Iowa Senate Democrats

Fighting for a Better Deal for Iowans.

  • Senator Mathis responds to appointment of new DHS director

    Iowa Senate News Release
    For Immediate Release:  June 14, 2017

     

    Statement on appointment of new DHS director
    by Senator Liz Mathis, lead Democrat on the Senate Human Services Committee

    “The selection of Jerry Foxhoven is a positive step. Along with his work as executive director of the Neal & Bea Smith Legal Clinic at Drake, Jerry has been a facilitator or co-chair of several state task forces and work groups. His inclusive style will serve him well as he digs into the work that needs to be done with the department and the issues around the Medicaid to managed care transition.”

  • McCoy statement to Oversight Committee on DHS and failure to protect abused children

    Iowa Senate News Release
    State Senator Matt McCoy: (515) 681-9327
    For Immediate Release: June 5, 2017

     

    Senator Matt McCoy: Opening Statement
    at Joint Government Oversight Meeting – June 5, 2017

     

    Thank you. Chairmen.

    On behalf of children who have fallen through the cracks at the Iowa Department of Human Services, I am grateful that you have decided to convene a Government Oversight Committee meeting to look into the staffing, general welfare practices, internal policies at DHS.

    I am also pleased that you are willing to exam elements of the Iowa homeschool options and the negative impact that they had on all three of the latest high profile cases.

    The horrific deaths of Natalie Finn and Sabrina Ray, and the beatings and abuse Malayia Knapp escaped, are only the most horrific examples. I have many more cases that need review.

    Last week, we learned of another case involving a brother and sister that were badly abused and mistreated. Justin and Crystal Winterthine suffered years of abuse at the hands of Mike and Laurie Winterthine. The children report living in a barn and only getting cow’s raw warm milk to drink with no other food, other than slices of bread once in a while.

    When Justin finally ran away at age 18, he weighed 85 pounds. An older sibling filed a complaint with DHS about Crystal, and the family was told to not do that (type of feeding, only milk), and she was allowed to stay in the home of her abusers.

    We have seen cases where babysitters dropped a child from three feet in the air into his crib and violently turned over the infant baby by his torso, legs and arms. DHS told mother Ellen Kirkpatrick that they would investigate this case and review it. They never followed up until I was able to get WHO-TV to do a story on the case. DHS opened an investigation the following day.

    How many more Iowa children are living in a hellish nightmare of abuse right now?

    Iowans are outraged. They can’t believe this is happening in our state, and they want it stopped.

    I’m as glad as I can be today that the Legislature’s Joint Government Oversight Committee is finally addressing this issue. I believe the Government Oversight Committee’s job is the following:

    • Examine why Iowa children under state care are suffering and dying.
    • Examine the impact of the $16 million cut to DHS field services by Governor Reynolds and House and Senate Republicans this spring.
    • Fix the problems and prevent future tragedies.
    • Examine Iowa’s homeschool loopholes that allow girls like Maylayia, Natalie, Sabrina, Justin and Crystal to be homeschooled without a single bit of accountability or oversight from adults. This isolates the victim and threatens our entire welfare system for children by removing an important safety net. That safety net is a school mandatory reporter and a hot lunch program for kids.

     

    Here are some numbers that show why the Iowa’s current system to prevent child abuse is stressed beyond its capacity:

    • 1,135 fewer people work for DHS today than when Governor Branstad\Reynolds assumed office in 2010.
    • Last year, 37,840 children and adults were assessed for abuse.
    • 36 percent of all assessments yielded a finding of abuse, indicating a need for child welfare case management.
    • Just 182 Iowa social workers do on-site assessments for abuse.
    • 56 Iowa counties have no assigned child investigators who actually live in that county.
    • As many as 20 to 70 cases are being assigned to single investigators. Some child protection workers work 60 hour weeks to handle their excessive caseloads.

