Iowa Senate Democrats

Fighting for a Better Deal for Iowans.

  • Petersen elected leader of Senate Democrats

    Iowa Senate News Release
    For immediate release: October 22, 2017 

     

    Democratic members of the Iowa Senate elected Sen. Janet Petersen of Des Moines today to serve as the new Democratic Leader of the Iowa Senate.

    Senator Petersen released this statement:

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

    “Last session, the Republican-controlled Senate passed damaging policies that went after hard-working Iowans and their pocketbooks.  Senate Democrats are focused on helping Iowans get ahead.  It’s time to get our state moving in a direction that reflects real Iowa values.”

    “Senate Democrats are united in supporting hard working families, students, seniors and Iowa’s quality of life. We will work to find common ground with Statehouse Republicans, but we will never back down from our commitment to good-paying jobs, having the best education in the nation, revitalizing our small towns and big cities, and enhancing the quality of life for all Iowans.”

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

    Throughout her tenure, Petersen has served on a variety of committees, most recently as the ranking member on the Commerce Committee, she also serves on the Government Oversight, Judiciary, State Government and Ways & Means committees.

    Petersen was born in Beaverdale and has lived in northwest Des Moines most of her life. She graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in Communications and earned a master’s degree in Integrated Communications from Drake University.

    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.

    The next session of the Iowa General Assembly will convene on Monday, January 8, 2018.

     

     

     

    ###

  • Will broken promises increase your property taxes?

    The table below is based on information from the Iowa Department of Management. Next to each city is the amount that city would lose if the State of Iowa fails to fund the property tax backfill.

    Senate Democrats encourage you to tell Governor Reynolds and Iowa’s Republican legislators to keep their promises. If they don’t, property tax increases and cuts in local services are sure to follow.

    This is an alphabetical list of counties, school districts and cities. Use the search box at the top of the table to filter your results.

    Here are some news stories on the issue.

    [table id=18 /]

     

    Related News

    CR Gazette: The state should backfill its promises

    Waterloo Courier: Local governments may lose property tax ‘backfill’ money

    Daily Gate City: Keokuk out $1M if ‘backfill’ removed

    DM Register: Reynolds won’t commit to maintaining $152.1 million ‘backfill’ payments to local governments

    Carlisle Mayor Randleman: Property-tax backfill helps communities of all sizes

  • 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-

  • Latest revenue estimates show Republican policies continue to damage job growth and economic opportunities

    October 19, 2017 

    Statement on the updated revenue estimates by Senator Joe Bolkcom,
    Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member

    “Since 2010, Statehouse Republicans and then-Governor Terry Branstad have made two big promises to Iowans: Raise family incomes by 25% and create 200,000 new Iowa jobs.

    “Today’s updated revenue estimates are more evidence that Governor Reynolds and legislative Republicans are continuing to break those promises to Iowans. That’s bad, bad news for Iowa families and their communities, especially those living in smaller towns and rural ares.

    “The bottom line is that economic prosperity and fiscal responsibility will only return if Governor Reynolds and Republican legislators start working in a bipartisan way to make smart investments in Iowa workers and their families.”

    –    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.

    -End-

  • 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-

  • Sign up for Iowa Public Retirement Alerts

  • Mathis named “Hero in the Fight” for better mental health treatment in Iowa

    State Senator Liz Mathis

    IOWA SENATE NEWS
    For immediate release: Oct. 6, 2017

    CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – State Senator Liz Mathis (D-Hiawatha) has been named a Hero in the Fight by the Linn County chapter of the National Alliance for Mental Illness.

    “Senator Mathis works relentlessly to advocate for our most vulnerable citizens. With Medicaid moving to a managed care system, Senator Mathis has been active in the community, listening to individuals and families about their experiences and making sure no one falls through the cracks. She listens to providers and advocacy groups so that she truly understands how real people are impacted. Her genuine care is evident,” said Kathy Johnson, a member of the board of directors for NAMI Linn County.

    The Heroes in the Fight awards are given each year to those who help fight stigma the stigma of mental illness and promote positive changes to ensure all Iowans have access to affordable and effective mental health treatment.

    “Iowans struggling with mental illness are some of our most vulnerable citizens, but their needs are often overlooked, or they get lost in our complicated health care system. They deserve someone who will stand up for them, fight for them and not quit until we get the job done,” Mathis said.

    Senator Mathis authored legislation with the help of Kent Jackson, director of Behavioral Health for Unity Point, which allows certain patients with schizophrenia to get long-lasting injections of antipsychotic medicine so that they can avoid costly hospital stays and more easily return to their day-to-day life.

    She also created a Children’s Mental Health & Wellbeing Workgroup in 2015 that is building a child mental health care system. The workgroup will be presenting legislation in 2018 that will address children experiencing a mental health care crisis. The workgroup also has encouraged pilot projects for new ways of improving child wellbeing.

    The Heroes in the Fight awards ceremony took place Thursday at Mercy Hospital’s Hallagan Auditorium in Cedar Rapids. Other local award recipients were:

    • Ben Rogers – Linn County Board of Supervisor
    • Ursula Livermore – Eastern Iowa Health Center Medical Director
    • Diane Brecht – Local Provider of SCL services
    • Brad Neff – Volunteer with Family Support and Family-to-Family classes

    NAMI Linn County is the local affiliate of a state and national association dedicated to education, advocacy and support for individuals and families struggling with the impact of a mental illness.

    ###

  • 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-

  • Iowa taxpayers’ money going to pay for GOP misdeeds

    Iowa Senate News Release
    Senate Democratic Leader Rob Hogg: (515) 281-3901
    For Immediate Release:  September 28, 2017

     

    Reaction by Senate Democratic Leader Rob Hogg
    to Iowa taxpayers’ money going to pay for GOP misdeeds

    “Iowans are rightfully disgusted by the harassment, discrimination, and retaliation against Kirsten Anderson and other legislative staff.

    “They are outraged that their tax dollars are going to be used to pay $1.75 million because of the misconduct and mismanagement by Republican Senators.

    “When a jury delivered the verdict against Senate Republicans in July, I called on all Senators to work together to fix this problem. Unfortunately, Senate Republicans have ignored the calls for action and Iowa taxpayers are paying the price.”

    – end –