This past weekend, Senate Democratic Leaders held our very first listening tour of 2023, traveling to Council Bluffs for a series of meetings with community leaders and everyday Iowans. 

We heard what’s on folks’ minds and how their state legislature could work better for them – from workforce to transit and education to apprenticeships to ethanol. 

More than 40 people turned out for our listening session, where we had a great conversation on the hot buttons in the legislature and how we can push back against the most dangerous parts of Gov. Reynolds’ agenda. 

We’ll be holding more events like these in communities across Iowa. Drop by when we’re in your town and, in the meantime, fill out our survey to let us know what’s most important to you! 

Iowa state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott released the following statement regarding final passage of the Republican school funding plan for the 2023-24 academic year: 

“The school funding bill that passed the House today and the Senate last week fails to  meet the needs facing students and teachers in districts across Iowa,” Sarah Trone Garriott, D-West Des Moines, said. “That’s especially true in rural Iowa, where 72 districts will actually lose state funding compared to the current year.”

The Republican plan increases school funding by 3 percent, or about $107 million, for the upcoming school year. But for 72 largely rural districts across the state, that increase will not offset the funding lost due to declining enrollments, meaning they’ll receive less state support than they’re getting now. 

While state support for school is tied to enrollment numbers, schools must contend with fixed costs for building maintenance, supplies and more. Declining enrollment can mean thousands less in funding, with no equal drop in expenses. Most districts will make up that loss by raising property taxes. 

“If you live in one of these 72 districts, your local senator voted to provide less support for kids and teachers in your community,” Trone Garriott said. “Iowans deserve to know when their elected representatives vote to hurt their communities and leave kids with less. And if you live in one of these districts, your senator needs to hear from you.” 

Below is a list of senators who voted for 3 percent school funding, along with the school districts they represent that will receive less state funding as a result:

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Iowa state Sen. Herman Quirmbach released the following statement regarding Thursday’s debate Senate floor debate on school funding:

“Statehouse Republicans’ low-ball offer on school funding insults parents and teachers and shortchanges our kids,” Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, said. “Democrats have a better plan. We’re calling on the state to invest $267 million in our kids’ education today and Iowa’s future tomorrow.”

“Republicans are spending $267 million on corporate tax giveaways and private schools subsidies this year alone, while refusing to support public education at a time of rising costs and increasing needs,” Quirmbach said. “That’s not fair to our kids. Our priority should be stopping school closures, ending the teacher shortage, and adequately funding our public schools.”

Quirmbach is the ranking member on the Senate Education Committee.

Senate Democrats offered an amendment to increase school funding for the upcoming academic year by $267 million.

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Iowa Senate Democrats will offer an amendment today on Senate File 181, the residential property tax correction bill, to preserve public safety funding and other essential services for local governments. 

“Property taxpayers shouldn’t pay more for a mistake made by the Iowa Department of Revenue – but our police and firefighters shouldn’t get less either,” Sen. Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque, said. “Our Public Safety Protection Plan amendment corrects the state’s error without compromising public safety or costing residential taxpayers more.”

Jochum is the ranking member on the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

At issue is a mistaken calculation made by the Iowa Department of Revenue, which will raise property taxes across the state unless the legislature acts now to fix it. That fix will come at a cost, however: local governments will receive less revenue than they have budgeted for, potentially forcing cuts to services. 

The Democratic amendment replaces the property tax revenue local governments will lose under the bill with state dollars on a one-time basis, filling the gap caused by the Department of Revenue error while protecting property owners from an inappropriate tax hike. 

The measure will ensure local governments have adequate time to plan for the reduced revenues in the future, while avoiding cuts to public safety and other essential services in the coming year.

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Iowa state Sen. Bill Dotzler released the following statement regarding Gov. Kim Reynolds’ move on Tuesday to allocate $440,000 to clear a backlog of grant awards from the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund:

“I’m glad to see Gov. Reynolds has heard our call to action and found a fix for the Veterans Trust Fund shortfall,” Dotzler, D-Waterloo, said. “We can all agree that providing the resources to meet Iowa veterans’ needs is the right thing to do – this year and every year.”

“That said, the governor’s solution is only a temporary one.” Dotzler said. “Senate Democrats have a plan to shore up the trust fund’s finances long-term, and we look forward to working with the governor and Republican lawmakers to get it done. We should never turn away an Iowa veteran in need.”

Dotzler serves as ranking member on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, and earlier this month introduced legislation to provide immediate additional funds for the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund and avoid future funding shortfalls.