     

    Those numbers tell the story of a system in crisis. Those numbers tell us there will be more tragedies if things don’t change.

    This spring, $8 million was cut from DHS field operations in legislation passed by Republicans and signed by the Governor. That legislation resulted in an additional $8 million cut in federal matching funds to DHS field services.

    According to DHS in memo released to me June 1, after review of available funds, it is estimated that field operations can afford an average of 64 fewer staff in FY18 than the level of staff employed on May 4, 2017. On May 4, field operations had 1,535 filled FTEs. The anticipated average level for FY18 is currently estimated at 1,471 FTEs.

    DHS will move approximately half of the overtime into salaries. DHS will allow attrition to reduce staffing. No Social Worker IIIs will be laid off. The memo does not address non- Social Worker IIIs and support staff that Social Worker IIIs rely on, including abuse hotline staff, clerical staff and more.

    During debate on the DHS budget, I asked Sen. Mark Costello, the floor manager, to explain how Iowa’s at-risk children would be impacted by this $16 million cut.

    He had no answer. Based on what I’ve learned from talking with DHS employees and reading the DHS budget, here are a few things that WILL happen:

    • Iowans who are worried a child may be in danger and who call the abuse hotline will wait longer to speak to someone.
    • The person they speak to will be under more pressure to end that call quickly in order to answer the next one.
    • In some cases, crucial information will fail to be communicated.
    • It will be less likely DHS will send a staffer out to contact that family.
    • If a staffer is sent out to investigate, that state worker’s time and attention will be stretched among an even heavier caseload.
    • It will be more likely that the overworked investigator will miss clues that indicate abuse is occurring.
    • If the investigator finds there is evidence of abuse, it will take longer for DHS to follow up.
    • If a child is adopted out of foster care, the number and thoroughness of DHS follow-up visits will be less than it is now.

     

    In short, the child protection system in our state is on track to becoming WORSE, not better. Children are falling through the cracks, and unfortunately, that euphemism means children are literally being killed by abuse, neglect and starvation.

    The social workers struggling to deal with this crisis are also victims. This system is desperately underfunded and in need of managers who will not allow the safety of Iowa children to be compromised.

    Yes, of course there should be an outside review of Iowa’s Department of Human Services, but we have seen this administration and its appointees make excuses for inexcusable results time and time again. That’s why there must also be in-depth, long-term and transparent legislative oversight as well.

    I want to work with my colleagues here today—Republicans, Democrats and Independents—to do whatever we must to reform and reinvest in Iowa’s child protection systems. It is our duty to help protect Iowa’s most vulnerable children.

  • Updates regarding efforts to protect children at risk of abuse

    This page will be continually updated with Iowa Senate Democratic information on protecting children at risk of abuse.

     

    July 6th:

    Democratic legislators offer next steps to improve child welfare

     

    June 5th meeting:

    Video of hearing: Part 1 (morning)  |  Part 2 (afternoon)

    Meeting agenda with speakers and topics to be covered

    Opening statement by State Senator Matt McCoy, ranking member on the Government Oversight Committee.

    Radio Iowa coverage of meeting: After two tragic teen deaths, legislators hold hearing on Iowa’s child welfare system

    Coalition for Responsible Home Education calls into question the only homeshcool expert witness to testify at the hearing: Iowa Legislature Hears from Homeschool Organization with a History of Opposing Child Welfare Measures

    Iowa DHS decides to to have Alabama organization review of their child welfare efforts after pressure from outraged Iowans over failure to protect children from abuse: DHS Engages National Expert for Child Welfare Review

     

    May 2017

    Three-point plan to end string of Iowa child deaths

    Senators respond to DHS Director Palmer retirement

    March 20th meeting: https://www.facebook.com/IowaSenateDemocrats/videos/10154381540801778/

    Senator McCoy and other legislators on efforts to investigate if the Iowa Department of Human Services is able to protect Iowa children at risk of abuse.

