Iowa Senate Democrats

Fighting for a Better Deal for Iowans.

  • Continuing the fight for equality

    On August 26, we celebrated Women’s Equality Day, which commemorates the ratification of the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote.

    “It is a time to celebrate women leaders who have gone before us, paving the way toward increased opportunity for women,” writes Wendy Musgrave, a member of the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women. “However, true equality is not achieved until it is made real for women in all sectors and industries, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, age, ability or socioeconomic status.”

    One way we can continue the push for equality is through equal pay.

    In 2009, the Iowa Legislature approved a Pay Equity Act, outlawing wage discrimination. It is illegal for an employer to pay some workers less than others for jobs requiring equal skill, effort and responsibility.

    Nonetheless, wage inequality persists. In fact, the gap for Iowa is even higher than it is for the nation as a whole when it comes to equal pay between men and women. On average, a woman working full time in Iowa earns 79 cents for every dollar a man makes.

    It’s even worse for women of color: African-American women in Iowa earn 59 cents for every dollar a white man makes; and Iowa’s Latina women make 58 cents for every dollar a white man makes.

    These wage disparities are enormous over the course of a 40-year career. Women overall lose more than $400,000 as a result of the wage gap, and women of color lose about $870,000.

    Why should one person be awarded more purchasing power and a better standard of living for the same work? We all deserve to know our work is valued, to support our families and to get ahead.

    Equal pay for equal work is simply the right thing to do. We must close loopholes that allow wage discrimination to continue. That includes allowing employees to discuss what they make with coworkers, without fear of retaliation from their employers; and narrowing the reasons an employer may pay workers different amounts.

    2019 Equal Pay Days

    Equal Pay Day is the date American women earn as much as men did the previous year. Here’s how much women earn per every dollar a man makes and how much longer it takes them to earn what a man does in one year:

  • Statement: Republican politicians have done harm to all Iowa workers

    Statement by Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen on Iowa Supreme Court decisions

    “By taking away the rights of teachers, firefighters, nurses, correctional officers and other public servants, Republican politicians have done harm to all Iowa workers. Working Iowa men and women are the real victims of the assault by the Branstad/Reynolds Administration and Republican-controlled Legislature.

    “Chief Justice Cady got it right when he said the law stripping workers of their rights ‘offends our constitution.’

    “Senate Democrats continue to believe that all Iowa workers deserve respect, dignity and the right to bargain for health and safety protections. We will always stand side by side with ISEA, AFSCME and other unions who continue to stand up for the rights of public employees across the state.”

    END

  • What Iowans are saying

    Iowans want decent-paying jobs, affordable health care and the chance to lead a good life. In recent years, however, we’ve seen stagnant wages, rising health care costs and more Iowans living paycheck to paycheck. Iowans deserve better.

    In a survey earlier this session, Senate Democrats asked what you think can best help everyday Iowans. The table below summarizes your top responses.

    Many Iowans also shared their thoughts on how we can move Iowa forward. Here’s a sample of what you had to say:

    • Jobs – “Iowans I know are working two or more jobs without healthcare benefits to stay afloat. They live paycheck to paycheck with no financial reserves for something as basic as a car repair or an unexpected illness. Thousands of Iowans are barely surviving financially rather than living this wonderful middle class life we keep hearing about. This is true throughout the state and is deeply felt in rural Iowa.” –Mary from Ottumwa
    • Worker training – “Keep improving our community colleges, to expand the trade programs. Our state needs trained workers to fill jobs that are screaming for applicants.” –Ron from Eldridge
    • Rural Iowa – “We need to have more industry of all kinds and technology jobs in rural areas to improve economies of small towns so that people are not moving away to cities and out of state.” -Linda from Spencer
    • Health care – “I hear on a regular basis how parents have had to quit jobs to take care of disabled children. Patients are having to forgo medication because insurance won’t pay for it even if they have tried other medications or been on the medications for years.” –Melissa from Coralville
    • Education – “I’m a parent with a child in kindergarten and I substitute for the same school district, and from both sides, I can see the need to give more funds in education. Our children are the future, we should be giving them the best education we can and paying teacher’s a better wage too for all they deal with.” –Lisa from Clinton

    Thank you to all who offered their input. I am committed to Putting Iowans First by focusing on our shared values of fairness, compassion, dignity, equality and liberty.

    Please continue giving your feedback to ensure we do all we can to help you, your family and your community. Working together, we can get Iowa back on the right track.

  • Senate Dem Leader on Governor’s Condition of the State address

    Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen shares her reaction to the Governor’s Condition of the State address with Sabrina Ahmed of WOI-TV News 5.

    Iowa Senate News Release
    For immediate release: January 15, 2019

     

    Statement from Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen on Condition of the State address

    “We are concerned that for the past two years, the Governor and legislative Republicans have pushed everyday Iowans – students, seniors, workers and women – to the back of the line. At the same time, Republicans allowed millionaires, big corporations and out-of-state MCOs to cut to the front of the line.

