Iowa Senate Democrats

Fighting for a Better Deal for Iowans.

  • Child abuse expert to speak with legislators

    Monday, January 27
    11:30 AM – Room 116, Iowa Statehouse

    Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen has arranged a briefing for Iowa Legislators and Legislative staff by Marci Hamilton, the CEO of CHILD USA, the country’s leading think tank working to end child abuse and neglect.  Iowa can do more to protect Iowa children from abuse and exploitation.  Professor Hamilton will outline how Iowa can dramatically improve protections for children.

    CHILD USA engages in high-level legal, social science, and medical research and analysis to derive the best public policies to end child abuse and neglect. CHILD USA produces evidence-based solutions and information needed by policymakers, organizations, media, and society as a whole to increase child protection and the common good. 

    Prof. Marci Hamilton, CEO of CHILD USA

    MARCI A. HAMILTON is the Robert A. Fox Leadership Program Professor of Practice, and Fox Family Pavilion Resident Senior Fellow in the Program for Research on Religion at the University of Pennsylvania. She is also the founder, CEO, and Academic Director of CHILD USA, www.childusa.org, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit academic think tank at the University of Pennsylvania dedicated to interdisciplinary, evidence-based research to prevent child abuse and neglect. Before moving to the University of Pennsylvania, Professor Hamilton was the Paul R. Verkuil Chair in Public Law at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University.

    Hamilton is the leading expert on child sex abuse statutes of limitations and has submitted testimony and advised legislators in every state where significant reform has occurred. She is the author of Justice Denied: What America Must Do to Protect Its Children(Cambridge University Press), which advocates for the elimination of child sex abuse statutes of limitations. She has filed countless pro bono amicus briefs for the protection of children at the United States Supreme Court and the state supreme courts. Her textbook, Children and the Law, co-authored with Martin Gardner, will be published Fall 2017 by Carolina Academic Press, formerly Lexis/Nexis.

    Hamilton has been a vocal and influential critic of extreme religious liberty, advocating for the vulnerable about overreaching.  Hamilton successfully challenged the constitutionality of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (“RFRA”) at the Supreme Court in Boerne v. Flores(1997), and defeated the RFRA claim brought by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee against hundreds of child sex abuse survivors in Committee of Unsecured Creditors v. Listecki(7thCir. 2015).  She has represented numerous cities dealing with church-state issues as well as claims brought under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (“RLUIPA). The author of God vs. the Gavel: The Perils of Extreme Religious Liberty(Cambridge University Press), which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, she is also a columnist for Verdict on Justia.com.  

    Hamilton has been honored with the 2018 Pennsylvania State University Department of Philosophy Distinguished Alumni Award, the 2017 University of Pennsylvania Law School Louis H. Pollak Public Service Award, the 2016 Voice Today, Voice of Gratitude Award; the 2015 Religious Liberty Award, American Humanist Association; the 2014 Freethought Heroine Award; the National Crime Victim Bar Association’s Frank Carrington Champion of Civil Justice Award, 2012; the E. Nathaniel Gates Award for outstanding public advocacy and scholarship, 2008; and selected as a Pennsylvania Woman of the Year Award, 2012, among others. She is also frequently quoted in the national media on child abuse and neglect, statute of limitations, constitutional, RFRA, RLUIPA, and First Amendment issues.

    Hamilton clerked for United States Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and Judge Edward R. Becker of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Professor Hamilton is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, B.A., summa cum laude; Pennsylvania State University, M.A. (English, fiction writing, High Honors); M.A. (Philosophy); and the University of Pennsylvania School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the University of PennsylvaniaLaw Review. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Order of the Coif. 

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  • Improving health for Iowa moms and babies

    Maternal health in Iowa is experiencing a crisis. Maternal mortality has increased at an alarming rate in recent years. Maternal deaths went from fewer than 15 in 2008 to almost 50 in 2019, according to Dr. Stephen Hunter, co-director for Perinatal Care at the Iowa Department of Public Health.

    A big part of the problem is Iowa’s shrinking health care options and workforce:

    • Iowa has seen 34 labor and delivery units close since 2000.
    • Our state has the lowest number of obstetricians per capita in the country; 64% of rural Level 1 hospitals have no obstetrician on staff.
    • Iowa has a high rate of cesarean births, as a result, which can lead to future health problems.