     

    March 13th meeting:

    Part 1: https://www.facebook.com/IowaSenateDemocrats/videos/10154364013276778/

    Part 2: https://www.facebook.com/IowaSenateDemocrats/videos/10154364075661778/

    Wendy Rickman, Division Administrator, Policy, Department of Human Services will answer questions from legislators. Wendy Rickman has been employed with DHS since 1987. Since beginning her employment with DHS, Wendy has served as an Abuse Assessor, ongoing Case Manager, Service Administrator for Scott County, and a Service Area Manager for the Davenport and the Des Moines Service Areas. Wendy is currently serving as the Division Administrator for the Division of Adult Children and Family Services.

     

    March 6th meeting: https://www.facebook.com/IowaSenateDemocrats/videos/10154341078836778/

    Iowa children are falling through the cracks and government policies may be part of the problem. Rachel Coleman, Executive Director of the Coalition For Responsible Home Education, is the speaker.

     

    February 27th meeting: https://www.facebook.com/IowaSenateDemocrats/videos/10154323020581778/

    Malayia Knapp, who was beaten, starved, and imprisoned by her adoptive parents, speaks to Senator Matt McCoy and Representative Abby Finkenauer, members of the Senate and House Oversight Committees, and other legislators. McCoy and Finkenauer are holding a series of meetings on what Iowa can do to help children who are falling through the cracks and the government policies that may be part of the problem.

     

  • Three-point plan to end string of Iowa child deaths

    A three-point reform plan to prevent another Iowa child from being injured or killed by abuse has been put forth by two members of the Iowa Senate Government Oversight Committee.

    “The state has failed at-risk children again and again,” said Senator Janet Petersen, a member of Oversight Committee.  “Iowans are demanding change, they are demanding results, and they do not want to see another child die due to the failures of the Branstad/Reynolds Administration.

    Petersen and Senator Matt McCoy, the ranking member of the Oversight Committee, released the following three-point plan to prevent another death like that of Sabrina Ray.  The Iowa teen had been adopted out of foster care and was being home-schooled when her body was found last Friday in a Perry home.

    • We call on Chuck Palmer, Director of the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS), to either resign or be fired by the Branstad/Reynolds Administration.
    • We call on Governor Branstad and Lt. Governor Reynolds to replace Director Palmer with a director experienced in, and deeply committed to, the protection of abused and at-risk children.
    • We call on Governor Branstad, Lt. Governor Reynolds and Legislative Republicans to fix the deadly mistakes they made this spring when they cut $24 million from the DHS budget, including $16 million cut to the field service workers who investigate and protect children at risk of abuse.

    Senator McCoy said he is committed to working on a bipartisan solution with Republican legislators.  A Oversight Committee meeting on this issue is planned for Monday, June 5th.

    “I am still extremely disappointed that Republican legislators refused to investigate these issues during the legislative session,” McCoy said. “If they had, I’m certain there would have been strong bipartisan support for increasing our investment in child protective services, rather than the cuts imposed by Republicans.”

    -end-

     

  • Workers deserve protections for on-the-job injuries

    Our state’s workers’ compensation system is the only recourse for Iowans injured on the job, but it may soon be turned upside down by a bill scheduled for debate today in the Iowa Senate.

    Iowa’s workers’ compensation has delicately balanced the interests of employers against the need to provide reasonable medical care and fair benefits for workers who suffer disabling on-the-job injuries.

    The system exists to protect those who are injured, become sick or lose their hearing because of the dangers of their employment. However, SF 435 makes sweeping changes that gut those protections, reduce an employer’s liability for workplace injuries, and encourage employers and insurance companies to avoid paying claims.

    This is another attempt by the Legislature to fix something that isn’t broken–and another act that cuts away workplace rights for hard-working Iowans. Our workers’ compensation system earns an “A” grade from the Insurance Journal, and the Iowa Economic Development Authority raves that our state is below average for workers’ compensation premiums.

