Iowa Senate Democrats

Fighting for a Better Deal for Iowans.

  • Iowa Senators stand up for Iowa farmers and Iowa’s economy 

    Iowa State Senator Rita Hart of Clinton asks members of the Senate to sign a letter to President Trump, asking him to protect Iowa farmers, businesses and communities as he makes trade policy changes. Iowa State Senator Rita Hart of Clinton asks members of the Senate to sign a letter to President Trump, asking him to protect Iowa farmers, businesses and communities as he makes trade policy changes.  Video of Senator Hart’s Statement to the Senate: https://youtu.be/6ZEUOGoKfnM

    IOWA SENATE NEWS
    For Immediate Release: April 12, 2018

    Iowa Senators stand up for Iowa farmers and Iowa’s economy

    “…proposed tariffs will have a negative impact on Iowa’s agricultural economy…”

    DES MOINES – Twenty-one Iowa State Senators are asking President Donald Trump to protect Iowa farmers, businesses and communities as he makes trade policy changes.

    The letter urges the President “to reconsider the economic costs and benefits of your plan to impose new tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. It’s clear to most observers that the inevitable retaliation to proposed tariffs will have a negative impact on Iowa’s agricultural economy by causing other countries to levy burdensome tariffs against Iowa farm products.”

    Senator Rita Hart of rural Wheatland wrote the letter and invited all Senators to sign it.

    “My husband and I farm near Wheatland.  We know firsthand that mistakes in trade policy can have severe consequences on Iowa farmers, small businesses and rural communities,” said Hart, the former chair of the Senate Economic Growth Committee.

    The letter noted that “Iowa is the second largest agricultural export state, shipping $14 billion of products abroad last year.”  It also drew attention to the fact that proposed U.S. tariffs increasing the cost of imported steel would also hurt Iowa manufacturers.  The letter specially mentions Sukup Manufacturing in Sheffield, Iowa.  The plant there has 600 Iowa employees and uses 1 million pounds of steel each week to make grain bins and dryers.

    The letter was signed by every Democratic member of the Senate and by Independent Senator David Johnson.

     

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    FULL TEXT OF LETTER:

    April 12, 2018

    Dear President Trump:

    Iowa’s prized humanitarian Norman Borlaug said: “Civilization as it is known today could not have evolved, nor can it survive, without an adequate food supply.”

    Iowa has a rich history of feeding the world and we need to continue to feed the world without barriers. Iowa is the leading national producer of corn, soybeans, hogs, cattle, and eggs. Iowa is the second largest agricultural export state, shipping $14 billion of products abroad last year. And it’s important to note that 31 percent of farm income comes directly from exports.

    For those reasons, we urge you to reconsider the economic costs and benefits of your plan to impose new tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. It’s clear to most observers that the inevitable retaliation to proposed tariffs will have a negative impact on Iowa’s agricultural economy by causing other countries to levy burdensome tariffs against Iowa farm products.

    Iowa farmers have already faced several years of low commodity prices.

    Any reduction in demand would be devastating, making a bad situation worse.

    The potential beef tariff threatens Iowa farmers, who have just gotten back into the Chinese market after a long absence. U.S. beef exports to China totaled more than 3,000 metric tons in the last half of 2017, valued at $31 million.

    It’s worth noting that Iowa leads the nation in ethanol production, which results in 42,000 Iowa jobs. In addition, China imports about 60 percent of global soybean trade.

    A trade war – even in the short term – creates the potential for a long-term loss of global market share because other countries will move quickly to fill the void if Iowa’s agriculture products become uncompetitive.

    Manufacturing is the second largest driver of Iowa’s economy. The state economy is heavily dependent on the 3,000-plus factories across the state, many of whom are dependent on the farm economy. For example, the 600 employees of Sukup Manufacturing make iconic grain bins and dryers in rural Sheffield, Iowa, using 1 million pounds of steel each week.

    We urge you, Mr. President, to reconsider this strategy because of the negative consequences on Iowans who farm, those who live in rural communities, and those whose livelihoods depend on products whose markets are threatened by a trade war with China.

    Sincerely,

    Senator Chaz Allen (D)
    Senator Tony Bisignano (D)
    Senator Joe Bolkcom (D)
    Senator Nate Boulton (D)
    Senator Tod R. Bowman (D)
    Senator Jeff Danielson (D)
    Senator William A. Dotzler Jr.  (D)
    Senator Robert E. Dvorsky (D)
    Senator Rita Hart (D)
    Senator Robert Hogg (D)
    Senator Wally E. Horn (D)
    Senator Pam Jochum (D)
    Senator David Johnson (I)
    Senator Kevin Kinney (D)
    Senator Jim Lykam (D)
    Senator Liz Mathis (D)
    Senator Matt McCoy (D)
    Senator Janet Petersen (D)
    Senator Herman C. Quirmbach (D)
    Senator Amanda Ragan (D)
    Senator Rich Taylor (D)

  • Lawmakers Unveil “Putting Iowans First” Plan

    IOWA LEGISLATURE NEWS
    Thursday, January 25, 2018

     

    Focus On Improving Lives for Everyday Iowans

    DES MOINES – Democratic lawmakers outlined their new plan today called Putting Iowans First.  The plan was developed by lawmakers to keep the 2018 session focused on improving the lives of everyday Iowans.