That bill, Senate File 82, would boost the fund by $500,000 in the current year and then double trust fund appropriations to $1 million in the fiscal year that begins July 1. The trust fund provides critical help for Iowa veterans, including emergency assistance for medical care and equipment, home and vehicle repairs, and counseling.

The governor’s move on Tuesday draws funds from the state’s allocation of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, which are federal funds made available through the Biden Administration’s American Rescue Plan Act.

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Iowa House and Senate Democrats on Tuesday proposed a $267 million investment in Iowa schools for the 2023-24 school year, drawing a sharp contrast with Republicans’ misplaced priorities and continued underfunding of public education. 

“Show me your budget and I’ll show you your priorities,” Senate Education Committee Ranking Member Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, said. “Instead of blowing $160 million on a corporate tax giveaway and $107 million on subsidizing private schools for the few, we owe it to the 92% of kids who attend public schools to invest in their future.”

The proposal offered by Democratic lawmakers would not only prevent budget cuts, layoffs and loss of academic programs in public schools, but also expand mental health support for students, raise pay for teachers, and reduce class sizes.

“Iowa Democrats believe every kid deserves a quality education, regardless of where they live,”  said House Education Committee Ranking Member Sharon Steckman, D-Mason City. “If there is anything we’ve heard in the first weeks of session, it’s that Iowans want strong public schools. It’s time for the Governor and Republican lawmakers to stop playing politics and put our kids in public schools before corporate tax cuts and private schools.” 

Already in 2023, the Governor and Republican lawmakers have committed $107 million in state funds to exclusive private schools and handed out $160 million in tax cuts to the largest corporations in the state. A $267 million investment in public schools ensures our students, teachers and communities receive equal priority.

“Six years of Republican neglect have allowed inflation to run far ahead of state support for our schools,” Quirmbach said, “Our proposal begins to fill that gap.”

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Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls, Senate Education Committee Ranking Member Herman Quirmbach, and Sen. Molly Donahue, a public school educator, released the following statements regarding Senate passage of House File 68, the private school voucher bill on Monday night:

“Private school vouchers will hurt local schools, weaken rural communities, and reduce opportunity for the vast majority of Iowa kids,” Iowa state Sen. Molly Donahue, D-Cedar Rapids, said. “The bill pushed through the Legislature by statehouse Republicans on Monday is a betrayal of Iowa’s commitment to high-quality public education serving every kid and every parent in our state.”

Donahue is a 32-year veteran teacher in the Cedar Rapids Community School District and serves on the Senate Education Committee.

“Iowa voters did not give Gov. Reynolds and statehouse Republicans a mandate to defund public education and spend taxpayer dollars on private schools with no accountability, but that’s exactly what they’ve done by passing this voucher scheme,” Iowa state Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, said. “This bill is a grave mistake for Iowa – fundamentally, financially, and morally. The only way to pay for this program is to continue to bleed our public schools.”

Quirmbach is the ranking member on the Senate Education Committee.

“The private school voucher scam passed tonight by Republican politicians in Des Moines is a giveaway to out-of-state interest groups and wealthy families who have already chosen private education,” Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, said. “The way Republican politicians rammed this bill through the legislature once again reveals their misplaced priorities and commitment to serving big donors and special interests – not the people of Iowa.”

“This bill is wrong for students, wrong for families, and wrong for a state that built its reputation on high-quality public education,” Wahls said.

Senate Democrats voted unanimously against House File 68. 

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Iowa state Sen. Bill Dotzler, D-Waterloo, introduced legislation this week to provide immediate additional funds for the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund and avoid future funding shortfalls.

The Iowa Veterans Trust Fund provides critical support for veterans, including emergency medical care and equipment, home and vehicle repairs, and counseling. But it ran out of money after just four months earlier this year.

Dotzler’s bill, Senate File 82, will boost the fund by $500,000 in the current year and then double trust fund appropriations to $1 million in the fiscal year that begins July 1.

“As a state, we should never turn away veterans in need, but that’s exactly what’s happening now,” Dotzler said. “This bill will erase the existing shortfall in the Veterans Trust Fund and help ensure we’re keeping our promises to those who served.”

“We owe it to our veterans to honor their service and meet their needs – especially in emergency situations,” Dotzler said. “I look forward to working with my Democratic and Republican colleagues to move this bill forward.”

