Iowa Senate Democrats

Fighting for a Better Deal for Iowans.

  • Partial review of privatized Medicaid disaster doesn’t answer concerns

    Iowa Senate News Release
    For Immediate Release:  November 26, 2018

     

    Statement from Senator Pam Jochum on partial review of Medicaid privatization disaster

    “The partial review of the Medicaid privatization disaster by the departing State Auditor is a big pile of excuses with no good answers for Iowa taxpayers who are being ripped off.

    “State Auditor Mary Mosiman joins a long line of Republican politicians – led by Governor Reynolds and Republican legislative leaders – who still cannot answer these simple questions:

    • What data is there to show that privatized Medicaid is making Iowans healthier?
    • What data is there to show how much the out-of-state corporations still owe Iowa hospitals, doctors and other health care providers for services provided to Medicaid members?

    “We remain concerned that the unexpected $100 million increase in payments to the out-of-state corporations running Medicaid will result in further cuts and delayed payments to Iowa health care providers that provide critical services to hundreds of thousands of Iowans, as well as additional cuts to education, health care and public safety to cover the additional payments to the corporations.

    “We hope that the Governor and legislative leaders of both parties will work with the newly elected State Auditor, Rob Sand, to open up the books and give Iowans an honest assessment of the impact of privatized Medicaid on Iowa taxpayers, Medicaid members and health care providers.

    “Finally, we renew our call for Governor Reynolds and legislative Republicans to finally reverse course and join legislative Democrats in supporting a return to a more efficient, publicly managed system.”

    -end-

  • Senate Dems select leadership team

    Iowa Senate News Release
    For immediate release: November 11, 2018  

     

    Democratic members of the Iowa Senate re-elected Sen. Janet Petersen today to serve as the Democratic Leader of the Iowa Senate.

    Senator Petersen released this statement:

    “I am honored to have the continued support of my fellow Democratic Senators.”

    “For the past two years, the Republican-led Senate pushed through damaging policies that helped out-of-state companies and special interests instead of hard-working Iowa families.

    “Senate Democrats will continue standing up for Iowans. We believe every Iowan – regardless of whether they live in rural areas, small towns, urban or suburban parts of our state – deserves access to affordable health care, strong public schools, and the chance to get ahead in life.

    “We will work with the Governor and Republican legislators on issues where we can find common ground over the next two years. But, if we continue to see Republicans push an agenda that hurts the health care, education, and financial security of working Iowans, we will be fierce in our opposition.”

    The new Democratic leadership team consists of these Senators:

    • Democratic Leader, Senator Janet Petersen, Des Moines
    • Democratic Whip, Senator Amanda Ragan, Mason City
    • Assistant Leaders:
      • Senator Joe Bolkcom of Iowa City
      • Senator Bill Dotzler, Waterloo
      • Senator Pam Jochum of Dubuque
      • Senator Liz Mathis, Hiawatha
      • Senator Herman Quirmbach, Ames
      • Senator Rich Taylor, Mount Pleasant

    Petersen is in her second term in the Iowa Senate after serving six terms in the Iowa House. She represents Senate District 18 in northwest Des Moines.

    In 2008, Petersen founded a nonprofit organization with four other central Iowa women called Healthy Birth Day. The organization, best known for its Count the Kicks campaign, is devoted to preventing stillbirths and improving birth outcomes.

    Petersen and her husband Brian Pattinson have three children.

    – end –

  • Is rationing health care the Iowa GOP’s secret plan to “fix” Medicaid mess?

    IA SEN NEWS
    Oct. 30, 2018

    In the final days of the 2018 campaign, a Northwest Iowa State Senator may have mistakenly released the Republican Party of Iowa’s secret plan to “fix” the Medicaid privatization mess.

    During a forum last week sponsored by the Sioux City Rotary Club, State Senator Jim Carlin of Sioux City proposed rationing health care for Medicaid recipients.

    Carlin specifically said lawmakers should “look into limiting the number of doctor visits” by people on Medicaid.

    Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen called Carlin’s proposal “mean-spirited and dangerous.”

    “This is another example of a politician playing doctor,” Petersen said. “The last thing that Iowa parents need is to be worried about politicians placing arbitrary caps on the number of times their children can visit the family doctor for an ear infection, a broken arm or diabetes. And how could the Legislature and Governor limit the number of doctor visits for disabled Iowans or those with chronic illnesses? That’s mean-spirited and dangerous.”

