Iowa Senate Democrats

Fighting for a Better Deal for Iowans.

  • We agree ‘urgent action’ needed to stop ‘additional inappropriate behavior’

    Iowa Senate News Release
    Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen: (515) 281-3901
    For Immediate Release:  January 12, 2018

     

    Statement from Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen regarding recommendations from Ambassador Mary Kramer

    “Today, we received recommendations from Ambassador Mary Kramer for improving the workplace culture in the Iowa Senate. We thank Mary for her commitment to making sure the Iowa Senate will become a safe and healthy environment.

    “We agree with her assessment that the Kirsten Anderson case against Senate Republicans ‘shined the light on some disturbing issues present in the work culture of the Iowa Legislature.’

    “More important, we agree with Ambassador Kramer’s conclusion that little has changed in the Iowa Senate more than four years after Kirsten Anderson was fired shortly after filing a complaint about the toxic work environment in the Iowa Senate Republican Caucus. As Ambassador Kramer wrote in her report: ‘As of now, there is nothing that has changed to prevent additional inappropriate behavior and ensuing problems.’

    “That’s why it is critical for Senators Dix and Whitver to move quickly to adopt these recommendations and to involve more staff, legislators, lobbyists and others at the Capitol in making additional suggestions that will improve workplace culture.

    “There are several constructive recommendations by Ambassador Kramer, including changes to the policies and procedures that would ensure that:

    • Victims of harassment have a clear path to file complaints and have them investigated in a fair, impartial and confidential manner. Current Senate policies in this area are inadequate, unclear and need to be improved.
    • Victims who step forward to file a complaint about harassment will be protected from retaliation or discrimination by anyone. The same protections must also be available for witnesses and others involved in any investigation. Current Senate policies in this area are inadequate or non-existent.
    • There will be a clear process for punishing any Senator, employee or anyone else who takes retaliatory action against someone who has filed a complaint. The same process also needs to protect witnesses and others involved in any investigation. Current Senate policies are inadequate or non-existent in this area.
    • There will be a clear process for disciplining any Senator, lobbyist, media employee or vendor who violates the anti-harassment policies. Current Senate policies are inadequate or non-existent in this area.
    • All Senators, staff, lobbyists and media will be required to attend annual training regarding the Senate’s anti-harassment policies and complaint procedures. Training currently provided to Senators and staff is viewed by most as inadequate or ineffective.
    • The Senate Majority Leader, Senate President, Senate Minority Leader, Secretary of the Senate and other staff supervisors will be trained at least once every General Assembly on how to properly receive, investigate and, if warranted, take corrective action. There are currently no requirements for this kind of training.
    • A person would have the option of filing a complaint with an outside firm if they are not comfortable going to designated leaders or supervisors.  There is  no such option in current policies and procedures.

    “In addition, we suggest that Senators Dix and Whitver:

    • Ensure that all Senators, staff and others in the Capitol are provided with information about the duties and responsibility of the new human resources director, including what specific role she will play in improving the workplace culture at the Capitol and enforcing anti-harassment policies and procedures.

    “Because of the national conversation about sexual harassment in the workplace, we call on Senators Dix and Whitver – from this point forward – to adopt a more bipartisan, transparent and open process to solving this serious problem. Otherwise, they are doing a disservice to Iowans, including our staff and our constituents.”

     

    • end –

  • Legislators highlight Cedar Rapids recycling success

    Iowa Senate News Release
    For Immediate Release: January 2, 2018

    1:30 PM, Friday, Jan 5
    Can Shed
    4121 16th Ave SW
    Cedar Rapids

    To gather information about how Iowa’s bottle deposit law is working, State Sen. Rob Hogg (D-Cedar Rapids), State Rep. Kirsten Running-Marquardt (D-Cedar Rapids), and other legislators will tour the Can Shed redemption center this Friday, January 5, at 1:30 p.m. at 4121 16th Ave SW in Cedar Rapids.

    The Can Shed has 35 full-time employees and marked its 20th year of operation last year.

    The news media is invited to join the 1:30 p.m. tour on Friday and is also welcome to participate in the discussion immediately afterwards.