    “We agree with the Governor when she says it’s time for her and others to deliver on their promises to fully fund mental health, rural revitalization and job training initiatives.

    “When we can work with Republicans, we will. Our goal this session is to keep focused on improving the lives of everyday Iowans.  Our message to Iowans is this: ‘We work for you!’”

    – end –

  • Iowa workers vote for strong unions

    IA SEN NEWS
    Oct. 29, 2018

    Statement by Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen

    “The results of the recertification elections today are a huge victory for working families across Iowa.

    “With the deck stacked against them by the Governor and Republican-controlled Legislature, Iowa workers voted overwhelmingly in favor of being represented by strong unions.

    “Our friends and neighbors across the state who work every day to teach our kids, keep our families and communities safe, and protect the most vulnerable Iowans need to have a voice in the workplace. Iowans depend on their voices being heard.

    “Congratulations to Iowa’s public workers and their unions for this huge victory today.”

     

    –end–

  • Privatizing IPERS: An Analysis of SF 45 (Updated 10/26/18)

    SENATE FILE 45 was introduced by Senator Brad Zaun (R) on the first day of the 2017 legislative session.  (PDF of this document)

    Senator Zaun is the Chair of the Judiciary Committee, Vice Chair of the Labor and Business Relations Committee, and a member of the State Government and Commerce Committees

    The bill mandates employees newly hired on or after July 1, 2019, who would otherwise be members of the public safety peace officers’ retirement (PORS), accident/disability system, the Iowa public employees’ retirement system (IPERS), the statewide fire and police retirement system (411), or the judicial retirement system, SHALL NOT become members of their respective retirement systems.  These are all state defined benefit pension plans.

    Instead, Senator Zaun’s bill directs each retirement system to develop an alternative defined contribution plan for employees newly hired on or after July 1, 2019. This would repeal the current pension systems in Iowa and replace them with a private market/401(k) type plan.

    The bill directs each retirement system to submit a plan to create an alternative defined contribution plan to the public retirement systems committee by October 1, 2018.

    This is a bad bill – built on a bad idea.

    While Senate File 45 would get rid of all public defined benefit pensions,  this year most discussion is on the IPERS pension system.

    IPERS is 82.4 percent funded, which rating agencies say is like being an “A” student.  While some public worker pension systems in other states are in bad shape, Iowa’s system was ranked as the 10th best-positioned pension system in the country.  Iowa also has the 4th lowest debt, including pension liability, in the country.

    • One in 10 Iowans is a member of IPERS.  Most of IPERS members are teachers and school staff, followed by law enforcement, social workers, prison staff, transportation workers, and other public employees.
    • The average IPERS retiree leaves public employment after 22 years of service.
    • The average IPERS retiree receives an annual benefit of $16,000. Benefits are calculated based on a formula of years of service and highest average salary, with a maximum benefit of 65 percent for 35 years or more of service.  No one makes more in IPERS retirement than they did while they were working.
    • This benefit is secure and paid for a lifetime, but does not include a cost-of-living adjustment.  Every year spent in retirement means the IPERS monthly benefit has less buying power. That’s why IPERS is only one part of retirement planning and is designed to be combined with Social Security and other personal savings and investments.

     

    October 2018 Update

    While SENATE FILE 45 did not advance in the 2017 – 2018 session, leading Iowa Republicans continue to back the ideas contained in the bill.

    On April 24 of 2017, shortly after the 2017 session adjourned, Governor Reynolds told reporters that her priorities for the next session included “Water quality, tax reform and a study of the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System,” according to reports in the Cedar Rapids Gazette and the Quad City Times.

    On August 28 of 2017, then Senator, now Senate President ,Charles Schneider (R) invited the Los Angeles-based Reason Foundation to give a presentation to members of the IPERS Benefits Advisory Committee.  The Reason Foundation is an advocate for private market/401(k) type retirement plans.   The IPERS response to the Reason Foundation’s presentation can be found here: https://www.ipers.org/newsroom/2017/reason-foundation-presentation-bac

    On December 18 of 2017, the Legislature’s Public Retirement Systems Committee met for a contentious meeting, headlined by one newspaper as: “Iowa lawmakers grill IPERS officials about public pension funding.”  The committee adjourned without making recommendations for legislation in 2018.

    On June 22 of 2018, Governor Kim Reynolds was interviewed on Iowa Press (http://www.iptv.org/iowapress/story/30878/governor-kim-reynolds).  The Governor repeatedly talked of making changes to IPERS while “maintaining the commitments that have been made.”  IPERS managers have consistently warned that changing to a 401(k) plan for new members would threaten benefits to current members.

    On October 23 of 2018, individual editorials from Governor Reynolds and Iowa House Republican Speaker Linda Upmeyer appeared in major papers.  Both claimed there are no plans to change IPERS.

