Iowa Senate Democrats

Fighting for a Better Deal for Iowans.

  • Senate Democrats respond to Future Ready Iowa Alliance recommendations

    IOWA SENATE NEWS
    For immediate release: October 17, 2017

     

    Statement by State Senator Bill Dotzler,
    lead Democrat on the Senate Economic Development Budget,
    on today’s Future Ready Iowa Alliance recommendations

     

    “Building on bipartisan work by the Legislature over the past several years, the recommendations released today by the Future Ready Iowa Alliance lay out a plan to enhance the skills of Iowa workers.

    “Senate Democrats have focused on initiatives to help Iowans get the right kind of education and training. That’s what they need to qualify for increasingly technical jobs, especially in our small towns and rural areas.

    “Iowa business leaders continually tell us that the #1 problem facing our economy is a shortage of skilled workers.

    “Unfortunately, the 2017 Republican budget cut many of the very efforts needed to accomplish the Alliance’s goals. If they continue making such cuts, the state of Iowa will continue moving in the wrong direction.

    “The Alliance’s work reaffirms that we must put MORE resources toward ensuring Iowans get the education and training they need.

    “By boosting our competitiveness in this way, Iowa workers and businesses will grow and prosper. All Iowa will benefit.”

    -end-

  • Western Iowa Tech prepares Iowans for skilled jobs that grow economy

    Iowa Senate News Release
    For Immediate Release: October 13, 2017

     

    News Conference: 12:40 PM, Monday, October 16
    Advanced Manufacturing Lab, Western Iowa Tech Community College

     

    Members of the Iowa House and Senate will hold a news conference at 12:40 PM on Monday, October 16 in the Advanced Manufacturing Lab at Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City.

    The event will be held at the conclusion of a campus tour by the legislators.  Participants will include Senator Rob Hogg of Cedar Rapids, the Democratic Leader of the Iowa Senate and State Representative Chris Hall.

    “The opportunities at Western Iowa Tech are key to building a stronger Iowa economy, one with more higher skilled, higher paying jobs,” said Senator Hogg.  “Iowa’s shortage of skilled workers can be fixed by making Western Iowa Tech’s opportunities more available and more affordable for more Iowans.”

    Western Iowa Tech Community College is a publicly supported comprehensive community college serving the Iowa counties of Cherokee, Crawford, Ida, Monona, Plymouth, and Woodbury, which have a combined population of about 180,000.

    The visit’s tentative agenda is as follows:

    • A brief overview of college operations and a meeting with students
    • A discussion of the “Gateway to College” program for high school students who are behind on high school credits.  If accepted into the program, students attend Western Iowa Tech without being charged for tuition or books while earning credits toward both a regular high school diploma and a college certificate or degree.
    • A classroom tour that will include police science, culinary, HVAC, auto body repair, Emergency Medical Services, cybercrime investigation, Emergency operations center, and Audio & Video Engineering.
    • A short news conference will take place at the final stop on the tour, the Advanced Manufacturing Lab of the Advanced Sciences Building at approximately 12:40 PM.

    Members of the press should park in Lot 3 and then go to Entrance 11, under the sign that says “Advanced Sciences Building.  The lab entrance is straight ahead after you enter Entrance 11.  A photo of Senator Hogg can be found here: http://bit.ly/2gzQmDt.

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  • Hart invites public to share ideas for Iowa jobs at town meetings

    Iowa Senate News Release
    For Immediate Release: October 10, 2017

     

    State Senator Rita Hart of Wheatland is organizing town hall meetings on jobs in November.  The events will begin at 7 PM and conclude at 8 PM.

    “Our part of Iowa has opportunities for real growth. We need to work together to promote small business development, entrepreneurship, and educational opportunities.  That’s how we will increase the number of higher wage jobs in our community,” said Hart, a farmer and former teacher.

    “One of the Legislature’s most important jobs is to invest in long-range economic development that ensures future growth and prosperity across all of Iowa,” said Hart, the former Chair of the Senate Economic Growth Committee. “At the meetings, I’ll be listening for ideas that will help create jobs and grow our local economy.”

    The State Senator encouraged people to bring their suggestions.

    “This is a discussion and I hope people will arrive with some suggestions,” said Hart. “The best ideas often appear when we get together and listen to each other.”