    In addition, work injury claims are down in Iowa, dropping by 21 percent over the last eight years, according to the National Council on Compensation Insurance. The costs of workplace injury and illness are already borne primarily by injured workers, their families and taxpayers. The bulk of workers’ compensation dollars in Iowa goes to medical providers for care.

    Some of the worst measures in SF 435 include:

    • Discriminating against older workers. Iowa workers permanently and totally disabled by a work injury prior to age 67 lose their benefits at age 67; and those injured at age 67 or older are limited to 150 weeks of benefits. This leaves taxpayers to pick up the costs when these older workers become disabled simply because they need to work later in life to make ends meet.
    • Eliminating protections based on an employee’s loss of earning power if the employer returns the injured employee to work for a made up job, but then terminates them, leaving them with no compensation for lost earning ability due to injury.
    • Reducing protections for workers who suffer a shoulder injury, one of the most common work-related injuries that can easily end a career for a manufacturing, construction or meat-packing worker. A workers’ loss of earning capacity would no longer be taken into account when calculating benefits for severely limiting shoulder injuries.

    SF 435 is an overreach that does nothing to help workers or move Iowa’s economy forward. It’s phase two in the attack on the working Iowans whose labor is the very backbone of our economy.

    It’s unforgivable to do this to the workers who literally sacrifice their bodies to provide for their families and Iowa’s economy as a whole.

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

    March 6, 2017

    Senator Breitbach,

    As Ranking Member of the Senate Government Oversight Committee, I am formally requesting you to convene and hold a meeting to review the Iowa Department of Human Services report to determine “root causes” of physical and verbal abuse of residents of the Glenwood State Resource Center, which houses 230 people with severe intellectual disabilities.

    The report states that “Many of the administrative and supervisory staff interviewed were overwhelmed and felt they could not adequately supervise and complete all of their required workload.”

    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. Thirteen staff members were fired or quit over the allegations, and six face criminal charges.

    The 34-page report was written by the Joint Commission Resources consulting company, which the state hired to investigate what led to alleged physical and verbal abuse of the Glenwood institution’s residents by staff members. The Department says it spent up to $65,000 to commission the report because it wants to understand and fix problems at the facility.

    I believe it’s imperative that the Legislature review this report closely.  That is a large amount of money to pay for a report and recommendations.  We need to make that cost worthwhile by very seriously reviewing and making the necessary changes to keep residents safe.

    I am requesting that the Senate Government Oversight Committee meet next week to review this report.  I would ask that you invite the Department to testify to what recommendations they have already implemented, which would take more time or resources to implement and if any of the report recommendations are inconsistent with the Department’s future plans to increase oversight and support to the Glenwood campus.

    I look forward to hearing from you regarding this request.

    Sincerely,

    Senator Matt McCoy
    Ranking Member, Senate Government Oversight Committee

     

    PDF: McCoy letter to Government Oversight Chair requesting meeting on Glenwood report

    Des Moines Register news story on Glenwood report

    Report on Glenwood Resource Center, which failed to properly train and manage staff, paving way to abuse allegations.

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

    Iowa Senate News Release
    For Immediate Release: February 27, 2017

    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.

    These cases are among those raising concerns of systematic failures in the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) and shortcomings in Iowa law. In response, Senator Matt McCoy of Des Moines, Ranking Member of Senate Government Oversight Committee, and Representative Abby Finkenauer, Ranking Member of House Government Oversight Committee, will convene a joint meeting on these issues at 10 AM on Monday, February 27, in Room 116 of the Iowa State Capitol.

    “As a state, Iowa failed to protect Natalie and Malayia,” said McCoy.  “Is DHS doing enough for children at risk of abuse?  Iowa no longer requires homeschooled children to have any contact with schools or public agencies.  Did that change in Iowa law contribute to these tragedies?  We need to find out the facts and take action better protect the children of our state.”