    About 40% of births in Iowa are covered by Medicaid, but privatized Medicaid doesn’t cover the costs for delivering babies if health care providers follow the recommended standard of care, so hospitals lose money by providing labor and delivery services.

    That’s why we are proposing the Healthy Moms and Babies Act (SF 2062), which will:

    • Adjust Medicaid rates so that hospitals are adequately reimbursed for the care they provide.
    • Ensure labor and delivery units use proven practices—known as “safety bundles”—that save lives during delivery.
    • Expand home visiting services for pregnant women, new moms and babies.

    Changes to reproductive health care have real consequences

    During a recent visit to the State Capitol, former State Senator Chris Brase of Muscatine shared his daughter’s devastating pregnancy experience during the summer of 2019.

    Sen. Brase’s daughter experienced a loss of amniotic fluid at around 24 weeks, meaning that her baby’s lungs and other vital organs would be harmed and her baby would not survive birth.

    Because of legislation approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature and signed by the Governor in 2017, she was forced to continue the pregnancy, risking her own health, while knowing that her baby would suffer after birth.

    She was only able to receive the medical care she needed when sepsis set in and her life was at risk.

  • Protect Iowans living in manufactured homes

    By State Sen. Zach Wahls, Coralville (Senate District 37)

                My top legislative priority in 2020 is affordable housing, starting by finishing the work begun last year to protect Iowans who live in manufactured homes. This is an issue that affects both rural Iowa and urban Iowa, as virtually every county in Iowa has at least one manufactured housing community, if not several.

                I’m intentional about using the phrase “manufactured homes,” but you may hear them referred to as “mobile homes” or “trailers.” However, most “mobile” homes are not in fact “mobile.” Moving the homes that can be moved typically costs $2,000 to $5,000. That’s a lot of money.

                Over the last year, you may have read news reports about out-of-state companies moving into Iowa, purchasing manufactured housing communities (or MHCs) and increasing the rent by as much as 70%. The problem of out-of-state companies coming into Iowa, purchasing trailer parks and jacking up the rent has been unusually pronounced in this senate district, and I hear about this concern at virtually every event I hold. Havenpark Capital—the Utah-based investment group that infamously raised the rent on multiple Iowa manufactured housing communities by more than 60% last year—has purchased parks in all three counties I represent in the past year.

                Last April, in response to this growing crisis, the Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan bill I helped craft to take the first steps in protecting Iowans who own manufactured homes. Unfortunately, that bill did not pass the House, because we were so short on time that we could not reach a compromise before adjournment.

                During the “interim” period from April 2019 to January 2020, a bipartisan group of Senators and Representatives has been meeting to discuss this issue. Both Representative Bobby Kaufmann and I are taking part in these negotiations. We are working to develop comprehensive legislation that will protect vulnerable Iowans from predatory landlords while also ensuring that local mom-and-pop owner-operators acting in good faith are not harmed. It is important that we protect all Iowans from predatory behavior while making sure we do not harm the ability of good actors to offer this affordable housing option.

                During our review of this issue over the interim period, I was shocked to learn that people who rent apartments actually have stronger protection under Iowa law than people who own manufactured homes! Common sense tells us that people who own their own homes should have at least as much protection as people who rent, if not more. But that is not the state of Iowa law today. And likely, that it why we are seeing so much interest from out-of-state landlords.

                Any meaningful legislation should be focused on two key areas. First, ensuring that we have equal protection (at least) under Iowa law for renters and for owners of manufactured homes. Second, we have to protect the property rights and due process rights of these home owners.

                I am cautiously optimistic that we will be able to accomplish meaningful reform in this area. Generally speaking, affordable housing is a very important topic, and it makes sense that you would start with the most “affordable” option and work your way up. I hope that by working to bring together Republicans and Democrats, landlords and residents, we can build agreement in Des Moines for common sense legislation. That is how our system is supposed to work!

  • Committee remarks on SJR 21

    Prepared opening remarks to the Senate State Government Committee on SJR 21 by State Sen. Claire Celsi, D-West Des Moines

    SJR 21, Constitutional Amendment: legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=88&ba=SJR21

    Good morning and welcome to all Iowans who’ve traveled here today to witness this meeting and those who are listening online.

