Iowa’s Democratic lawmakers have released a plan to address the needs of Iowa families and business during the reconvened 2020 session, starting June 3. The goal is to keep lawmakers focused on addressing problems related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The number of COVID-19 cases is still increasing, and nationally ranked hotspots are popping up all over the state. Yet, the Governor and Republican legislators continue to deliver narratives that are heavy on spin and light on facts and data.
We hope the focus of the reconvened Legislature will be to complete a balanced state budget and provide necessary oversight of the Executive Branch’s actions during this pandemic.
Democratic leaders in the House and Senate have submitted recommendations for how to safely re-open the Capitol when the Legislature resumes the 2020 session.
Iowa is experiencing staggering daily infections, record-high deaths, and it has yet to hit its peak. This is not the time to try to make people happy by randomly reopening segments of the economy like crowded farmers markets.
Iowans want to be part of the solution. That requires more Iowans knowing what is going on. We deserve straightforward leadership that includes timely, accurate data, and clear directions.
We’ve proposed legislation to address Iowa’s growing maternal health crisis. Our maternal mortality rate has more than doubled in the past three years, hospital labor and delivery departments are shuttering at record speed, and 66 Iowa counties have no practicing OB/GYN. MORE
On Feb. 13, Iowa Senate Republicans approved legislation to take away rights currently in the Iowa Constitution. Sen. Janet Petersen called it a failure to protect moms and babies, especially in light of the many maternity ward closings.
In 2020, legislators can work together to “build healthier, happier, safer and stronger Iowa neighborhood for our parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren and our friends.”