Blog | Iowa Senate Democrats

Superintendent Survey: Continued Underfunding Will Result in Higher Class Sizes, Teacher Layoffs in Iowa Schools

8 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Education, Issues, News releases, Official

A new survey of Iowa Superintendents has found that about 2/3 of them will be forced to raise class size, cut teachers, and reduce opportunities for students if lawmakers approve a 2% or lower increase in basic school funding.

Senate Democrats applaud Iowa Chief Justice’s speech

8 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Issues, News releases, Official, Safer communities

Leaders of the Iowa Senate today responded positively to Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady’s annual State of the Judiciary address, and say that proposed cuts by Branstad/Reynolds threaten public safety.

2017 Opening Day Remarks by Senate Democratic Leader Rob Hogg

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

Good morning, Mr. President, Mr. Majority Leader, returning Senate colleagues, new Senate colleagues, Senate staff, family, friends, and fellow Iowans. Today, I want to begin with a few personal observations. The first is the honor I feel to stand before you today as the first new leader of the Senate ...

Follow what’s happening in the Iowa Legislature

8 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Official

The 2017 session starts Monday, Jan. 9. Here’s how to follow what’s happening. The Iowa Legislature’s website, where you can track what’s happening with bills: www.legis.iowa.gov Iowa Senate Democrats caucus website, with events and analysis of bills and issues: www.senate.iowa.gov/democrats Photos, video and updates on caucus activities: www.facebook.com/IowaSenateDemocrats Live ...

Statement from Senate State Government Chair on “election integrity” proposals by Iowa Secretary of State

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

As the first-in-the-nation caucus state, Iowa should have the best-in-the-nation election laws. Democrats believe that means Iowa’s elections must be the most accurate, secure and efficient in the country, without disenfranchising a single Iowan. Those values will guide our decisions to support or oppose proposed Republican changes to Iowa’s election laws.

Hogg: Iowans must be assured that there are safe, secure environments at every Iowa facility

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

(Des Moines) Senate Democratic Leader Rob Hogg has released the following response to news that clients were mistreated at the Glenwood State Resource Center. “Abuse is never acceptable. This is especially worrisome because families in more than half of Iowa’s counties depend on Glenwood for health care services that are ...

Pre-session listening tour: Mason City, Waterloo, Davenport, DeWitt, Ottumwa, Anamosa

8 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Official

Legislative Democrats are holding six listening sessions to begin our 2017 outreach. We’ll be stopping Jan. 3-6 in Mason City, Waterloo, Davenport, DeWitt, Ottumwa and Anamosa. Throughout the year, we hope to meet with Iowans across our state. We want to hear local concerns and share a positive vision for good jobs with good benefits, good schools, better health, and real public safety.

Senate Democratic Leader Rob Hogg on the release of the new Iowa Energy Plan

8 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Energy & Enviroment, Issues, Jobs & Economy, News releases, Official, Working families

“Democratic leadership led the way in developing Iowa’s statewide renewable energy industry. That’s because Iowa renewable energy is good for the environment and good for Iowa jobs across our state…We hope legislative Republicans will continue bipartisan support for clean, renewable energy. This is especially important because the incoming President and his nominees for key positions have expressed opposition to clean energy solutions.”

Ragan: Continue oversight until Medicaid problems are truly fixed

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

That’s why intensive, on-going oversight of privatized Medicaid is absolutely essential. That oversight must continue until these serious, recorded, persistent problems are fixed. Iowans depend on us to ask tough questions, to insist on straight answers, and to make sure the State of Iowa’s efforts result in the most positive health care programs and outcomes possible.

TODAY: Legislature’s Medicaid Oversight Committee

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

The Iowa Legislature’s Health Policy Oversight Committee will meet for their final meeting before the start of the 2017 session. LIVESTREAM: This meeting will be livestreamed at the Iowa Senate Democrats’ Facebook page, www.facebook.com/IowaSenateDemocrats/. You do not need to be a Facebook user to watch the video of the meeting.

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