The bill is co-sponsored by Sens. Liz Bennett, D-Cedar Rapids; Eric Giddens, D-Cedar Falls; Janice Weiner, D-Iowa City; and Cindy Winckler, D-Davenport.

Dotzler’s bill introduction coincides with Veterans Day on the Hill, the annual event welcoming hundreds of service members to the Capitol to meet their legislators and honor their service.

The Veterans Trust Fund is administered by the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs, and funded with proceeds from the Iowa Lottery.

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Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls released the following statement regarding Gov. Kim Reynolds’ Condition of the State Address on Tuesday:

“The agenda offered tonight by Gov. Reynolds is full of promises and paybacks for the ultra-rich, big corporations and out-of-state interests trying to impose their will on our state,” Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, said. “But it offers almost nothing for Iowa’s middle-class families.”

“Iowans did not give the governor a mandate to defund public education and weaken our community schools. Iowans did not give Republicans a mandate for more giveaways to the ultra-rich or culture wars that pit us against each other,” Wahls said. “Governor Reynolds’ speech tonight badly misread the needs of our state and the priorities of the folks she was elected to represent.”

“Senate Democrats are ready to set aside the ideological agendas, skip the special interest giveaways, and serve the needs of everyday Iowans,” Wahls said. “We hope Gov. Reynolds will join us.”

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Remarks as Delivered

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, staff, members of the press, and my fellow Iowans: welcome to the 2023 legislative session. 

I’d like to start first by thanking my family, my wife Chloe, my sister Zeb, for all your love and support. Thank you. I also want to welcome all the new members of the Senate, including five new Democratic senators, who bring a rich and diverse range of experiences to the important work we do in this chamber. I also welcome our new Republican senators, and I look forward to getting to know each of you better and working together for our great state. 

I also want to take a moment to thank our staff of the Democratic caucus. The work that each of you do makes this building work, and I’m grateful to have each and every one of you on our team. Thank you. 

And, before I begin, Madam President, I also want to recognize the Iowa workers of UAW Local 807 in Burlington and BCTGM Local 100-G in Cedar Rapids, who are on strike this morning for fair wages and working conditions. From food to heavy machinery and everything in between, Iowa workers produce the goods our society needs to thrive, and they deserve a living wage and livable benefits for doing it.  

Every session opens with a fresh opportunity to make Iowa better – more welcoming, vibrant and successful. In 2023, Iowa Senate Democrats are ready to seize that opportunity by taking action on the single biggest challenge facing Iowa.

As former Iowa state Senator Tom Vilsack used to say, “We need more Iowans, younger Iowans, and better paid Iowans.” It’s been called a brain drain and a workforce crisis, but really this challenge is bigger than that. What we face is a people crisis — an exodus from the state of Iowa. Whether it’s growing waitlists for child care, bigger class sizes in our public schools, or the shuttering of labor and delivery units in hospitals across our state, this crisis threatens the future of Iowa and is holding us back every single day.

And so, Madam President, everything we do this session should be focused on this crisis.

Iowans see this reality everywhere we go, in every aspect of our daily lives. 

Over the last few years, we have lost one third of our childcare providers. The state has 350,000 more kids than we have open childcare spots, and nearly one quarter of the state lives in a childcare desert – in large part because providers can’t hire enough staff to meet demand. 

350,000 kids potentially missing out on safe, fun, enriching, early education that prepares them for a brighter future. One quarter of Iowa parents without the childcare they need to rejoin the labor force, to start a new job, or accept a promotion. 

And the crisis does not get better once kids get to school. Iowa schools started the current academic year with 5,000 open jobs, including 1,000 full-time teaching positions. The Department of Education website lists 21 separate teaching areas facing shortages, from pre-K to physical education to high-school math, science, and industrial technology. 

Right now, kids in every corner of our state are missing out on the individual attention they need to become confident readers. They’re missing out on STEM opportunities that would inspire great careers. They’re missing out on the help they need to learn English and thrive. 

And it’s not just our kids. The business community has been sounding the alarm for years. Unfilled manufacturing jobs were up 227 percent this past August compared to before the Covid-19 pandemic. That is simply unacceptable.

Health care providers will tell you about a nursing shortage that has been going on for years. Iowans feel the shortage in understaffed doctor’s offices, longer waits for care, and exhausted, overworked critical care providers. Our nursing crisis was worsened by the pandemic, but it was happening before Covid-19, and it will only get worse unless this chamber does something serious to fix it. 