    Throughout 2017 and 2018, Governor Reynolds and other Republican leaders acknowledged “mistakes were made” with Medicaid privatization, but they have offered no solutions for reversing course on a change that has turned over health care management for hundreds of thousands of Iowans to out-of-state corporations.

    As a result, the Reynolds Administration, Senator Carlin and others in the Republican-controlled Legislature have led an effort that has:

    1. Cut and delayed payments to Iowa health care providers that provide critical services to hundreds of thousands of Iowans.
    2. Made health care services even less accessible to Medicaid members.
    3. Shifted more than $100 million away from education, health care and public safety to cover the additional payments to out-of-state corporations.

    “Make no mistake about it, Senator Carlin’s plan would cost Iowa taxpayers more money in the long run and would further endanger the health and safety of Iowans,” Petersen said.

    Read the full Sioux City Journal article: https://tinyurl.com/yd4oouq2

    – end –

  • Iowa workers vote for strong unions

    IA SEN NEWS
    Oct. 29, 2018

    Statement by Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen

    “The results of the recertification elections today are a huge victory for working families across Iowa.

    “With the deck stacked against them by the Governor and Republican-controlled Legislature, Iowa workers voted overwhelmingly in favor of being represented by strong unions.

    “Our friends and neighbors across the state who work every day to teach our kids, keep our families and communities safe, and protect the most vulnerable Iowans need to have a voice in the workplace. Iowans depend on their voices being heard.

    “Congratulations to Iowa’s public workers and their unions for this huge victory today.”

     

    –end–

  • HWY 20 shows the promise of rural Iowa investments

    IOWA SENATE NEWS
    October 18, 2018

    Statement on the completed expansion of Highway 20 by State Senator Tod Bowman of Maquoketa, current Ranking Member and former Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee

    “It’s been decades in the making, but we finally have a four-lane highway across northern Iowa between Dubuque and Sioux City.

    “There will be a ribbon cutting in western Iowa for the completion of Highway 20 on Friday. I’ll be teaching in Maquoketa at that time, but I will still be celebrating this important investment in rural Iowa.

    “Safe, efficient roads for Iowans, travelers and commerce have been top priorities over my last eight years on the Senate Transportation Committee. We’ve accomplished a lot in that time through bipartisan efforts focused on making Iowa the best place to live, work and do business.

    “Expanding Highway 20 already has brought more traffic to the communities it passes through and has helped relieve congestion on I-80 by providing another convenient route across the state for people and freight.

    “It will continue to create opportunities for manufacturing, agriculture, services, recreation and tourism—all of which create jobs, boost our economy and improve our quality of life.

    “This and other infrastructure investments—like high-speed Internet—are critical to get Iowa’s economy going again, especially in our small towns and rural areas.”

     

    – end –

  • Statement on latest revenue estimates

    IA SEN NEWS
    Oct. 16, 2018

    Statement from Sen. Joe Bolkcom, Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee

    “The fiscal mismanagement by Governor Reynolds and legislative Republicans is like a slow train wreck for everyday Iowans.

    “Their smoke-and-mirrors shell game won’t erase the fact that the Governor and Republican-controlled Legislature have made job training and higher education unaffordable for thousands of Iowans, reduced protections for seniors and other vulnerable Iowans, and made health care less accessible for thousands of Iowans over the past two years.

    “It’s no wonder that Iowans are clamoring for new leadership that will put their needs ahead of the self-interest of Wall Street corporations, special interests and millionaires. It’s time to put Iowans first again.”

    — end  —

  • Appropriations Ranking Member on year-end balance

    IA SEN NEWS
    September 25, 2018

    Statement from Sen. Joe Bolkcom,
    Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee

    “The fiscal mismanagement and misplaced budget priorities of Governor Reynolds and legislative Republicans are still bad news for everyday Iowans.

    “Last year, the Governor took a victory lap because she didn’t need the Legislature to have a special session to fix her budget mess.

    “The Governor is cheering today because there’s still money in the state’s bank account. That would be great news if she and the Republican-controlled Legislature hadn’t slashed funding for job training and higher education, reduced protections for seniors and other vulnerable Iowans, and made health care less accessible for thousand of Iowans.”

