“The six-week abortion ban rammed through the legislature last week is an unconstitutional and dangerous attack on Iowa women,” Senate Democratic Leader Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque, said.
“I’m relieved that the district court block this law, protecting Iowa women and allowing a thorough judicial review to take place,” Jochum said. “Iowans should be free to make their own healthcare decisions without government interference.”
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Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Pam Jochum released the following statement on Friday following Gov. Reynolds’ signing of House File 732, the six-week abortion ban.
“Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill today that attacks the freedom and threatens the futures of Iowa women – and she did it before a crowd of special interest insiders,” Senate Democratic Leader Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque, said. “The lives and well-being of Iowa women are at risk for as long as this law is in effect.”
“Luckily for Iowans, a lawsuit challenging this dangerous attack on Iowa women has already been filed,” Jochum said. “I look forward to the Iowa courts blocking this law, giving it the legal scrutiny it deserves, and ultimately declaring it unconstitutional.”
Iowa Democratic senators responded to the extreme, near-total abortion ban introduced by Republican politicians and debated on the Senate floor on Tuesday.
Senate Democratic Leader Pam Jochum, SF 579 floor manager Janice Weiner, and Health and Human Services Committee Ranking Member Sarah Trone Garriott released the following statements.
“Republican politicians are ignoring Iowans in their rush to pass an extreme ban on 98% of abortions in Iowa,” Senate Democratic Leader Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque, said. “Their actions today threaten the health and futures of all Iowa women.”
“This extreme Republican power grab infringes on the personal freedom of every Iowa woman and girl. There are women alive today who will not be alive in six months because of this law,” Jochum said. “That is a tragedy and a travesty.”
“Democrats trust Iowa women. We believe in freedom and the right of every Iowan to decide their own futures – and we know the majority of Iowans agree with us,” Jochum said.
“Gov. Reynolds and legislative Republicans convened an unprecedented special session today for the sole purpose of taking away Iowans’ rights. They hoped they could do it quickly and quietly enough that we wouldn’t notice our freedoms being stripped away,” Sen. Janice Weiner, D-Iowa City, said. “But Iowans showed up. We see what these extreme Republicans are doing, we’re mad as hell, and we most definitely won’t forget.”
“The Republicans’ extreme, near-total abortion ban makes difficult circumstances so much worse for Iowa women – denying essential healthcare while offering no resources and no assistance,” Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-West Des Moines, said.
“Instead of calling legislators back to Des Moines to take away fundamental freedoms, we could have made a positive difference for Iowa women,” Trone Garriott said. “We could have expanded maternal healthcare, reinstated support for family planning, and offered more help with childcare. That’s what Iowa Democrats are fighting for – a state that supports Iowa families and helps them thrive.”
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Following Governor Reynolds’ call for a special session, the Democratic Leaders of the Iowa House and Senate released the following statements on Republican plans to end reproductive freedom in Iowa.
Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Pam Jochum of Dubuque:
“We knew this would happen. Republican extremists, led by Gov. Kim Reynolds, are rushing to take away Iowans’ established rights and personal freedoms. And they hope they can do it fast enough that Iowans won’t even notice.
Now is the time for Iowans to fight back against an extreme abortion ban that will cost women their lives as well as their freedom. Iowans see how abortion bans have caused heartbreak, complications, and death in other states. We won’t stand for it here.
This attack on reproductive healthcare is opposed by a large majority of Iowans. Senate Democrats will be fighting for that majority on the Senate floor next week, and we call on every Iowan to join us.”
Iowa Sens. Sarah Trone Garriott and Izaah Knox released the following statements on the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services’ decision to apply for a $29 million federal grant to provide food assistance for Iowa children this summer.
“I’m happy and relieved to see our state moving forward to feed Iowa kids this summer. This is the right thing to do for our families and communities,” Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott said. “We should never leave resources on the table when it comes to caring for our kids.”
“I appreciate the Department of Health and Human Services for listening to Iowans and agreeing to apply for this program,” Trone Garriott said. “And I especially want to thank all the organizations, faith leaders, and community leaders who came together to advocate on behalf of Iowa kids.”
“We know from previous years that this program supports families and feeds kids all across Iowa,” Sen. Izaah Knox said. “I’m proud to see people and communities coming together to secure these resources for our neighbors in need. Some things are above politics, and feeding hungry kids is one of them.”
Sens. Trone Garriott and Knox sent a letter along with state Rep. Sean Bagniewski to the governor last week requesting that the state apply for the funds. The full letter is available here.
Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-West Des Moines, is the ranking member on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Sen. Izaah Knox is a Democrat from Des Moines.
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Des Moines — Iowa state Sen. Claire Celsi released the following statement in response to news that the state will publish critical financial reports more than six months late, jeopardizing federal funding for state universities.
This is the third year in a row the state has failed to file its annual comprehensive financial report on time, due to the botched and ultimately aborted implementation of a new statewide financial software.
“The Reynolds Administration has not acted with a sense of urgency to fix this problem. Auditor Rob Sand’s office has assisted the universities on a work-around, but that still doesn’t solve the problem going forward,” Iowa Sen. Claire Celsi said.
“I urge the Reynolds Administration to put extra resources behind this so that the state can file next year’s report on time and get back on track,” Celsi said. “It’s disappointing that the Reynolds Administration has failed to prioritize this issue, putting funding at risk for our Regents universities.”
Celsi, D-West Des Moines, serves as the ranking member on the Senate Oversight Committee.
