Des Moines — Iowa state Sen. Janice Weiner released the following statement following oral arguments in the Iowa Supreme Court on the state’s six-week abortion ban.

“The six-week abortion ban case heard today in Iowa’s highest court remains an unconstitutional attempt by Republican politicians to control the bodies of Iowans and their futures,” Sen. Janice Weiner, D-Iowa City, said. “Iowans value their freedom, and that includes the freedom to make decisions about their bodies and their healthcare with their doctors. A majority of Iowans oppose attacks on their healthcare choices.”

“Today’s hearing was a clear and convincing argument for upholding the Iowa Constitution, listening to the people of Iowa, and striking down this dangerous law,” Weiner said. 

Following today’s oral arguments, the Court has until June 30th to issue a decision in the case. The hearing can be viewed online at the Iowa Court’s YouTube page. 

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Des Moines — Iowa state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott released the following statement in response to Gov. Kim Reynolds’ announcement of a new competitive grant program to expand summer meal sites for children. 

“While I appreciate the governor finally doing something for hungry children in our state, the competitive grant program announced today amounts to crumbs for Iowa kids.,” Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-West Des Moines, said. “Gov. Reynolds could have accepted $29 million in federal food assistance that would’ve reached 240,000 children in every corner of the state. The $900,000 state program she announced today is tiny in comparison  – and forces Iowa communities to compete for a sliver of that little pie. That’s not enough to meet the real needs facing our state. And it doesn’t make up for her decision to let Iowa kids go hungry.”

“While summer feeding programs have their place, they are not accessible to all Iowa families. Families must bring their children to and from the site every day, which is impossible for most working families,” Trone Garriott said. “There are many Iowa school districts and entire counties that don’t even have a feeding site. As a result, these programs assisted less than 20,000 children last year. The governor could have expanded these programs AND participated in the Summer EBT program. But instead, she put politics before the health and wellbeing of our kids.” 

Senate Democrats’ efforts ensured that Iowa kids were eligible for the Summer EBT program in 2023, and the caucus united behind legislation to require the state to adopt the program again in 2024. However, Republican politicians led by Gov. Reynolds, killed the legislation, and refused to participate in Summer EBT, taking $29 million in food aid away from children and families in need. 

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Iowa state Sen. Janice Weiner released the following statement in response to Gov. Kim Reynolds signing Senate File 2095, the so-called Religious Freedom Restoration Act. 

“Tonight, Gov. Kim Reynolds went behind closed doors to sign into law an unjust, discriminatory bill,” Iowa state Sen. Janice Weiner said. “It may help her politically, but it will hurt Iowans and undermine economic opportunity in our state.” 

“Iowans don’t want legalized discrimination,” Weiner said. “They don’t want someone to be able to refuse to rent to someone or serve someone based on religious or moral beliefs. What they want is justice and fairness and economic opportunity and personal freedom. The so-called RFRA law is an attack on all of those Iowa values – and we’ll be paying the price for a long time to come.” 

Sen. Janice Weiner, D-Iowa City, is a member of the Senate State Government Committee.

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Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Pam Jochum released the following statement in response to Gov. Kim Reynolds signing House File 2612, gutting Iowa’s Area Education Agencies. 

“Gov. Reynolds demanded an attack on Iowa’s Area Education Agencies that no one asked for and no one wanted. She bullied it through the Republican-led legislature, and today she signed it into law,” Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque, said. “Every step of the way, Iowans told her to stop, to slow down, to engage stakeholders, and collaborate on real improvements to special education in Iowa. She never listened, and now parents and children will face the consequences.”

“While I’m disappointed and ashamed of our governor and the Republican lawmakers who voted for the bill, I’m incredibly thankful for the thousands of Iowans who spoke up and resisted these changes over the last three months,” Jochum said. “Parents, educators, students, and community leaders changed the course of this legislation. They prevented Republican politicians from fast-tracking this bill and exposed Gov. Reynolds’ misplaced priorities.”

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Iowa state Sens. Bill Dotzler and Eric Giddens released the following statement in response to the announced layoff of 308 workers at the John Deere Waterloo Works. 

“We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters losing their jobs and livelihoods due to this decision by John Deere,” Iowa state Sen. Bill Dotzler, D-Waterloo, said. 

“These layoffs will have far-reaching consequences for Iowa families and the entire Cedar Valley. The state must step up and support these workers, their families, and our communities,” Iowa state Sen. Eric Giddens, D-Cedar Falls, said. “Iowa’s economy relies on agriculture, and agriculture relies on the machinery and implements built by the hands of these very workers. We must take care of them in their time of need.”

“Once again, Iowa workers are getting the short end of the stick – because of the decisions of Republican politicians in Des Moines,” Dotzler said. “Changes enacted by Republican lawmakers in 2022 eliminated two full months of unemployment benefits for laid off workers. It’s one more way Iowa’s Republican leadership is exacerbating our workforce crisis – not fixing it.” 