    “In states without a bottle deposit law, an average of only 28% of containers are recovered for recycling,” said Troy Willard, the Can Shed CEO.  “We are proud that Iowa’s recovery rate is 86%.”

    “Before Iowa repeals the bottle bill signed by Governor Bob Ray nearly 40 years ago, it is important for legislators and the public to know how it is actually working today,” said Senator Hogg.

    “I want to make sure that any changes considered by the Legislature this year are responsible and don’t negatively impact Iowans, our small businesses, the environment, and our pocketbooks,” said Representative Running-Marquardt.

    -End-

  • McCoy and Forbes file bill for public health care option

    ­Iowa Legislature News Release
    Tuesday, December 19, 2017

     

    Des Moines, Iowa – State Senator Matt McCoy, D-Des Moines, and State Representative John Forbes, D-Urbandale, filed a bill today that will make health care more accessible and affordable for Iowans.  Called the Healthy Iowans for a Public Option (HIPO), the new plan would give the 72,000 Iowans on the individual market another health insurance option.

    “Thousands of Iowans are facing a health care crisis right now because of Medicaid privatization and uncertainty in the health insurance market. It’s time for the Legislature to work together and make sure that all Iowans have access to affordable health care.  Our plan will give the 72,000 Iowans in the individual market another option while repealing the GOP’s disastrous Medicaid privatization,” said Sen. McCoy.

    The HIPO plan would first roll back Iowa’s Medicaid privatization and then create a new public health insurance option for Iowans to purchase on the individual marketplace. Iowans who currently receive financial assistance on the marketplace would still be eligible to receive it.

    “Iowans deserve solutions to the health care crisis they face, not excuses and blame from politicians who won’t take action. We know the high cost of health care is draining family incomes and threatening the retirement security of too many Iowans.  Since politicians in DC keep making our health care system worse, it’s time for Gov. Reynolds and Republican lawmakers to work with us and make health care both accessible and affordable,” said Rep. Forbes.

    President Trump is expected to sign a bill later this month that will leave millions of Americans without health insurance and add more uncertainty to Iowa’s health care marketplace. Next year, just one option will be available on Iowa’s health insurance Marketplace.  Medica is proposing raising premiums 57% compared to its current rates, making this option unaffordable for thousands of Iowans.

     

    ###

  • New Iowa health care disaster approaches: End of hawk-i

    State of Iowa facing millions more in costs while kicking 44,000 children off health insurance

    DES MOINES  –  Iowa’s outstanding health insurance for children is at risk due to the Congressional failure to reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Without federal action, the state of Iowa faces millions more in costs even though 44,000 fewer children would be insured.

    State Senator Nate Boulton of Des Moines, a board member for Iowa’s nationally praised hawk-i children’s health insurance program, called for “swift, firm, united action” after the organization’s Monday board meeting.

    “This crisis affects families in every county of this state. This is an ‘all hands on deck’ moment for Iowa’s elected leaders,” said Boulton. “In January, the Legislature should immediately approve a resolution officially requesting that Congress reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Then, we should all be urging Governor Reynolds to travel to D.C. to make that case to the House, the Senate, and President Trump.”

    On September 30th, Congress failed to reauthorize CHIP for the first time in the nearly 30 years of the program’s existence.

    There are two components to hawk-i, Iowa’s version of CHIP.  One covers the 16,000 Iowa kids enrolled in Medicaid expansion. They are the lucky ones in that they will continue to have health insurance for at least the next two years.  However, without a federal reauthorization of CHIP funding, Iowa’s state budget will be required to cover the shortfall. That will mean additional costs of $10 to $15 million per year to Iowa’s already troubled state budget.

    Things are much worse for the 44,000 Iowa children enrolled in Iowa’s nationally-recognized hawk-i program. Those children will lose their health insurance completely when funding runs out, something that is expected to happen this February.

    “We need swift, firm, united action to prevent a children’s health care crisis in Iowa,” Boulton said. “It’s this simple: If CHIP isn’t reauthorized, 44,000 fewer children in our state will have access to the high quality health care hawk-i provides.”