    For many Iowans, this proposed Constitutional Amendment by the Republicans may seem like its coming out of left field.

    Let me assure you. This Iowa bill is just a small part of a coordinated effort to overturn Roe vs. Wade at the national level – and if the Supreme Court kicks the decision back to the states – it’s an effort to weaken the protections of the Iowa Constitution.

    Republicans know that once the Iowa is weakened, if their plan succeeds – then they can go back to the bad bills they’ve tried to pass and get them all out of the trash heap of history and pass them without fear of the Iowa Supreme Court overturning their laws.

    Let’s review. They’ve passed telemedicine abortion bans, a 72-hour waiting period and a 6 week heartbeat bill. Each attempt to limit Iowans’ rights to a safe, legal abortion was more extreme, medically inaccurate and insulting than the one before.

    All of these extreme laws have been nixed by the courts. In the 72-hour waiting period case, the Iowa Supreme Court had enough and the majority opinion went into great detail as to all the ways that Iowans’ constitutional rights had been usurped.

    Republicans complain of activist, unelected judges making these decisions on behalf of Iowans. But what’s ironic is that Republicans in Iowa and nationally are working to stack the courts with judges that will rule in their favor on the issue of abortion.

    A Constitutional amendment is the most extreme action that can be taken a democratic political body. The Republicans are sick of the courts standing up for Iowans’ rights. They want to make sure they have the final say.

    Since this bill has been introduced, I’ve heard from women from all over Iowa. Women who have had life threatening conditions such as preeclampsia that have killed their baby and nearly killed them, too. I’ve heard from Iowans who had an aunt, mother or grandmother who had an illegal abortion and died. I’ve heard from retired nurses from Western Iowa who worked in rural hospitals that provided safe yet illegal abortions to women who had the means and access to the procedure.

    I’ve talked to women whose sisters went to college, tried to self abort their pregnancy in a bathroom, and never came home.

    I’ve talked to women who lost babies much wanted babies at 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 24 weeks for various reasons.

    Thanks to Iowa’s law that limits abortion after 20 weeks – “except for the life and health of the mother” some women have had to wait until they were septic before having a life-saving D&C.

    Some Republicans in the Iowa Senate are determined to weaponize our Constitution to eliminate rights that we currently have. Today, my Democratic colleagues and I are standing up against that overreaching concept.

    Instead of focusing on Iowa’s maternal health crisis, Republicans choose instead to ignore those problems and go the most extreme route possible.

    On behalf of my constituents and the millions of Iowans who support safe, accessible and legal reproductive healthcare – I take great offense to this completely unnecessary bill.

    Thank you Mr. Chair.

  • Iowa AG urges change to Iowa’s manufactured home laws

  • Iowa courts innovate to improve lives

    Iowa’s court system continues to pursue innovative approaches that provide effective and timely justice to Iowans.

    Many of these initiatives got their start under the leadership of former Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady, who died unexpectedly in November.

    Acting Chief Justice David Wiggins highlighted these accomplishments and paid tribute to Cady, when he addressed legislators in his Condition of the Judiciary presentation Wednesday. Iowa’s court system became one of the most respected in the country under Cady.  

    Iowa has developed specialized courts to address the specific needs of Iowans and their communities. These problem-solving courts include drug courts, mental health courts and veterans’ courts. Judges, treatment professionals, lawyers and service agencies form treatment teams to help Iowans address their underlying problems. Instead of going to prison, most problem-solving court graduates leave with a job, a support system and a better chance to succeed in life.

    Family treatment courts keep drug-affected families together by helping parents understand how their substance abuse issues impact their parenting. A Fast Track probation violation program in Waterloo provides swift sanctions to simple misdemeanor probation violators. This gives them consistent, timely consequences so that they can return to their families and jobs, while avoiding unnecessary jail time.

    Iowa even has business courts, which handle complex civil business cases. For example, the Judicial Branch, with the help of the Drake Law School Agricultural Law Center, reaches out to farmers to share how disputes can be better resolved with the help of business courts designed to meet their needs. 

