“As we face declining state revenues, it’s troubling to hear that Governor Reynolds and statehouse Republicans are concocting yet another round of multi-million dollar, multi-year tax giveaways for special interests and wealthy Iowans.” Senate Appropriations Ranking Member Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, said.
“Iowans deserve a better deal in the upcoming session with more sunshine and accountability on our state budget,” Petersen said. “That starts by bringing back public budget hearings, creating more opportunities for our middle class to get ahead, and fewer giveaways of public dollars to private interests.”
Des Moines — Iowa state Sen. Janice Weiner released the following statement regarding the Iowa Board of Medicine’s meeting Friday, in which proposed rules concerning Iowa’s 6-week abortion ban were introduced and considered.
“The vague and unworkable rules considered today by the Board of Medicine are just the latest evidence of how dangerous and unjust Iowa Republicans’ six-week abortion ban is for Iowans,” Sen. Janice Weiner, D-Iowa City, said. “There is simply no way to enact a six-week abortion ban without threatening Iowa doctors and hurting Iowans.”
“These rules would require doctors to interrogate their patients, retraumatizing women who have already undergone an incredibly traumatic experience,” Weiner said. “A doctor’s job is to provide the highest standard of care – not to act like an investigator or think like a prosecutor.”
“These rules also fail to clarify the discipline a doctor would face under Republicans’ extreme six-week ban,” Weiner said. “Without meaningful guidance, the existential fear of license revocation will prevent doctors from providing necessary care to victims of rape or incest.”
“These rules put both doctors and patients in an untenable situation,” Weiner said. “As we heard from the medical professionals today, we need to let doctors do their jobs and keep the politics out of the exam room.”
Sen. Weiner serves on the Senate State Government Committee.
Des Moines — Iowa state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott released the following statement regarding the Iowa Attorney General’s brief, filed today, in Planned Parenthood v. Reynolds, the latest lawsuit challenging extreme bans on reproductive freedom in Iowa.
“Today’s legal filing and statements from the governor and attorney general show once again how out of touch extreme, anti-choice politicians are with the will of Iowa voters,” Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-West Des Moines, said.
“A substantial majority of Iowans support safe, legal access to abortion and reject attacks on reproductive freedom in Iowa – and so do Senate Democrats,” Trone Garriott said.
“My heart goes out to the surviving children and to those who tried to protect them by sounding the alarms,” Sen. Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, said. “I hope the settlement announced today provides some of the support they need to find a bit of peace and hope.”
“The settlement calls for the creation of a task force,” Petersen said. “I am hopeful Governor Reynolds gives its members full fact-finding access, the authority to shed light on the dangers with Iowa’s current child protective system, and the power to fix it.
“Keeping Iowa’s children safe should be our No. 1 priority,” Petersen said. “We don’t need another example of the fox guarding the hen house. Our kids need Iowans and the media to stay engaged in this process to help this task force succeed in its mission of making Iowa a safer place for our children.”
Des Moines — Iowa state Sen. Claire Celsi released the following statement on the need for bipartisan cooperation to solve the severe staff shortage and long-term care crisis facing Iowa.
“Iowa’s nursing homes are experiencing an unprecedented crisis, precipitated by catastrophic and disastrous staffing shortages,” Sen. Claire Celsi, D-West Des Moines, said. “Without action, long-term care facilities will continue to shut down, and elderly Iowans will continue to suffer and die due to inadequate care.”
“I appreciate that Gov. Reynolds recognizes the severity of this crisis, and I invite her to set aside partisanship and come together to find solutions – including on the critical issue of staffing,” Celsi said. “Our elders are in harm’s way, and it’s up to all of us to work together to ensure the safety and dignity they deserve.”
“Iowa’s revenue growth cannot keep up with the costs of Governor Reynolds’ corporate tax cuts and private-school voucher spending,” Senate Appropriations Ranking Member Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, said. “Today’s revenue estimate is a warning for Governor Reynolds and statehouse Republicans: your special-interest spending spree isn’t sustainable and it leaves too many taxpayers behind.”
Des Moines — Iowa state Sens. Tony Bisignano and Bill Dotzler released the following statements in response to the news that the Iowa Speedway will host a 2024 NASCAR Cup Series race.
“From dirt tracks to IndyCar, Iowa has a long, rich history in motorsports,” Sen. Tony Bisignano, D-Des Moines, said. “Today’s announcement of a NASCAR Cup Series race at Newton opens an exciting new chapter for auto racing in Iowa.”
“Top-tier NASCAR in Newton is a huge win for race fans, for motorsports, and most of all for the state of Iowa,” Sen. Bill Dotzler, D-Waterloo, said. “Democrats and Republicans have been working for more than a decade to bring NASCAR’s best cars and drivers to the fastest short track on the planet right here in Iowa, and today that dedication is paying off.”
Des Moines — Iowa state Sen. Janet Petersen released the following statement in response to Gov. Kim Reynolds announcement Wednesday regarding the state budget.
