Iowa State Senator Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, released the following statement on proposed tuition increases for next year at Iowa State University, the University of Iowa, and the University of Northern Iowa.
“The tuition hikes considered today are just the latest result of Statehouse Republicans’ failure to support Iowans and build a stronger future for our state,” State Sen. Herman Quirmbach said. “These increases will make it harder for Iowans to go to college and will push many students further into debt.”
“Our state is facing a critical shortage of skilled workers. Instead of investing in our workforce and making it easier for Iowans to access the skills employers need, Republican politicians are raising college prices and making our challenges worse,” Quirmbach said. “The budget passed by the GOP majority this year contained no new funding for our public universities’ general operations – forcing them to raise tuition to cover increases in the colleges’ costs of providing necessary services.”
“State funding for higher education is now less than it was in 2016. Our Regents universities are starved for support – and Iowa students and their families are paying the price.”
Quirmbach, D-Ames, is the ranking member on the Senate Education Committee.
As we come to the end of the 2023 Legislative session, I want to thank my Democratic colleagues for the honor of leading our team. Together, we represent one million Iowans, who deserve, like every Iowan, to have their values represented and their interests reflected in the work of this legislative body.
Colleagues, you have done an admirable job representing the people of Iowa during challenging circumstances this year.
I’d also ask the chamber to join me in showing appreciation for:
our smart and hard-working caucus staffs and clerks,
the Secretary of the Senate and his staff,
the dedicated, knowledgeable, and hardworking staff at the Legislative Services Agencies,
the sergeants-at-arms and the Senate pages,
the custodial staff and all who keep our Capitol beautiful,
the state troopers at Post 16 and security guards who keep us safe,
and the news media who help keep our constituents informed,
and everyone else who contributes to the work we do on behalf of Iowa.
Madam President, 2023 will go down in history as one of the most divisive and cruel legislative sessions ever seen in Iowa. Over the last four months, Iowa Republican politicians have continued to pour gasoline on the flames of the culture war by undermining and politicizing our public schools, banning books, mercilessly attacking the freedoms of parents and the LGBTQ community, and continuing the Republican push to ban abortion outright in the state of Iowa.
In addition to their obsession with culture war issues, Iowa Republican politicians spent this session protecting political insiders and keeping the public left in the dark, eroding transparency and accountability of state government, and even calling for the arrest of law enforcement officers who detained the January 6 insurrectionists.
All this without taking meaningful action to address the Reynolds Workforce Crisis, the number one challenge facing our state — other than trying to roll back protections against child labor.
On education, Iowa Republicans rammed through an expensive, unpopular voucher scheme that will divert one billion dollars away from our public schools and into exclusive private schools over the next four years. We all know this private school giveaway will come at the expense of our community schools. And we can see that it won’t make these private schools any more welcoming to the vast majority of Iowa kids. In fact, many private schools’ first step in response to vouchers has been to raise tuition, likely shutting out many of the students Republicans claimed this bill would help.
Senate Republicans followed up this terrible voucher bill with more attacks on our schools: slashing educational standards, banning books from school libraries, and even micromanaging where students go to the bathroom. None of this helps Iowa. It only hurts Iowa students.
And Senate Republicans made Iowa more dangerous for kids by rolling back child labor protections and instead allowing teenagers to serve alcohol and work in dangerous jobs like roofing, excavation, and demolition. This will make those occupations less safe, drive down wages, and jeopardize the future livelihood of Iowa’s young people. None of this helps our state.
And, finally, Republican politicians spent this session making our government less accountable and transparent to the people we are meant to serve.
With the governor’s reorganization bill, Republicans rubber-stamped a blatant power grab from the executive branch that hands over expansive new powers to the governor and attorney general, while removing important checks and balances. In addition, Senate Republicans declined to hold public budget hearings and instead advanced “blank-check” budgets. Some bill managers refused to answer questions about their legislation on the Senate floor. The public deserves to know what Iowa Republican politicians are trying to hide.