    Senator Hart will be holding multiple meetings about jobs and economic development throughout her Senate district. The dates and locations are:

    Date & Time Event Location
    NOV 1
    Wed 7 PM    		 DeWitt Town Meeting on Jobs Dewitt Community Center
    NOV 2
    Thu 7 PM    		 Lost Nation Town Meeting on Jobs Lost Nation Public Library
    NOV 6
    Mon 7 PM    		 Delmar Town Meeting on Jobs Delmar Depot Museum
    NOV 8
    Wed 7 PM    		 McCausland Town Meeting on Jobs McCausland Community Center
    NOV 14
    Tue 7 PM    		 Clinton Town Meeting on Jobs Clinton Public Library (Iowa)
    NOV 15
    Wed 7 PM    		 LeClaire Town Meeting on Jobs Leclaire Library

     

    -End-

  • Kinney invites Iowans to share ideas for job creation at Sigourney town meeting

    Iowa Senate News Release
    For Immediate Release: October 4, 2017

     

    State Senator Kevin Kinney of Oxford is organizing a town hall meeting on jobs at the Sigourney Public Library on Monday, October 23.  The event will begin at 6 PM and conclude at 7 PM.

    “Rural Iowans need higher wages. Rural businesses need skilled workers and more customers,” said Kinney, a farmer and retired deputy sheriff.  “At the Sigourney Library meeting, I’ll be listening for ideas that will help create jobs and economic prosperity across our state.

    The State Senator encouraged people to bring their suggestions.

    “This will be a discussion, not a lecture,” said Kinney. “The best ideas often appear when we get together and listen to each other.”

    -End-

  • Governor Reynolds’ claim to balance budget ‘without cuts to education’ is astoundingly false

    Sept. 21, 2017

    Statement by Senator Herman Quirmbach of Ames, Ranking Member of the Senate Education Committee

    “Reynolds apparently wants to forget about the nearly 250,000 students who attend Iowa’s colleges and universities, but they really took it on the chin from her budget.  SF 130 resulted in $4.75 million being cut from the community colleges, $9.24 million cut from the University of Iowa, $8.99 million from Iowa State, and $2.52 million from UNI.  Private college students ducked any cut for FY2017, but they lost $2.8 million from their Iowa Tuition Grant scholarship fund for this school year.

    “As a direct result of Reynolds’ education cuts, Regents university students this fall got a ‘welcome back’ surprise of a steep tuition hike.  At ISU, the increase was two and a half times what students had initially been told.

    “Bad enough that Reynolds would levy a ‘tuition tax increase’ on students and their families, but then to fib about it and pretend it didn’t happen is just dishonest.  Iowans deserve better.”

    end

  • Quirmbach: GOP’s “tuition tax” will hurt students and weaken Iowa’s economy

    For Immediate Release: Sept. 7, 2017

    State Senator Herman Quirmbach of Ames, the Ranking Member of the Senate Education Committee, released a statement in response to today’s meeting of Tuition Task Force with the Iowa Board of Regents:

    “In a series of meetings, Iowans overwhelmingly urged the Board of Regents not to impose years of sharp tuition increases on Iowa students and their families.

    “Let’s be clear.  During the 2017 session, Republicans balanced the state budget by cutting university funding, forcing a tuition increase this year of more than twice what the Board of Regents had proposed.  Now, instead of ending huge giveaways to out-of-state corporations, Governor Reynolds and legislative Republicans hope a steep, multi-year ‘tuition tax’ on Iowa students will balance Iowa’s busted state budget.

    “However, making college much more costly for Iowa students will only make things worse.  Iowa is in a downward spiral.  Our state’s lack of skilled workers prevents strong economic growth.  The lack of economic growth creates a budget deficit.  Republicans cut education to balance the budget.  Those cuts worsen our skilled worker shortage.

    “The Republican plan to balance the budget through a ‘tuition tax’ on Iowa families will hurt Iowa’s economy and should be rejected.”

     

    -End-

  • Hart highlights bipartisan opportunities to reinvest in rural Iowa in letter to Governor

    Iowa Senate News Release
    For Immediate Release: Aug. 2, 2017

     

    State Senator Rita Hart of Wheatland highlighted several bipartisan ways to reinvest in rural Iowa and small towns in a letter to Governor Kim Reynolds on August 1. Hart, former chair of the Iowa Senate’s Economic Growth Committee, offered ways to revitalize rural Iowa and indicated her strong desire to focus on workforce training.

    “Extraordinary, bipartisan efforts need to be taken during the 2018 session to support efforts that will result in enough highly skilled workers in our small towns and rural communities to meet existing business demands throughout the state as well as create new business opportunity,” Hart wrote in her letter to Reynolds.

    Hart’s suggestions for reinvesting in rural Iowa and small towns include:

    • Ensuring safe, affordable housing for Iowa families.
    • Enhancing cultural and community attractions.
    • Access to reliable high-speed Internet.
    • Encouraging a regional approach to economic development that supports rural revitalization.

    Hart also expressed a willingness to work with Governor Reynolds on workforce training initiatives. She noted that in previous sessions, they had worked together to craft bipartisan solutions, such as keeping tuition affordable at Iowa’s universities and community colleges and funding an adult literacy program.

    “Like many Iowans, Senate Democrats remain concerned about funding cuts to Iowa universities and community colleges that were approved during the 2017 session,” Hart wrote. “Those cuts have a negative impact at a time when we need to invest more in Iowa’s current and future workforce training.”