     

    Video

    Malayia Knapp, who was beaten, starved, and imprisoned by her adoptive parents, speaks to Senator Matt McCoy and Representative Abby Finkenauer, members of the Senate and House Oversight Committees, and other legislators. McCoy and Finkenauer are holding a series of meetings on what Iowa can do to help children who are falling through the cracks and the government policies that may be part of the problem.

    https://www.facebook.com/IowaSenateDemocrats/videos/10154323020581778/

     

    Senator Matt McCoy’s prepared remarks

    Too many Iowa children are falling through the cracks.  The state system to protect them that has been pushed beyond its capacity.

    I had two high profile and heart-breaking examples in my senate district.

    Malayia Knapp’s alarming abuse was recorded in police reports and confirmed in a child abuse investigation.  Her mother was later convicted of assault.

    When Malayia Knapp told me her story– shortly after the starvation death of Natalie Finn.—I was appalled and outraged.  That outrage was outraged to hear her story

    Today, I have questions and concerns about whether state child-welfare officials are taking the right steps to safeguard children when possible abuse has been reported.

    I have questions and concerns about the vetting of potential parents before children are adopted out of foster care.

    I have questions and concerns of the Iowa Department of Human Services and its child-protective workers and how they handle, respect and respond to abuse reports from mandatory reporters.

    I asked Senator Breitbach, the Chair of the Senate Government Oversight Committee, to convene and hold hearings and an investigation into the abuse of Malayia Knapp, the death of Natalie Finn, and the Iowa Department of Human Services’ abuse investigation and parental termination policies procedures.

    Unfortunately, Senator Breitbach would not agree to look into these very troubling incidents.

    As parents, legislators and as members of the Government Oversight Committee, it is our job and our duty to identify problems within the system so failures like those that prolonged the abuse of Malayia and Natalie never happen again.

    We must analyze the current policies and procedures and make necessary changes.  We must evaluate how the loss of more than 800 DHS workers during the Branstad/Reynolds administration has affected the safety of Iowa children who most need our protection. *

    In both of these cases, these young girls were removed from public schools and put into home schooling options.  In 2013, Iowa’s Legislature established a new, completely unregulated form of home schooling.

    I know parents who homeschool because their kids need more challenges than their local school provide.

    I know parents that homeschool because their kids need more assistance than they feel their local school can give.

    I know parents who love their public schools, but homeschool for personal and religious reasons.

    I support all of those choices because I know their kids… and they are thriving in a home school.  It’s obviously works for them and that’s great.

    However, this new homeschool option went far beyond anything Iowa or other states had done.

    It allowed parents or guardians to remove their child from public school and break all contact with that school.  If a family moved to a new area, or never enrolled their child in school to begin with, a school district would have no idea that student even existed.

    There are no check-ins, regulation, oversight, or progress reports to school districts or the Iowa Department of Education.

    Look, I know most Iowans believe that every child deserves to be safe and to receive a quality education.

    Minimal levels of oversight are a reasonable expectation.  It is what most Iowans already-and incorrectly—believe is already the case.

    To make sure all children are protected, I introduced SF 138.  It requires the parent, guardian, or legal custodian who places a child in private instruction to submit the same report to their local school district that is required for child in private schools.  It also requires school districts to conduct quarterly health and safety home visits.  Some parents who homeschool have already requested an amendment to eliminate the home visit portion of the bill.  Instead, the child would go to the school for a quarterly check-in with a teacher/counselor. Parents told me this would be less intrusive and preferred.

    These are complex issues and I want to hear from everyone and especially those on the front lines of child protection in our state.

    We will start our work today by hearing from Malayia.  She will tell us how she escaped abuse and about her lingering fear for her siblings.

    On March 13, we’ll hear from DHS on how the system works, how it is funded and how workers are trained.  We will consider the caseloads workers have and how that load has increased in recent years.