In one of their final acts of 2023, Senate Republicans passed a petty, partisan bill that strips away essential tools for the democratically elected state auditor to investigate waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars.
If there’s one silver lining to this terrible session, it was the passage of a bipartisan property tax reform bill that will reduce tax bills for Iowans all across our state. This is a positive step forward, and Senate Democrats were proud to support it and see it passed into law.
I’d like to close with a message to the Iowans feeling angry, or scared, or left out by the actions of the Republican majority this year: It doesn’t have to be this way.
Senate Democrats are committed to representing all Iowans. We’re committed to listening to you, and reflecting your interests and values here in Des Moines. We’re committed to solving the big challenges facing our state.
We’ll never give up on you, and we’ll never quit fighting for an Iowa that you can be proud to call home.
Iowa state Sens. Janet Petersen and Todd Taylor sent a letter on Monday urging Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird to reinstate funding from her office to support medical care for survivors of sexual assault.
The letter also seeks an explanation from the attorney general on her rationale for suspending critical victims services funding; an expected timeline for the office’s ongoing audit of victims services; and a list of all the services to survivors that have been suspended during that audit.
“Depriving victims of essential care while your office continues its months-long audit is an attack on justice,” Petersen and Taylor wrote in the letter. “Victims, advocates, prosecutors, and law enforcement deserve to know why needed resources are being withheld by your office. We stand united in urging you to reverse course and give survivors of sexual assault the financial ability to care for their bodies and move forward in their healing process.”
Petersen, D-Des Moines, serves on the Senate Judiciary and Health & Human Services committees, and is a longtime advocate for women, children, and survivors of sexual assault. Taylor, D-Cedar Rapids, is the ranking member on the Senate Justice Systems Appropriations Subcommittee.
Iowa state Sen. Pam Jochum released the following statement on the property tax relief agreement reached Monday on House File 718.
“Spiking assessments and rising property taxes are hitting every Iowa community, and placing heavy burdens on middle-class Iowans – especially our seniors, veterans, and those living on fixed incomes,” Sen. Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque, said.
“The property tax agreement announced today is an important, needed step forward that will provide real relief for the taxpayers who need it most. Big corporations and the wealthiest Iowans have gotten their tax cuts – it’s about time the middle-class caught a break, too.
“Under this agreement, cities and counties will be able to provide the essential services that Iowans rely on, while also providing transparency to help taxpayers understand what they’re paying and what they’re getting in their local government budgets.
“This has been a difficult and divisive legislative session, but I’m glad Democrats and Republicans are able to come together to address one of the real challenges facing our fellow Iowans.”
Jochum, D-Dubuque, is the ranking member on the Senate Ways & Means Committee.
Des Moines – Iowa state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott released the following statement regarding Tuesday’s Iowa Supreme Court hearing on the constitutionality of a Republican-passed state law banning abortion after 6 weeks.
Trone Garriott, D-West Des Moines, is the ranking member on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and the Democratic Whip:
“Despite years of legal precedent and wide public support across political affiliations for reproductive freedom in Iowa, an extreme faction of anti-choice Republicans won’t stop until they have a total ban on abortion.
“The tactics change, but the goals remain the same: a small group of politicians are obsessed with denying essential healthcare and stripping away fundamental freedoms for Iowans.
“Senate Democrats trust Iowans to make their own choices about their own bodies and their own futures. Politicians have no business in the doctor’s office interfering with private medical decisions.”
Following today’s oral arguments, the Court has until June 30th to issue a majority decision in the case, Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, Inc., et al., v. Reynolds. The hearing can be viewed online at the Iowa Court’s YouTube page.
Statement on the March State Revenue Estimate by Senator Janet Petersen, Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee
“Today’s revenue estimate shows lackluster growth for Iowa’s economy, with projected revenues for 2023 and 2024 falling below previous years,” Senate Appropriations Ranking Member Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, said. “It’s time for statehouse Republicans to put aside their nationally-driven, culture-war agenda and focus on our top responsibility: passing a balanced budget that serves the needs of Iowans.”
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.
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:
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.
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.