    -30-

  • Democrats call on Statehouse Republicans to ‘put Iowans back in control of Medicaid’

    Iowa Senate News Release
    For Immediate Release: December 15, 2017

     

    DES MOINES — Iowa’s Democratic state legislators are asking Governor Kim Reynolds and Republican lawmakers to work together during the 2018 session to end Iowa’s failed Medicaid privatization experiment.

    “We do our best work when we work in a bipartisan fashion” to expand access to affordable health care for many Iowans, Democratic legislators wrote in a letter emailed today to the Governor and every Republican lawmaker.

    “For the past 20 months, constituents of all ages have been bombarding Governor Reynolds and Republican and Democratic legislators with real problems caused by Medicaid privatization,” Democrats wrote. “There is clear evidence that Iowans have died as a result of life-sustaining services being cut off to extremely vulnerable individuals.”

    The letter also stresses the “financial jeopardy” that Medicaid privatization has imposed on hospitals, nursing homes and other Iowa health care providers, especially in Iowa’s small towns and rural areas.

    Democratic lawmakers noted that “privatization is not saving money for Iowa’s taxpayers, and it is not resulting in healthier Iowans. Under Medicaid privatization, the state of Iowa keeps giving the private, out-of-state companies more and more money, while giving Iowa taxpayers less and less.”

    Medicaid is a health care safety net that is administered by the states and funded through a federal-state partnership. Roughly 70 percent of Medicaid expenses are for the care of our very poor elderly and severely disabled Iowans. In 2015, the Branstad/Reynolds Administration announced that the state employees running the program would be replaced by for-profit Medicaid managers.

    Despite widespread opposition and repeated delays, large, out-of-state companies took over care of the majority of Iowans receiving Medicaid services on April 1, 2016. As of today, three of the four companies initially hired to manage the program have abandoned the project. When AmeriHealth Caritas quit the state last month, the health care of 215,000 Iowans was disrupted.

    Governor Reynolds has promised that more managed care organizations are being recruited to replace those that left.

    In today’s letter, Democratic lawmakers propose a different approach: “When Connecticut realized its privatized Medicaid was not working, state leaders made the decision to go back to a publicly managed Medicaid system. Connecticut is now seeing much better results with their new model. They are saving money and improving care.”

    The letter concludes with this plea:

    “More than ever before, we all know that privatized Medicaid is not working for Iowa. For the health and safety of so many, will you work with us to put Iowans back in control of Medicaid? We can and should do better for Iowans. Watching our health care system collapse is not an option.”

     

    -end-

  • Iowans are still paying price of failed GOP policies

    Iowa Senate News Release
    For Immediate Release: December 11, 2017  

     

    Statement on the updated revenue estimates by Senator Joe Bolkcom,
    Ranking Member of Senate Appropriations Committee

    “Economic prosperity and fiscal responsibility will only return to Iowa if Governor Reynolds and Republican legislators start working in a bipartisan way to make smarter investments in Iowa workers and their families.

    “With complete control of the Iowa Capitol, Statehouse Republicans adopted a my-way-or-the-highway approach to budget and policy decisions during the 2017 session. This meant that they ignored the voices of working Iowans who were begging Statehouse Republicans to keep their two biggest campaign promises: Raise family incomes by 25 percent and create 200,000 new Iowa jobs.

    “Governor Reynolds and legislative Republicans continue to break those big promises and working Iowans – especially those in smaller towns and rural areas – are paying the price.

    “Senate Democrats remain ready to work with legislative Republicans and the Governor on a mid-course correction that will restore fiscal stability to our state budget by investing in successful job-creation initiatives and taking a serious look at out-of-control spending on tax credits.”

    – 30 –

  • 2018 session poses threat to Iowa retirees

    (Des Moines) Today, two Iowa Statehouse leaders expressed concern that the 2018 legislative session could bring sudden, unnecessary changes to Iowa’s pension system. The two said the changes would harm Iowa public employees and the communities where they live.

