Safer communities | Iowa Senate Democrats

Statement on tragic deaths at the Anamosa State Penitentiary

4 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Fiscal responsibility, Issues, News releases, Official, Safer communities

“Our thoughts and prayers are with their families, neighbors and co-workers. In addition to ensuring that justice is served, we must also ensure that state leaders address chronic understaffing and other systemic problems at our prisons before we have more deaths.”
–Sen. Todd Taylor, Ranking Member, Justice System Budget

Fight to Keep Background Checks for Gun Purchases

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

HF 756 is bad for Iowans’ safety. If signed into law, people without any type of firearms training will be allowed to carry in public. So, a person can purchase a firearm from a private seller without a background check and then carry it anywhere in public without any firearms training or proficiency if this bill is adopted.

Bipartisan bill cracks down on fertility fraud

4 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Health care, Issues, News releases, Official, Safer communities, Transparency & accountability

SF 529 addresses cases where those seeking fertility assistance are instead victims of fraud, specifically cases where the physician misrepresents the sperm donor’s identity. Through popular DNA testing, individuals in states across the nation have been shocked and horrified to discover that the physician is actually their father.

Our COVID Recovery Plan

4 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Fiscal responsibility, Health care, Issues, Jobs & Economy, Official, Opinion, Quality of life, Safer communities, Transparency & accountability, Working families

Iowans have been through a lot over the last year, particularly with the pandemic. It’s not over yet, but it is time for the Legislature to do all it can to help Iowa build back better, bigger and stronger than ever. Our focus this session is on a COVID Recovery Plan to help Iowa rebound from the ravages of the last year.

Public Education Disaster Week

4 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Education, Fiscal responsibility, Issues, News releases, Official, Safer communities

Monday, two harmful bills are being rushed through the Senate Education Committee before Iowans have time to respond. SSB 1065 would divert taxes for public schools to private schools and SSB 1064 would make Iowa schools unsafe during the pandemic.

Statement on Reynolds’ failed COVID strategy

4 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Health care, Issues, Official, Quality of life, Safer communities, Working families

The Governor’s half-measured attempt at a mask mandate will not be enough to make Iowans safer, especially heading into the holiday season. Her actions today are simply too little, too late. Half-measures will only prolong this pandemic and the suffering of Iowans.

Statement on Governor’s latest COVID steps

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

Governor Reynolds’ latest steps to fight COVID are like buying a smoke detector after your house is blazing out of control. If the Governor had listened from day one to health care experts – including the White House Coronavirus Task Force – more Iowans would be alive today and the Iowa economy would be rebounding.

Iowa is COVID hot spot

4 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Issues, Official, Safer communities, Transparency & accountability, Working families

Six months into the pandemic, when many of us thought we might be in the clear, Iowa is in the thick of it with record-high infection rates and mounting deaths. Yet, the Governor continues her half-hearted approach that is preventing Iowa from getting the coronavirus under control.

“The time for half-hearted public relations gestures is over.”

4 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Issues, News releases, Official, Safer communities

Reynolds’ refusal to listen to medical experts has contributed to the spread of COVID-19, leading to increasing death and disease and making it harder to restart both Iowa’s economy and Iowa’s schools on a sustainable basis.

Let’s send kids back to school safely

4 years ago by ContentAdmin · Blog, Education, Issues, Official, Safer communities

It’s back-to school time, and most parents would love for kids to return to their classroom – when it is safe. No amount of seat time in a classroom will make up for jeopardizing the health of our kids. Let’s put their safety first as we continue to assess our return-to-learn plans.

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