Jobs like these – nursing, teaching, and manufacturing – these are the foundation of Iowa’s middle-class. They provide stable incomes for families, they anchor communities, and they make our state work. And without the people to fill these jobs, our economic foundation is crumbling, which makes our challenges even worse. 

That’s why Iowa’s economic environment now ranks 32nd in the country – and behind five of our six neighbors. When it comes to economic performance, we currently rank sixth out of nine Midwestern states. 

Since 2010, 50,000 Iowans in their prime working years have left our state — for better opportunities, more welcoming communities, or because they aged out of the workforce, with no younger generation there to replace them – because the younger generations are leaving, too. 

We need only think of our own communities, our own circles of friends. How many people do we know who have left? How many peoples’ kids left for a job or to serve in the military or go to college out of state and never came home? 

This is a crushing, long-term problem that will only be solved with real, meaningful action, and Iowa Senate Democrats are ready. We want to be part of the solution. We want to make Iowa a destination for hard-working newcomers and young families. We want to make Iowa a lifelong home for the next generation. And the question is whether Republicans are serious about joining us. 

Every priority announced by Republican leadership today and in the days ahead must pass a simple test: Will it reverse the Iowa Exodus? Will it make Iowa a more appealing place to earn a living and raise a family?

The governor and Republicans in the House and Senate are talking a lot about private school vouchers. This unpopular scheme will send public money – your taxpayer dollars – to unaccountable private schools. But will it help reverse Iowa’s people crisis? No. 

In fact, it stands to make the problem worse. The Republican voucher scheme threatens to defund local schools. It will increase the teacher shortage in public education. It will magnify inequality. And it will hit rural communities the hardest, forcing more school consolidation and driving more families away from our small towns. Private school vouchers are wrong for Iowa students, and wrong for Iowa communities.

Republican politicians are also promising more attacks on Iowans’ personal freedom, human dignity, and our God-given, constitutionally-protected right to privacy. 

Republican politicians want to ban abortion – any way they can and no matter what a majority of Iowans actually want. They’re continuing their attacks on LGBTQ Iowans, using the power of the state to bully them into hiding – or leaving. This is what happens when Republicans ban books and force more government censorship over what Iowans read and think. 

Will these tired culture war attacks solve Iowa’s people crisis and stop the Iowa Exodus? No.

The answer to slow growth and population decline is not to push Iowans away. To regain the ground we’ve lost, keep the next generation of Iowans here at home and win the competition for newcomers, we must make Iowa a more welcoming state. And our biggest employers are saying the same thing: this crisis will only be solved by welcoming more folks to build a life here in Iowa, and stay here in Iowa. 

We’re also hearing a lot about property tax reform, and I want to be very clear: Senate Democrats will gladly work with Republicans on a plan to ease property tax burdens on middle-class families and those with fixed incomes to make sure Iowa is a better place to call home. We want to be part of a solution that helps Iowa families and can attract more people to our state. 

But Republicans need to prove they’re serious about helping middle-class Iowans. Iowa can’t afford another tax giveaway to the ultra rich that shortchanges our families and communities. Senate Democrats will work with anyone on common-sense property tax reform, but we are not interested in tax giveaways that overwhelmingly benefit the ultrarich and big corporations. 

Every legislative session opens with a fresh opportunity to make Iowa a better place – a thriving state with more Iowans, younger Iowans, and better paid Iowans. 

In 2023, we must seize this opportunity, because right now, too many people are leaving. Factories, offices, schools, and hospitals can’t find enough workers. And every day Republicans spend fighting with each other about banning abortion and defunding public schools, this crisis gets worse, not better. 

Another rural labor and delivery unit closes. Another small town watches its housing stock crumble. Another kid goes on a waitlist for daycare. Another plant moves out of state. Another family of four moves to Minneapolis or Denver. We’ve all seen it and we all know it’s true. 

The Iowa Exodus is strangling our state and robbing us of our future.

Madam President, Iowa’s people crisis is not only a Democrat or Republican problem. It’s not only an urban or rural problem. It’s not only a blue-collar or white-collar problem. This crisis is affecting every single Iowan, and we can only fix it by working together. So, let’s fix it. 

Scripture tells us that when there is no vision, the people perish. Let’s come together to create that vision. Let’s set aside the culture wars and ideological agendas and give our people hope. Let’s skip the special interest giveaways this year. Let’s listen to Iowans and listen to each other. Let’s get to work on ending our people crisis, the biggest issue threatening our state. 

Senate Democrats are ready to do our part, and we invite our colleagues to join us.

Thank you, Madam President.

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