    “IPERS and Iowa’s other public pension plans are secure, strong, and sustainable. Some current legislative proposals to change IPERS could break the promise we have made to hard working Iowans since 1953,” said Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald. “The retirement contributions Iowa workers have made to these funds have been invested well and the benefits are reasonable. There is no need to make the type of changes Governor Reynolds and Senate Republicans are talking about.”

    “Last year, Iowa made national news when state Republicans tore up long established collective bargaining laws in a little over a week,” said Senator Matt McCoy of Des Moines, a member of the Iowa Legislature’s Public Retirement Systems Committee and a nonvoting member of the IPERS Investment Board. “Legislation to blow up IPERS, Senate File 45, was introduced last year. It could be voted on during the 2018 session. Just last July, the Senate’s second ranking Republican, Senator Charles Schneider, brought in a right-wing think tank to tell Iowans to replace our successful, stable retirement systems like IPERS with more risky Wall Street-based schemes.”

    Senate File 45 would begin to dismantle IPERS and other Iowa public retirement programs by preventing new Iowa workers from joining the programs on or after July 1, 2019. The existing retirement programs would be replaced by more risky defined contribution plans run by Wall Street traders instead of Iowa’s current non-profit managers.

    In 2017, Governor Reynolds said several times that she supported a task force to propose changes to IPERS. She later dropped that idea but continued to express support for privatizing IPERS, including supporting the July meeting sponsored by Senator Schneider and the Reason Foundation

    “Families, neighbors, and communities see the impact when money from IPERS is reinvested all throughout Iowa. These proposed changes, from the same legislators who earlier this year gutted collective bargaining rights for hardworking Iowans, could destabilize IPERS and negatively impact every community in Iowa,” said Treasurer Fitzgerald.

    “Given how Republicans have been governing, every Iowan affected directly or indirectly by IPERS will be holding their breath until the 2018 session adjourns,” McCoy said.

    On December 18, the Iowa Legislature’s “Public Retirement Systems Committee” will evaluates Iowa’s public retirement systems, including Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System (IPERS), the Municipal Fire and Police Retirement System of Iowa (Iowa Code chapter 411), the Department of Public Safety Peace Officers’ Retirement System (PORS), and the Judicial Retirement System.

    -end-

    Links to news reports on Governor Reynolds’ support for changing Iowa’s public retirement systems

    Reynolds: Iowa task force will study IPERS changes
    Mason City Globe Gazette 1/26/17
    globegazette.com/news/iowa/reynolds-iowa-task-force-will-study-ipers-changes/article_211d1ad4-4030-580a-ba5b-3414f63826e9.html
    Iowa Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds told a group in Scott County on Thursday a task force will be formed to study the possibility of long-term changes to IPERS, the retirement system for public employees in the state.

    Branstad calls IPERS’ changes ‘prudent’ to shore up statewide pension fund
    Des Moines Register, 3/27/17
    www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2017/03/27/branstad-calls-ipers-changes-prudent-shore-up-statewide-pension-fund/99686464/
    Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, who are both Republicans, have said that commitments already made to state and local government workers will be honored, but a state task force will review possible long-term changes to Iowa public employees’ pension programs. Among key changes that will be studied will be whether to offer a 401(k)-style plan.

    Reynolds backs IPERS study, but task force is dropped
    Des Moines Register, July 18, 2017
    www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2017/07/18/reynolds-backs-ipers-study-but-task-force-dropped/487913001/
    Reynolds noted that Sen. Charles Schneider, R-West Des Moines, is currently heading an interim committee’s study of Iowa’s public employees’ pension funds. The work is being conducted in cooperation with the Reason Foundation, a Los Angeles-based libertarian think tank.
    “I support his efforts in doing that,” Reynolds said.

    PDF of Senate File 45: wwww.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/87/SF45.pdf

  • Senators call on Gov. Reynolds to extend sign-up period for Medicaid

    Iowa Senate News Release
    For Immediate Release: November 29, 2017

     

    DES MOINES – Citing continuing turmoil for Iowa’s Medicaid recipients, two key State Senators today called on Governor Kim Reynolds to give a break to more than 200,000 Medicaid recipients who were denied a choice of Medicaid providers.