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Des Moines – Democratic lawmakers sent a letter to Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Thursday imploring her to accept federal food assistance for hungry Iowa kids this summer.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Pandemic EBT program ensures that children who receive free and reduced lunches during the school year can continue to have access to nutritious foods during summer break.
Currently, Iowa is just one of 10 states that have not applied to this program for the summer of 2023. The deadline for the state to apply is July 14.
Iowa state Sens. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-West Des Moines, and Izaah Knox, D-Des Moines, and state Rep. Sean Bagniewski, D-Des Moines, sent a letter to Reynolds on Thursday asking her to take advantage of the program after they visited the White House last week.
“Our state government is responsible for promoting and protecting the health and well-being of our citizens, and our children in particular,” the lawmakers wrote to Gov. Reynolds. “Food is a basic need. If we want our children to grow up healthy, excel in their education, and be active in our community, they need to be fed. Practical, beneficial programs like Pandemic EBT are an important way to help Iowa kids.
“Governor Reynolds, we call on you to prioritize the health and wellbeing of Iowa children and act today. Direct your Departments to submit a plan now for the summer USDA Pandemic EBT program for the sake of our Iowa kids. Please do not leave federal money on the table while so many Iowa children are at risk of going hungry.”
The full letter is available here.
A list of states that have been approved for the USDA summer program can be found on the program’s website. In addition to those already accessing the program, several states have applied but are not yet been fully approved.
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Des Moines – Iowa state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott released the following statement regarding Friday’s Iowa Supreme Court decision on the Republican-passed state law banning abortion after 6 weeks.
Trone Garriott, D-West Des Moines, is the ranking member on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and the Democratic Whip:
“Following today’s 3-3 Iowa Supreme Court decision, abortion remains safe and legal in Iowa – despite repeated attempts from Gov. Reynolds to enforce a near total abortion ban in the state.
“But the fight is not over. While Iowa’s courts have stood up for our rights based on the state constitution, a small group of extreme, anti-choice Republican politicians are still seeking to change both the courts and the constitution.
“With the overturning of Roe v. Wade, our rights are at risk. We fully expect a new attack on reproductive rights — perhaps from Gov. Reynolds calling an unprecedented special session in the next few months.
“Senate Democrats stand with the majority of Iowans who support safe and legal access to abortion. Now is the time to defend our rights. Tell your legislators that you refuse further attacks on abortion rights. Raise your voice, and rally your friends and neighbors to do the same. We must hold elected leaders accountable to the will of the people.”
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Iowa Sen. Herman Quirmbach released the following statement on the increases in tuition, fees, and room and board at Iowa State University, the University of Iowa, and the University of Northern Iowa. The increases were enacted for next school year by the Iowa Board of Regents on Wednesday.
The Board raised in-state tuition this fall by 3.5 percent for students at all three institutions. Base tuition increases for in-state students are $304 at ISU, $305 at U of I, and $285 at UNI. For Iowa students living on campus, the average overall increase including room and board and fees is $838.67.
“The tuition hikes enacted by the Board of Regents today are the direct result of Des Moines Statehouse Republicans’ failure to support Iowans and build a stronger future for our state,” Iowa State Sen. Herman Quirmbach said. “These increases make it harder for Iowans to go to college, stay in college, and remain in Iowa after college.
“Senate and House Republicans denied the Regents universities any increase at all in their general funding. Had the Republicans granted the full increase the Board requested, it would have been enough to avoid any increase in costs for in-state students. Had the Republicans even gone along with Governor Reynold’s meager $12 million request, tuition increases for in-state undergraduates would have been unnecessary.
“Instead, Statehouse Republicans thumbed their noses at their own governor and passed the costs along to Iowa students and their families,“ Quirmbach said. “Republican politicians in Des Moines have once again chosen tax breaks for the wealthy and big corporations over a brighter future for the next generation of Iowans.”
Quirmbach, D-Ames, is the ranking member on the Senate Education Committee.
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Attention homeowners: The Legislature came together this year to approve a statewide property tax relief package.
The package includes a new property tax exemption for homeowners aged 65 and older. Eligible homeowners will receive an exemption of $3,250 for assessment year 2023, increasing to $6,500 for 2024 and after. The package also increased the military service property tax exemption available to veteran homeowners from $1,852 to $4,000.
These exemptions will lower the taxable value of homes and reduce property taxes for those homeowners beginning in September 2024, and both are in addition to the existing homestead tax credit available to homeowners.
If you are an eligible homeowner, you will not need to re-file the property tax exemption application if you already have filed for the exemption with your local assessor.
That said, your local assessor’s office can help you determine if you qualify for either of these exemptions. Homeowners 65 and up may wish to submit an updated form that includes information that will more easily allow their assessor to determine eligibility for the new exemption. That new form is available online from the Department of Revenue.
The military service exemption will be adjusted for all claims on file. Veterans can file for the exemption by filling out this form.
The deadline for submitting new claims for these exemptions is July 1st. You can find contact information for your local assessor here.
This past weekend was the Second Annual Iowa Legislative Slow-Pitch Softball Game. House and Senate Democrats played a great game and bested the Republicans 10-6. More importantly, the charity event raised $25,000 each for the Puppy Jake Foundation and the Iowa Food Bank Association.
Events like this are a great reminder that even though we represent different sides, there’s more to unite us than divide us, and we can always come together to make our state stronger.
Check out a few photos from the event, held at Principal Park in Des Moines:
