Official | Iowa Senate Democrats

Action Alert: Help stop bad bills today

8 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Issues, Jobs & Economy, Official, Working families

Two bad bills on today’s debate schedule are SF184/HF203, which would circumvent federal “Buy American” requirements on state and local road projects, and SF435/HF518, which would gut Iowa’s workers compensation system for work-related injuries and disabilities (see more below). You can help by e-mailing Republican Senators today and by calling ...

McCoy requests Oversight Committee review of “root causes” of the abuse of Glenwood residents

8 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Health care, Issues, News releases, Official, Quality of life, Safer communities

It’s imperative that the Legislature closely review a new report on Glenwood to ensure residents are safe. The Iowa Department of Human Services runs the facility and disclosed in January that seven residents were physically abused and 13 residents were subjected to verbal abuse or neglect.

Mid-session Update: Let’s make progress for working families

8 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Official

Governor Branstad, Lt. Governor Reynolds and legislative Republicans promised to focus on economic prosperity, fiscal responsibility and public schools. Republican Broken Promises & Wrong Priorities Shortchanging public schools again this year with the third-lowest increase in basic school funding in the state’s history. This will force more consolidations of ...

UI right to reverse scholarship cuts

8 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, News releases, Official

The University of Iowa’s response to these Republican takebacks was to renege on scholarships already awarded to Iowa students. I reached out to UI officials and asked them to reconsider. I’m glad they have reversed that decision.

The Dirty Dozen – Speak up this week to stop more harm to Iowans

8 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Official

Friday marks the “first funnel” under legislative rules, which is a first procedural hurdle that will stop some legislative proposals for the year. If we can stop bad bills this week, it will reduce the damage that could be done later.

McCoy: Oversight needed to address failures at Iowa DHS & shortcomings in Iowa law

8 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Issues, News releases, Official, Post includes video, Safer communities

Iowa children are falling through the cracks and government policies may be part of the problem, according to members of the House and Senate Government Oversight Committee. Natalie Finn is a 16-year old Des Moines girl who died after she was tortured and starved by her parents. Malayia Knapp, another Des Moines resident, was beaten, starved, and imprisoned by her adoptive parents.

Negative Consequences for Iowans from the New Public Sector Employment Law

8 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Issues, Official, Working families

A new law, exclusively drafted and implemented by Republican legislators and the Branstad-Reynolds administration, strips away a wide range of rights from public workers in Iowa. Some comments in debate and since enactment have led to misunderstandings, but it is important that the true impact of the law is understood.

Seven weeks into legislative session, Republicans still breaking promises to create jobs, grow incomes

8 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Issues, Jobs & Economy, News releases, Official, Working families

“In 2009, Governor Branstad and Lt. Governor Reynolds promised to create 200,000 jobs in five years,” said Senate Democratic Leader Rob Hogg of Cedar Rapids. “After more than 6 years, Iowa has gained less than 126,000 jobs, slower than the rate of job growth in the country as a whole. Instead of working on legislation to create jobs, Republicans are pursuing a partisan agenda that ignores the best interests of hard-working Iowans.”

Senate Leader: Anti-worker legislation hurts working Iowans and their families

8 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Issues, News releases, Official, Working families

An overwhelming majority of Iowans who packed the Capitol, attended rallies and overflowing local meetings, and filled legislative voicemail and email inboxes were in opposition to Senate File 213/House File 291. “Their message was clear: This bill hurts working Iowans and their families,” he said.

SF213 – Prepared remarks by Sen. Joe Bolkcom of Iowa City

8 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Issues, Official, Working families

Iowa’s collective bargaining law has worked to foster good worker-management relations across Iowa for the past 40 years. This bill will disrupt that balance and undermine the morale and productivity of every public employee in the state.

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