Republican majority voted for House File 518 to create barriers and cut workers compensation for injured and disabled workers.

    The Republican majority also voted for House File 203 to circumvent “prevailing wage” and “Buy American” requirements for road projects.  The Republican majority voted for Senate File 438 to prevent local governments from considering wages and health and safety qualifications when seeking bids for construction projects.

    All of this legislation will make the problem of stagnant wages worse, not better.  And dealing with the problem of stagnant wages is the key to creating a future with broad prosperity and more opportunity for all Iowans.

    Dealing with stagnant wages with solutions to raise wages and grow family incomes is also the key to our budget.  After more than six years under Governor Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds, Iowa’s budget is a mess – not because of a national or global recession, but because of bad budgeting decisions by the Branstad-Reynolds Administration and their failure to grow our economy and family incomes as they promised.

    Unfortunately, rather than deal with these real problems, the Republican majority made a decision to pursue the fake problems I warned about on opening day – like the “fake” problem of collective bargaining, the “fake” problem of Planned Parenthood funding, and the “fake” problem of “fake” people casting votes.

    The bad news for Iowans is that the Republican majority dedicated this session to addressing these fake problems, with an anti-worker, anti-women, anti-family agenda that hurts Iowans.

    The Republican majority attacked the “fake” problem of collective bargaining by taking away workers’ rights and reducing wages and benefits (House File 291), hurting 184,000 Iowa families and communities across our state.

    he Republican majority attacked the “fake” problem of Planned Parenthood funding (House File 653), costing the state $3 million in federal family planning dollars and making it harder for Iowans across the state to access preventive health care services.

    The Republican majority attacked the “fake” problem of “fake” people casting votes (House File 516), by weakening the voting rights of Iowans, by making it more difficult for all Iowans to vote, especially elderly and disabled Iowans, poor people and minorities who do not own or drive a car, and college students who won’t have the required identification.

    I believe the intent of House File 516 was to limit participation, which is fundamentally contrary to the ideals of our state and our country.

    But I also believe that because of the attacks on workers, women, families, students, minorities, and all voters, we are already seeing the greatest re-awakening of democracy that Iowa has ever seen.

    As I said in my opening day speech, the solution to our problems is not less participation, it is more participation.

    So today I ask again – as I asked when this legislative session opened on January 9 – to everyone in this chamber and to those listening or watching the proceedings online – let’s join together with a renewed sense of citizenship, to sit at our table of democracy, to participate, to reach out, to listen, to speak up, and to serve, so that together we can build a safer and healthier future, with broad prosperity and more opportunity, for all Iowans.

    Thank you, Mr. President.

     

  • Senate Democrats respond to legislative GOP budget plan

    Statement by Senator Joe Bolkcom, ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee:

    “The budget plan released today by legislative Republicans is terrible news for Iowans.  Republicans are once again balancing the budget on the backs of working Iowans.

    “Senate Democrats will not support drastic cuts that threaten public safety, the quality of education, and the safety net for seniors, children and vulnerable Iowans.

    “These budget cuts could have been avoided if Republican legislators, Governor Branstad and Lt. Governor Reynolds had delivered on their promises to increase family income by 25% and create more than 200,000 new jobs in Iowa.”

    ###

  • Mathis, Ragan respond to Branstad/Reynolds release on Medicaid privatization

    “Everything the Governor lists can be refuted by patients, providers and advocates. Don’t believe this blather,” said Senator Liz Mathis of Robins. “We still have big issues with pre-authorization, physicians dropping hundreds of Medicaid patients and millions of dollars of claims left unpaid to providers. That is far from a successful year.”

    “The willingness of Governor Branstad and Lt. Governor Reynolds to continue to mislead Iowans about their Medicaid privatization disaster is stunning,” said Senator Amanda Ragan of Mason City. “Now it’s up to Lt. Gov. Reynolds to be honest with Iowans and start repairing the damage privatized Medicaid has brought to Iowa families, health care providers and taxpayers.”

    -end-

  • Hindering medical breakthroughs

    Last week, the Senate passed SF 359, a bill to ban voluntary fetal tissue donations.

    This bill puts politics above good science and medicine. The bill is nothing more than a platform for people who are opposed to abortion to perpetuate lies about abortion providers and women who have abortions.

    The legislators behind this bill are the same ones who pushed the personhood bills, would ban all abortion in Iowa and defund Planned Parenthood. This bill does not actually impact the provision of abortion.  It simply harms those who could benefit from medical research.

    It treats abortion differently since research is allowed on fetal tissue following a miscarriage or stillbirth. While an amendment to the bill protects existing cell lines commonly used in research, it means that no new cell lines will be available in the future.

    We don’t know how science will evolve, and to place these kinds of limitation on what kinds of tissue and cells can be researched is short-sighted and could limit future research. While cell lines that meet this definition are available now, several years down the road, there could be a shortage of available cell lines in the future.

    Federal law regulates fetal tissue donation. It recognizes the benefits of fetal tissue donation and does not bar the practice.  It does, however, ban any organization from participating in tissue donation of any kind for profit.

    This bill also sends a message to current and prospective medical researchers that Iowa is not a place to do research on disease curing medical discovery.