     

    — END —

  • Statement from Sen. Pam Jochum on passing of Sarah Jochum, her daughter

    IA SEN NEWS
    August 31, 2018

    Senator Pam Jochum of Dubuque and her daughter, Sarah, in the Iowa Senate Chamber on March 20, 2018.

    “As we mourn Sarah’s passing, our family is also celebrating the impact that Sarah had for 41 years on our lives and the lives of so many Iowans.

    “Sarah taught all of us about unconditional love.

    “Sarah loved everyone and touched so many hearts.

    “People who met Sarah were moved to help their fellow Iowans through such careers as nursing, social work and special education.

    “Because Sarah had a parent in the Legislature her entire life, she made an impact on Iowans in other ways. She helped us bring an advocacy and a passion to the Capitol that continues today.

    “Even in death, Sarah is creating new, life-changing stories because her organs will be donated to recipients across the country.

    “Our entire family sends out a big ‘thank you’ to Iowans and others for their outpouring of support during this difficult time.

    “We will miss Sarah….but we know that she lives on in each of us.”

  • Senate Dem Leader on passing of Congressman Boswell

    IOWA SENATE NEWS
    August 17, 2018

    Statement from Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen on the passing of Congressman Leonard Boswell 

    “Leonard Boswell served the state of Iowa and our nation with distinction. As a State Senator, as Iowa Senate President and a member of the U.S. House, Leonard fought hard for his constituents and for the best interest of the state that he loved.

    “In Congress, he supported expanding access to affordable health care, providing better service to our veterans, and making higher education affordable for working Iowan families.

    “The thoughts and prayers of the Iowa Senate family go out to Dody and the entire Boswell family.”

    — end —

    Leonard Boswell Visitation and Funeral Service Details

    The Boswell family would like to inform the public of the following services celebrating the life of Congressman Leonard Boswell.

    A visitation and viewing will occur on Friday, August 24, 2018 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Community of Christ Church at 531 West Main Street, Lamoni, Iowa.

    Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 25, 2018 beginning at 10:30 AM at the Shaw Center on the campus of Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa. The Shaw Center is located at 1 University Place, Lamoni, Iowa at the center of campus. There is ample parking nearby.

    Immediately following the funeral, there will be a procession to Rose Hill Cemetery in Lamoni where the Congressman will be laid to rest with full military honors and graveside religious services. Rose Hill Cemetery is located on the west side of Lamoni on West Main Street.

    Following the burial, the Boswell family will be hosting a party at the family farm to celebrate Congressman Boswell’s life, complete with food, drinks, and fireworks. The address of the farm is 28308 177th Avenue, Davis City, Iowa 50065.

    Members of the press are welcome to attend all events.

    Slade Funeral Home of Leon, Iowa is handling the arrangements. The funeral home may be contacted at 103 NE Mill Street, Leon, Iowa 50144. The phone number for the funeral home is 641-446-6211.

    In lieu of flowers, the family is establishing a scholarship at Graceland University in honor of Congressman Boswell that will benefit young people interested in studying agriculture.

    Donations to the scholarship fund may be sent to directly to Slade Funeral Home.

    Press or dignitary inquiries may be directed to Grant Woodard at 515-557-0633 or at gwoodard@gmail.com.

  • Proposal to close UI Labor Center is “latest gut punch” to Iowa workers

    Iowa Senate News Release
    For Immediate Release:  July 10, 2018  

     

    Senator Joe Bolkcom statement on University of Iowa’s announcement of center closures and furloughs

    “I am disappointed in the news about the center closures and furloughs.

    “I am deeply disappointed at the proposed closure the UI Labor Center. This proposal is the latest gut punch to Iowa workers and their families. This is a terrible time to even consider closing the UI Labor Center.

    “Since 1950, the Labor Center has helped make Iowa a better place to live and do business. It has helped workers and Iowa employers meet the changing workforce needs of the state. As an interdisciplinary educational and research center, it has helped educate students and advance the public’s understanding of work during a time of rapid change.

    “It has also has leveraged its state appropriation in securing competitive federal grants for the university.

    “While there is no doubt that the University of Iowa is under financial pressure because of the bad budget priorities of Governor Reynolds and the Republican Legislature, I hope that President Harreld will change his mind and reconsider this ill-advised decision that would only worsen Iowa’s efforts to build a strong, modern economy that rewards hard work.”

    -end-