    A recent $500,000 grant from the Department of Justice will allow Iowa to continue improving its specialty courts. Along with adequate budget support from the Legislature, our courts can expand proven justice and corrections efforts throughout the state.

  • Statement on constitutional amendment on women’s health

    Read and track Senate Joint Resolution 21

    State Sen. Claire Celsi’s prepared remarks for subcommittee meeting on SJR 21

    January 16, 2019

    Good morning, and welcome to all Iowans who came to express their opinions here today. This is the one and only time that a public expression of opposition or support of an amendment to our constitution will be allowed.

    It speaks volumes to me that the notice for this meeting was requested from my clerk barely in time to meet the 24-hour notice Senate handshake agreement. But the notice was not received through the normal channels by Senate staff, the lobby or the public due to a technical malfunction. When asked to move the meeting to a more amenable time so that more members of the public – those who would be affected most by this law – the suggestion was rejected by the majority.

    It’s a sad day for us when we have four large public meetings for sports betting here at the Capitol, and one poorly noticed public meeting in a small room for such a consequential one here today.

    The Iowa Constitution has been updated a number of times in our state’s history. In every circumstance – it was to update and modernize, right a wrong, or expand the rights of our citizens. This amendment would take rights away. And that is the wrong direction for Iowans. Public poll after public poll affirms that our constituents trust pregnant Iowans to make decisions about their own bodies with the advice of their physicians, their partner and their God.

    In contrast, if approved, this Constitutional amendment seeks to take away a right to bodily autonomy and privacy. The Supreme Court recently elevated its recent decision to include the phrase “strict scrutiny to applies to the right to an abortion.” That means that this right is so important that any attempt to diminish this right should be considered a very serious encroachment on individual rights.

    Some Republicans in the Senate are determined to continue this war on pregnant Iowans – to stand directly between an individual who is making a serious and consequential decision for themselves and their family. These senators want to metaphorically gown up and come right in to the surgical suite and tell that trained physician and the person giving birth and their family that THEY KNOW BETTER. They get to make those decisions.

    My Senate democratic colleagues and I are standing up to say – No way. Not on our watch.

    We have a serious maternal health crisis on our hands. More than 30 labor and delivery departments have closed around our state. There are serious shortages of obstetricians around the state. Options for prenatal care are shrinking. Instead of focusing on these solvable problems, Republicans are choosing instead to focus on a long odyssey of restricting rights through a constitutional amendment and a public vote.

    Iowans deserve public servants who listen to their needs and respond. Iowans from all over the state are asking me to maintain their rights.

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  • Submitted statements: Dec. 14 Manufactured Housing Reform Hearing

    Below are submitted public comments on the need for manufactured housing reform in Iowa. Want to know more about this issue? Go to senate.iowa.gov/democrats/manufactured-homes

    Letter from Reynolds & Kenline L.L.P.Download pdf

    Letter from Cedar Falls resident Patricia GodwinDownload pdf

    Letter from Dubuque resident Marcy AntolikDownload pdf

    Letter from Dubuque resident Michael Linh Download pdf

  • News coverage: Dec. 14 Manufactured Housing Reform Hearing

    News coverage of the December 14 bipartisan legislative forum on Iowa’s need for manufactured housing reform, led by State Sen. Zach Wahls:

  • Statement on State Patrol, DPS misuse of tax dollars

    Listen to this news release

    Statement from State Sen. Tony Bisignano on misuse of tax dollars
    by Iowa State Patrol and Department of Public Safety

    “I can’t believe the silence by Governor Reynolds and other state leaders after the State Auditor reported the misuse of $40,000 in taxpayer money by the Iowa State Patrol and Iowa Department of Public Safety.

    “An audit released yesterday determined that there was no legitimate reason to spend $40,000 to help move an Iowa State Patrol supervisor and his family from Adel to West Des Moines.

    “The Governor should take immediate action to require the Iowa State Patrol supervisor to repay that money to the State of Iowa. She should make sure someone is held accountable for this poor judgment call, including officials who approved it.

    “In addition, the Senate’s Government Oversight Committee should meet the first week of the 2020 session to investigate this matter and to recommend legislation that would stop further misuse of taxpayer dollars.”

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    Senator Tony Bisignano of Des Moines is the Ranking Member of the Senate’s Government Oversight Committee.