    On October 25 of 2018, House Democratic Leader Mark Smith revealed that Speaker Upmeyer had previously voted for “a 401(k)-style plan that would divert money from IPERS.” (HSB 512, House State Government Committee Vote, March 2, 2006)

     – END –

     

     

     

    Produced by the Iowa Senate Democratic Research Staff: 515-281-5804

  • Statement on latest revenue estimates

    IA SEN NEWS
    Oct. 16, 2018

    Statement from Sen. Joe Bolkcom, Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee

    “The fiscal mismanagement by Governor Reynolds and legislative Republicans is like a slow train wreck for everyday Iowans.

    “Their smoke-and-mirrors shell game won’t erase the fact that the Governor and Republican-controlled Legislature have made job training and higher education unaffordable for thousands of Iowans, reduced protections for seniors and other vulnerable Iowans, and made health care less accessible for thousands of Iowans over the past two years.

    “It’s no wonder that Iowans are clamoring for new leadership that will put their needs ahead of the self-interest of Wall Street corporations, special interests and millionaires. It’s time to put Iowans first again.”

    — end  —

  • Two new laws will help protect your credit

    1. Credit reporting agencies cannot charge fees when you freeze checks on your credit reports 

    In the Equifax security breach last year, hackers stole Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses and other personal information from 1.1 million Iowans.

    Wary of identity theft, many consumers requested a freeze on their credit reports. They then learned that they had to pay a fee to get the freeze and pay again if they wanted to lift the freeze. Iowans have been paying some of the highest freeze-related fees in the nation, according to the state Attorney General.

    This year, we banned Equifax, Experian, TransUnion and other credit reporting agencies from charging fees when Iowans freeze checks on their credit reports (SF 2177). Freezing prevents anyone, including an identity thief, from opening a new line of credit in your name. If you need to apply for a credit card, loan or job that requires a background check, you can have the freeze lifted, even temporarily.

     

    2. Tougher penalties for criminals who use technology to steal your credit card

    We’re also cracking down on illegally using technology to steal payment card information (HF 2199).

    Criminals can access your credit and debit cards remotely through your clothes, wallet or purse, or place nearly undetectable “skimming devices” on gas pumps and other card readers that steal your information. Your card information can even be transferred to another card for the thieves to use later.

    It is now a Class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison to use a scanning device to take payment card information without authorization, or to use an encoding machine to transfer information from one card to another. In addition, it will be an aggravated misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in prison to possess a scanning device intended to obtain payment card information without authorization.

     

    Find helpful tips to avoid credit card fraud and identity theft on the Iowa Attorney General’s website. 

  • Proposal to close UI Labor Center is “latest gut punch” to Iowa workers

    Iowa Senate News Release
    For Immediate Release:  July 10, 2018  

     

    Senator Joe Bolkcom statement on University of Iowa’s announcement of center closures and furloughs

    “I am disappointed in the news about the center closures and furloughs.

    “I am deeply disappointed at the proposed closure the UI Labor Center. This proposal is the latest gut punch to Iowa workers and their families. This is a terrible time to even consider closing the UI Labor Center.

    “Since 1950, the Labor Center has helped make Iowa a better place to live and do business. It has helped workers and Iowa employers meet the changing workforce needs of the state. As an interdisciplinary educational and research center, it has helped educate students and advance the public’s understanding of work during a time of rapid change.

    “It has also has leveraged its state appropriation in securing competitive federal grants for the university.

    “While there is no doubt that the University of Iowa is under financial pressure because of the bad budget priorities of Governor Reynolds and the Republican Legislature, I hope that President Harreld will change his mind and reconsider this ill-advised decision that would only worsen Iowa’s efforts to build a strong, modern economy that rewards hard work.”

    -end-

     

     

  • Dem Leaders: Labor Center will close because of misplaced GOP priorities

    Iowa Legislative News Release
    For Immediate Release: July 10, 2018   

    Statement from Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen and House Democratic Leader Mark Smith
    on plans to close Labor Center and other centers at University of Iowa because of GOP budget cuts and priorities

    “This afternoon, we sent separate letters to (a) Governor Reynolds, Leader Whitver and Speaker Upmeyer and (b) University of Iowa President Harreld and Board of Regent President Richards to object to plans to close the Labor Center and other centers at the University of Iowa.

    “We encouraged Republican leaders to contact University officials and the Board of Regents to encourage them to reverse course.

    “Our letter stated: ‘This is not the first negative consequence of your fiscal mismanagement and Iowans know it won’t be the last. The budgets you have approved for our three universities have already raised tuition on working families and this decision to close the Labor Center is another attack on Iowa workers.’

    “We added: ‘At a time when Iowa’s income growth and job creation efforts have failed to meet expectations, the Labor Center has the potential to provide policymakers with timely information about today’s rapidly changing economic and legal environment, about how best to create and preserve quality jobs, and about how to strengthen workers’ rights.’

    -end-