    We’ll also hear from DHS regarding the criteria for special needs adoptions and how families are recruited and screened to be foster or adoptive parents.

    Iowans need to know what problems are happening within DHS and other agencies; how the elimination of reporting for homeschooling has ended welfare checks, making future case of cases like the Knapps and Finns

    Most importantly, legislators need to shed light on these problems and demand solutions.

    I want to applaud Malayia for her bravery in being here today.  She is standing up for herself, for her siblings, and for every child children in Iowa’s child welfare system.

    *Reference Notes:

    Branstad has eliminated at least 2,094 full-time positions in state government, according to a Des Moines Register analysis of data from the Iowa Department of Administrative Services.  Most of those job cuts — nearly 11 percent of the state government executive branch workforce, minus universities, occurred in four departments: human services (839); transportation (232); workforce development (244); and corrections (262), the Register found. Des Moines Register; 2/20/2017

  • Retired child abuse investigator says DHS cuts would endanger children and vulnerable adults

    Iowa Senate News Release
    For Immediate Release: January 25, 2017

     

    Bill Dickey, retired DHS investigator; Senator Amanda Ragan of Mason City; Sue Vogel, recent retiree from Independence Mental Health Institution; and, Kathy Butler, recent retiree from Woodward Resource Center.

    Statement by Senator Amanda Ragan of Mason City

    “Iowans across the state are worried that Republican budget cuts will endanger vulnerable Iowans, children and dependent adults.

    “Cutting the number of people looking out for children at risk is a mistake. We should not cut services to our most vulnerable Iowans.”

     

    Statement by Bill Dickey, retired DHS investigator

    I’m here to oppose mid-year cuts to Iowa’s human services budget, cuts that will be permanent. Those cuts would endanger children and adults who need our help. I say this based on my experience working for the Iowa Department of Human Services for 34 years. As a social worker at DHS, I was a caseworker, a supervisor of caseworkers, and finally as an investigator on cases involving children and adults, until I retired in 2014.

    The job of a caseworker is to protect people who are at risk of being harmed or abused. The most important thing a caseworker has to offer is their time and attention. That’s why the number of people each caseworker is assigned is so important. The number of cases a worker can handle depends on many factors, including the community, the type of case and other services available.

    The basic job, however, is the same everywhere: When you are the caseworker for a foster child, like I was, your job is to be that child’s advocate. That child needs someone dedicated to keeping them safe and able to thrive. That someone is the caseworker and sometimes it’s the child’s only resource.

    My ability to do right by the children I was responsible for depended, in part, on how many cases I had. When I started for the State of Iowa, my caseload was 15 to 20. After 15 years, the average caseload had grown to more like 35.  Remember, this was for both beginners and experienced caseworkers alike.

    Then two things happened. One, we had several tragic cases that got a lot of media attention, such as the Shelby Duis case. The other was the election of Governor Vilsack. Governor Vilsack took an interest and provided the money; caseloads declined. This allowed for caseworkers like me to spend more time and attention on each case we were given and do what was best for the child.

    And that’s really the most important thing we had to offer at-risk children, our time and our attention. When Governor Branstad returned to office, caseloads increased, which benefited no one.

    I finished my career working as an investigator. During that time, I looked into some very, very sad and tragic cases. Sometimes I saw situations where things could have gone differently. A little more time could have made the outcome easier on the child or senior I was assisting. The toughest cases are complex and difficult and the solutions are never easy. If you’ve got 30 or 35 or even 40 cases, that’s just asking for trouble.

    That’s why I’m opposed to these permanent human services budget cuts. They will put children and adults who need our help in danger.

    I’m telling legislators today: “Don’t do it. Don’t hurt these children and adults who need our help the most.”

    end

     

     

     

  • Democratic Leader: Contact Republican Senators about budget cuts

    Senate Democratic Leader Rob Hogg is urging Iowans to contact Republican Senators this week about their proposals for major mid-year budget cuts and the defunding of Planned Parenthood.