Dotzler serves on the Senate Workforce Committee and represents Waterloo. Giddens represents Cedar Falls, Waterloo, and several small communities in southern Black Hawk County.

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“Iowa’s Area Education Agencies work. Parents love them. Educators rely on them. Students benefit from them,” Iowa state Sen. Molly Donahue said. “But this legislation creates instability and uncertainty that will reduce educational opportunities for hundreds of districts and thousands of students across every Iowa community.”

“Gov. Reynolds and the Republican majority in the legislature are breaking our AEAs,” Donahue said. “Their changes turn AEAs into an unstable fee-for-service program that reduces access in rural Iowa and consolidates power in Des Moines.” 

“Once again, Gov. Reynolds and the Republican majority are failing Iowa students, educators, and communities by underfunding our public schools,” Iowa state Sen. Herman Quirmbach said. “Under Gov. Reynolds, the state is throwing taxpayer dollars at private schools and building a new bureaucracy in Des Moines, but failing to support public schools enough to keep up with inflation.”

“Senate Democrats support a responsible plan to boost school funding by $300 million and begin to reverse years of chronic underfunding by Republican administrations,” Quirmbach said. “Senate Republicans continue to neglect public education.” 

Quirmbach, D-Ames, serves as the ranking member on the Senate Education Committee. Donahue, D-Cedar Rapids, serves on the Senate Education Committee and is a career special education teacher. 

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“We’ve heard from parents, students, educators, and community leaders: Iowans love their AEAs and depend on the educational services they provide,” Iowa state Sen. Molly Donahue said. “Slashing services and funding is not the answer. By breaking our AEAs, Senate Republicans are breaking Iowans’ trust and doing real harm to Iowa communities.”

“Instead of throwing special education into chaos and sowing instability and uncertainty for hundreds of districts and thousands of students, Senate Democrats offered an amendment to bring Iowans together to strengthen our AEAs,” Donahue said. “Iowa has a rich history of working together to solve challenges. Any changes to our AEAs should be cautious, inclusive, and collaborative.”

Donahue, D-Cedar Rapids, serves on the Senate Education Committee and is a career special education teacher.

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Statement by Senator Janet Petersen, Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee

“For more than two months, the Senate’s Republican majority has run a budget process with no meaningful accountability, transparency, or action on behalf of Iowans,” Senate Appropriations Ranking Member Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, said. “Now that the REC has done its job, it’s time for lawmakers to get to work.”

“We owe it to our constituents to fund our public schools, pass a balanced and responsible state budget, and then adjourn for the year,” Petersen said. “Iowans aren’t asking for more politics and culture wars. They’re asking for a government that does its job.” 

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Iowa state Sens. Sarah Trone Garriott, Nate Boulton, and Bill Dotzler released the following statements in response to the announced closure of Tyson Foods’ pork packing plant in Perry. 

“We stand with Perry and the Iowans losing their jobs and their livelihoods because of Tyson’s decision,” Iowa state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-West Des Moines, said. “The effects of this closure will touch every corner of Dallas County – from schools to city services to Main Streets and beyond – and it will take all of us working together to overcome these challenges and keep Perry strong.”

“The difficulties facing Iowa workers and the community of Perry due to this plant closure are just beginning,” Iowa state Sen. Nate Boulton, D-Des Moines, said. “Tyson needs to own the consequences of its decision and make it right for the people of Perry – especially the workers who have shown years of dedication and loyalty to the plant. That means providing real, tangible support for workers and the community alike through this transition. After six decades of dedicated service, Tyson owes its workers and the community more than just pink slips as they close the door.”

“The Tyson closure is a terrible loss to the Perry community and thousands of workers inside and outside the plant,” Iowa state Sen. Bill Dotzler, D-Waterloo, said. “But, unfortunately, that loss will be even worse due to the cuts in unemployment aid and support for displaced workers forced onto our state by Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Republican legislature in recent years.”

“Reductions in unemployment benefits and added red tape will add financial injury to the Perry workers facing this plant closure,” Dotzler said. “Anti-worker Republicans must share the blame for that.” 

Dotzler and Boulton serve on the Senate Workforce Committee. Trone Garriott represents portions of Dallas County.

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“The Religious Freedom Restoration Act is a blank check for people to impose their religious beliefs on others and to discriminate against people they don’t like,” Iowa state Sen. Janice Weiner said. “That’s wrong. Religious beliefs are not a shield for discrimination. That’s not what Iowans believe, and it’s not what they want written into state law.”

“If RFRA becomes law, Iowans will be harmed and Iowa will lose out on critical economic opportunities,” Weiner said. “Our state will miss out on economy-boosting business and cultural events. We will fall behind in the fierce competition for new economic investments. We will struggle to attract newcomers to live and work here. And we will see talented and valued Iowans move away in search of a more welcoming climate.”

“When we’re facing a historic workforce crisis, we must draw people to Iowa – not push them away. RFRA is wrong for Iowa,” Weiner said.

Sen. Janice Weiner, D-Iowa City, is a member of the Senate State Government Committee.

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