     

    -end-

     

     

  • Republican no-shows for Tuition Task Force meeting hamper efforts to make college more affordable for Iowa students

    July 25, 2017

    The Board of Regents Tuition Task Force has canceled its July 27th meeting due to a lack of participation by Republican legislators and members of the Reynolds Administration.

    According to the Board of Regents’ web site, the task force was “established to facilitate public discussion regarding the issue of tuition at Iowa’s public universities.  The task force will examine the core issues and strategies central to the process of setting tuition at the three Regent Universities and welcomes input from legislative and business stakeholders, university representatives, and the public.”

    The July 27th meeting would have been the first of four public meetings on future tuition policy.  The Board of Regents announced the meeting was canceled due to lack of participation.  Confirmed participants included the members of the taskforce, Iowa Workforce Development, and Democratic members of the Iowa House and Senate.

    “I’m disappointed that Republican legislators, Governor Reynolds’ office, and other Reynolds state agencies failed to indicate any interest in participating in tomorrow’s Regents’ Tuition Task Force meeting,” said Senator Herman Quirmbach of Ames, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Education Committee.  “Republican legislators especially need to participate because their budget cuts to the state universities this year have caused steep tuition increases, more than double what the Board of Regents had initially planned.  These late increases have slammed Iowa’s college students and their parents.”

    The remaining meetings on student tuition and fees are scheduled to be held at college campuses when the majority of students won’t be there:  August 7 at the University of Northern Iowa; August 9 at Iowa State University; and, August 14 at the University of Iowa.

    “All the meetings should be rescheduled to days when students are actually on campus,” said Quirmbach.  “That way we can hear from the people we are counting on to be the next generation of Iowa innovators and leaders.  Student voices need to be heard—and listened to!”

    -end-

     

     

  • Latest state deficit figures show GOP budget is ‘out of whack’ and hurting Iowa families

    A statement from Senator Joe Bolkcom, ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee:

    “Iowa is not in a recession. Iowa is experiencing slow revenue growth because the policies of Governor Reynolds and legislative Republicans are out of whack. Delaying tax refunds for Iowa families and other gimmicks will not solve this budget mess.

    “Republicans must stop showering tens of millions on large tax giveaways to out-of-state corporations.  These tax giveaways now top $500 million annually and are the fastest growing part of the state spending.
    “The really bad news is that Governor Reynolds and legislative Republicans are balancing the budget on the backs of working Iowans. Senate Democrats will continue to oppose Republican-sponsored cuts to the services that Iowans depend on.  These cuts threaten public safety, the quality of education, and the safety net for seniors, children and vulnerable Iowans.
    “These cuts to services could have been avoided if Republican legislators and Governor Reynolds had delivered on their promises to increase family income by 25% and create more than 200,000 new jobs in Iowa.
    “So far, working Iowans have seen nothing but broken promises and horrible cuts to state services from Governor Reynolds and legislative Republicans.”
    – end –

  • Bipartisan energy reforms can create jobs & boost economy

    Iowa Senate News Release
    For Immediate Release:  June 26, 2017

     

    DES MOINES – Senator Chaz Allen of Newton, a member of the Senate’s Commerce Committee and the Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee, has written a letter in response to Governor Kim Reynolds’s call for innovating the state’s energy policies.

    “One of the priorities we share is creating more jobs for Iowans through a more innovative state energy policy,” Allen wrote in the letter. “That’s because Iowa’s economic future is tied to improving and developing our energy resources. I believe Iowa’s economy – especially in our smaller towns and rural areas — will benefit by increasing the state’s commitment to clean energy production and transmission.”

    Allen said that he welcomed the new Governor’s promise to support bipartisan legislation to continue the momentum in Iowa that has produced thousands of jobs related to energy, including developments in the wind, solar, ethanol and biodiesel industries.

    In his letter, Allen specifically cited several successful job-creation projects in his Senate district, which includes portions of eastern Polk County and most of Jasper County. The projects include TPI Composites (a wind blade manufacturer), Trinity Structural Towers (a wind tower manufacturer) and REG (a bio diesel plant), all in Newton; and Facebook (a data center) in Altoona.

    Allen said one of the keys to expanding energy production in Iowa will be ensuring our state plays a bigger role in developing a skilled and innovative workforce to meet the demands of this new economy.

    “Our universities and community colleges have done a good job of meeting the needs of businesses and utilities that are moving to renewable energy production and manufacturing. We need to make sure that they can continue to help Iowans get the skills they need to fill jobs in the future,” he said.

    Allen concluded his letter by stating that “Iowans expect their Governor and legislators to take bold steps during the 2018 legislative session.  I look forward to working in a bipartisan manner to move Iowa forward to a vibrant, clean and secure energy future.”