    Their mid-year budget cuts would take away critical funding for education, public safety, and our courts. If enacted it would be a cut of over $26 million from education, with $18 million from our public universities alone. The justice system would face a mid-year budget cut of more than $10 million, undermining the state’s ability to keep our communities as safe as possible.

    In addition to drastic budget cuts, the Senate Republicans want to end federal funding for Planned Parenthood, making it difficult for thousands of Iowa women to get the preventative health care they need.

    Below are the names of Republican Senators to contact. Those on the Judiciary and Appropriations committees are noted, because those committees will initially determine the future of these proposals.

    You can reach them by calling the Senate switchboard at 515-281-3371. If you’re unable to reach them, please leave a message.

    Senator Bill Anderson
    Senator Jerry Behn
    Senator Rick Bertrand (Appropriations)
    Senator Michael Breitbach
    Senator Waylon Brown
    Senator Jake Chapman
    Senator Mark Chelgren (Appropriations)
    Senator Mark Costello (Appropriations)
    Senator Dan Dawson (Vice Chair of Judiciary)
    Senator Bill Dix (Republican Leader)
    Senator Jeff Edler (Judiciary)
    Senator Randy Feenstra
    Senator Julian B. Garrett (Appropriations and Judiciary)
    Senator Thomas A. Greene (Appropriations)
    Senator Dennis Guth (Appropriations)
    Senator Craig Johnson (Appropriations)
    Senator Tim Kapucian
    Senator Tim Kraayenbrink (Vice Chair of Appropriations)
    Senator Mark S. Lofgren (Appropriations)
    Senator Ken Rozenboom (Appropriations)
    Senator Charles Schneider (Chair of Appropriations, Member of Judiciary)
    Senator Jason Schultz (Judiciary)
    Senator Mark Segebart
    Senator Tom Shipley (Appropriations and Judiciary)
    Senator Amy Sinclair (Judiciary)
    Senator Roby Smith
    Senator Jack Whitver
    Senator Brad Zaun (Chair of Judiciary)
    Senator Dan Zumbach (Appropriations)

  • Sharp cuts by legislative Republicans threaten public safety, education and human services 

    ­

    Legislative Democrats alarmed by potential impact of deep, mid-year budget cuts

    DES MOINES – Democratic leaders of the Iowa House and Senate raised concerns about the impact of deep, mid-year budget cuts proposed today by legislative Republicans.

    State Sen. Joe Bolkcom, ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, stated:

    “The deep, mid-year budget cuts endorsed today by Republican legislators are mean-spirited and will harm Iowa college students, working families and seniors. The last thing we should do is cut services that Iowans depend on, including higher education, job training, public safety and human services.

    “Second, this unnecessary budget mess could have been avoided if Governor Branstad, Lt. Governor Reynolds and legislative Republicans had focused more time and energy over the past six years on strengthening our schools,  building the skilled workforce that Iowa employers need and improving quality of life for all Iowans. We need to make the economy work for Iowa families, especially in our small towns and rural areas.

    “The Republican proposal unveiled today sends the wrong message about the future of our state. The budget slashing by Governor Branstad, Lt. Governor Reynolds and Republican legislators leaves the fastest growing part of the state budget off the table: excessive tax credits. It is time to drain the swamp.”

    State Rep. Chris Hall of Sioux City, ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, stated:

    “The Iowa GOP has lost all credibility on budgeting. After giving away the state’s budget surplus, policies enacted by the Branstad-Reynolds Administration have slowed the state’s economy and left the budget in the red.

    “Republicans’ failed fiscal policies aren’t working for Iowa families or growing the state’s economy. Tax breaks for corporations now top $500 million annually. Iowa would not be making cuts if the GOP had used better judgment in managing the state budget. The unfortunate result is Iowa students and working families are being forced to pay for failed Republican policies again.”

    Mid-year Budget Cuts Spreadsheet