    In a letter delivered this afternoon, Sen. Amanda Ragan of Mason City and Sen. Liz Mathis of Hiawatha called on the Governor to grant an additional 30 days for former AmeriHealth members to choose either UnitedHealthcare or the fee-for-service system. A 30-day extension would address the concerns of Iowans who did not have a choice of managed care organizations, which directly affects which doctors, hospitals and other health care providers they can see.

    “We are writing to you today to express our grave concerns about Medicaid,” the Senators wrote in their letter. “The loss of AmeriHealth Caritas and the inability of Amerigroup to take new members leaves too many Iowans without choice.”

    The Senators also point out that federal law requires Medicaid beneficiaries get a choice of managed care plans.

    “It is a fundamental, legal requirement to offer Medicaid beneficiaries a choice of managed care plans. It is completely unfair to offer the fee-for-service system to only those members that were able to make a choice before November 16,” the Senators stated. “Due to the lack of timely notice, more than 200,000 Iowans are being assigned to United Healthcare, regardless of their preference.

    “In the name of fairness and choice, we are requesting that you grant an additional 30 days for former AmeriHealth members to choose either UnitedHealthcare or the fee-for-service system.”

    Senator Ragan is Ranking Member of the Health & Human Services Budget. Senator Mathis is Ranking Member on the Human Resources Committee.

    -end-

  • Senate Dem Leader to top Senate Republicans: “Release sex harassment findings”

    Senate Democratic Leader Petersen’s request for the public release of the Iowa Senate Republican sexual harassment investigation.

    In the wake of  a $1.75 million settlement, Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen today called on the top two Senate Republicans leaders —  Senate President Jack Whitver and Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix — to release to the public the findings of their internal investigation of sexual harassment.

    Here is the text of Senator Petersen’s letter to Senator Dix:

    Dear Senator Dix:

    I am writing to request that the findings of the internal investigation by the Senate Republicans of sexual harassment be released to the public.

    As you know, the Legislature received a black eye this summer and fall after a Polk County jury delivered a $2.2 million verdict against Senate Republicans stemming from a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by former staffer Kirsten Anderson. (Subsequently, the Iowa Appeals Board approved a $1.75 million settlement.)

    Since the taxpayers are on the hook for this $1.75 million settlement, the findings of this investigation should not be kept secret. Releasing the findings of your internal investigation would be a first step in making sure the Legislature is a safe and welcoming environment for all employees, protecting Iowa taxpayers, and protecting the rights of those who raise concerns about harassment.

    Sincerely,
    Sen. Janet Petersen

    Senate Democratic Leader

     

    PDFs of each letter are below.

    Petersen request to Senate Republican Leader Dix for the public release of sexual harassment investigation findings

    Petersen request to Senate President Whitver for the public release of sexual harassment investigation findings

  • Thank you veterans

    Veterans Day is observed annually on November 11. It’s a time to thank all those who served honorably in the military—in war and peace—demonstrating their patriotism, love of country and willingness to sacrifice for all of us.

    The commemoration marks the anniversary of the end of World War I in 1918. Originally, it was proclaimed Armistice Day by President Woodrow Wilson. In the 1940s, a World War II veteran had the idea to expand Armistice Day to celebrate all veterans. Gen. Dwight Eisenhower supported the idea for a National Veterans Day, and it became the official holiday under his presidency in 1954.

    Veterans Day now honors all generations of Americans who served with courage, strength and distinction to defend our freedoms. Please join us in thanking the men and women who have worn the uniform, those currently serving and their families for their sacrifices and dedication to our state and our country.

     

    Vietnam – 50th anniversary gift for veterans

    All Vietnam-era veterans should stop into their county Veterans Affairs Office to pick up a free copy of a special book commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.

    The hardbound, 175-page book, A Time to Honor: Stories of Service, Duty, and Sacrifice, is for all Vietnam-generation veterans or surviving family. The Iowa edition has its own foreword dedicated to our own Vietnam veterans. The gift includes a 60-minute documentary on DVD, The Journey Home.

    For more information, go to www.vietnam50gift.com.