“Gov. Reynolds talks a big game about relief for Iowa families, but she’s always put rich corporations and special interests first – and she always will,” Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Janet Petersen said. “While Gov. Reynolds is again slashing corporate taxes and promising more giveaways to come, middle-class families still aren’t getting ahead.”
“Gov. Reynolds’ tax schemes aren’t working for everyday Iowans,” Petersen, D-Des Moines, said.
Petersen, D-Des Moines, serves as the ranking member on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Iowa state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott released the following statement following the start of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services issuing Summer P-EBT cards to provide food assistance for Iowa children who qualify for free or reduced lunch during the school year.
“I’m happy and relieved to see our state follow through on feeding hungry Iowa kids,” Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott said. “This is the right thing to do – these cards will go a long way toward meeting the need.”
The cards being sent to eligible households should be received by early October. Eligible families will receive EBT cards in the mail with $120 per eligible student that can be used at grocery stores. According to HHS there are 240,000 Iowa children who are eligible.
“At a time when food pantries are reporting all-time highs, finding ways to increase access to food is more important than ever,” Trone Garriott said. “If you’re a household with eligible school-age children, make sure to check your mail.”
The food assistance program began its rollout after Sens. Trone Garriott and Izaah Knox sent a letter along with state Rep. Sean Bagniewski to the governor in June requesting that the state apply for the funds. At the time, Iowa was one of the few states that had not yet applied. The full letter is available here.
Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-West Des Moines, is the ranking member on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
This Monday on Labor Day, we were proud to celebrate the working people of Iowa and the labor movement, whose victories make our families and communities stronger.
Labor Day is an important reminder that our work is not done. When Republicans took power in Iowa, they wasted no time passing laws to gut collective bargaining rights, slashing wages for union and non-union workers alike, and restrict unemployment benefits. Now, Governor Reynolds and Republican politicians have led our state into a historic workforce crisis. And instead of solving that problem, they’ve chosen to rewrite Iowa’s child labor law to allow our kids to work more dangerous jobs.
But this summer, Iowans have taken a stand. From Des Moines to Dubuque to Newton, Iowans are demanding fair wages and respect – and they’re getting results! We can’t think of a better way to honor the Labor movement.
All Iowans deserve a good-paying job, a middle-class life, and a secure retirement – and that’s what we’re working for in the Iowa Senate. We hope you and your family enjoyed a safe, responsible, and healthy Labor Day.
Quick Updates
Come see your Supreme Court. The Iowa Supreme Court kicks off its 2023-24 term this month, and will hear cases at Waverly-Shell Rock High School on Sept. 19 and the University of Iowa Law School on Sept. 29. Seeing Supreme Court arguments in person can be illuminating, but the Court also posts all of their cases on YouTube. And for the stats lovers out there, here’s last term by the numbers.
To schedule a tour of the Iowa State Capitol, call 515-281-5591 or just stop by the visitors center on the ground floor.
High school rankings: U.S. News and World Report ranks the nation’s best high schools based on six factors including college readiness, student assessments, and graduation rates. The best high school rankings include data on nearly 25,000 public high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia. Iowa high school rankings can be found here.
New test data. State-level education assessment results from the last school year were released late last month and show little to no growth across most grades in English language arts as well as persistent achievement gaps between groups of students. The statewide assessment is given every spring and affects what’s taught in Iowa classrooms. There will be achievement gaps so long as Iowa lawmakers continue to short-change our public schools and prioritize funneling taxpayer dollars into private schools. Iowa public education has been held back by staffing shortages, inadequate funding, and mean-spirited attacks schools and educators. We must support our public schools and educators and increase investments to ensure a quality education for all of Iowa’s students.
Tips for healthy kids. As students head back to school, these tips from experts may help your kids stay healthy and stay in the classroom. It’s important to make sure all immunizations are up to date, and have open dialogue with your kids to monitor mental health, which can be just as important as physical health when attending school.
Iowa Bridges on U.S. Stamps. Two iconic Iowa bridges are featured on new postage stamps release last month by the United States Postal Service. The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge connecting Council Bluffs to Omaha and the Interstate 74 Mississippi River Bridge between Bettendorf and Moline will appear on Presorted First Class Mail stamps as part of a bridge-themed four-stamp series. To see the stamps and find more information on ordering them, click here.
Election year 2023. City and school board elections are right around the corner. The following information from the Iowa Secretary of State will help candidates and voters:
Senate Dems Seeking Interns. The Iowa Senate Democratic Caucus is seeking talented and motivated interns for the 2024 legislative session. Interns work directly with Democratic senators and staff, assisting the communications team in shaping the message and sharing the story of the 2024 session. The internship program is open to college students, School to Work program participants, and others interested in learning the basics of political communication. Click here for more information and application instructions.
Applications Open for Legislative Page Program. Applications are now open for the 2024 Iowa Legislative Page Program, in which Iowa high school juniors and seniors live in Des Moines and work at the Capitol throughout the legislative session. Pages are assigned to the Senate, the House or the Legislative Services Agency and perform crucial tasks to keep the legislature running. Click here for more information and application instructions.