    “Iowans don’t ask for much. They just want a decent paying job and the chance to lead a happy, healthy life. But we know today that too many Iowans who are working hard are just struggling to get by. Stagnant wages, rising health care costs, and fewer dollars going to job training and public education are hurting Iowa families,” said House Democratic Leader Mark Smith.

    “Democrats believe it’s time to get back to the basics—to help improve Iowans’ everyday lives and give each of us opportunities to get ahead. Our Putting Iowans First plan focuses on better paying jobs, a great education, and affordable health care. Democrats believe that Iowa values include investing in Iowans. It’s a mistake to believe that the state can cut its way to prosperity,” said Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen.

    The Putting Iowans First plan has four parts:

    1. Better-Paying Jobs
    2. A Revitalization of Small Towns and Rural Areas
    3. The Best Education in the Country
    4. A Quality of Life that Makes Iowa the #1 Best Place to Live

    “It’s time to say goodbye to the back room deals and corporate tax giveaways. Our Putting Iowans First plan will bring the focus of our government back to improving the lives of everyday Iowans,” added Smith. “That means affordable job training and new recreational opportunities in rural areas. It means increasing the use of renewable fuels and investing in our public schools again to produce a highly skilled workforce. It also means expanding access to affordable health care.”

    The full plan can be found at http://iowansfirst.com.

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  • Perpetrators must pay for bad behavior – not Iowa taxpayers

    Iowa Senate News Release
    For Immediate Release: January 24, 2018

     

    DES MOINES — A group of Senators introduced legislation today to ensure that state employees – not all Iowa taxpayers – would be financially responsible for egregious and illegal workplace behavior.

    “Iowans are disgusted by the harassment, discrimination and retaliation against Kirsten Anderson and other legislative staff by some Republican Senators and staff members,” said Senator Tod Bowman of Maquoketa, the legislation’s main sponsor. “Most Iowans can’t believe they’re on the hook for $1.75 million because of the misconduct and mismanagement of some Republican Senators. Especially in a tight budget year, this money should be put towards our kids’ education, job training programs or mental health care. Taxpayers expect more from their leaders.”

    The legislation is proposed in the wake of a jury decision last year to award $2.25 million to former Senate Republican staffer Kirsten Anderson in a sexual harassment lawsuit she brought against Iowa Senate Republicans. Anderson was fired in May 2013, just seven hours after filing a complaint alleging a sexually hostile work environment. Subsequently, Anderson agreed to a reduced award of $1.75 million to avoid a lengthy appeal process.

    Under current law, Iowa taxpayers must pay for such awards, and there’s no recourse for state officials to recoup that money from offending state employees.

    The legislation introduced today – which is sponsored by all 20 Democratic State Senators and independent Senator David Johnson – would allow the plaintiff to receive an award from the state but would require the Iowa Attorney General to recover the amount of the award from offending state employees.

    The legislation applies to state employment cases, which includes hostile work environment cases involving sexual harassment, race, religion, age or disability.

    “This proposed legislation is part of the national conversation about preventing sexual harassment in the workplace,” Bowman said. “We must send a message to legislators and other state employees who harass their co-workers or subordinates that their conduct will not be tolerated and that they will be held responsible for their illegal behavior.”

    “This legislation is another important step in our efforts to improve the workplace culture in the Iowa Senate and our commitment to making sure the Statehouse is a safe and healthy environment.”

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  • Senators introduce bill to end privatized Medicaid

    All 20 Democrats and the one Independent in the Iowa Senate have introduced SF 2058, a bill to end privatized Medicaid and put Iowans back in control of a state-run system that provides affordable health care to more than 560,000 citizens.

    Since April 2016, when Iowa Medicaid was turned over to out-of-state companies, constituents have complained about the obstacles they face getting care and services.

    Hospitals, nursing homes and other health care providers – especially in Iowa’s small towns and rural areas – agree that the privatized system is not working. They aren’t being properly reimbursed for the care they provide. They face red tape and bureaucratic nightmares. Many are in financial jeopardy, and some have even been forced to close their doors.

    The state keeps giving private, out-of-state companies more of your tax dollars to run Medicaid. In fact, Governor Reynolds just agreed to give them another $130 million. Yet things continue to get worse.

    This is not how health care for sick, injured and disabled Iowans is supposed to work. Privatized Medicaid is not saving taxpayer dollars. Iowans are not getting healthier. The entire system is in shambles.

    For the health and safety of our citizens, let’s put Iowans back in control of Medicaid.

  • Democrats call on Statehouse Republicans to ‘put Iowans back in control of Medicaid’

    Iowa Senate News Release
    For Immediate Release: December 15, 2017

     

    DES MOINES — Iowa’s Democratic state legislators are asking Governor Kim Reynolds and Republican lawmakers to work together during the 2018 session to end Iowa’s failed Medicaid privatization experiment.

    “We do our best work when we work in a bipartisan fashion” to expand access to affordable health care for many Iowans, Democratic legislators wrote in a letter emailed today to the Governor and every Republican lawmaker.

    “For the past 20 months, constituents of all ages have been bombarding Governor Reynolds and Republican and Democratic legislators with real problems caused by Medicaid privatization,” Democrats wrote. “There is clear evidence that Iowans have died as a result of life-sustaining services being cut off to extremely vulnerable individuals.”

    The letter also stresses the “financial jeopardy” that Medicaid privatization has imposed on hospitals, nursing homes and other Iowa health care providers, especially in Iowa’s small towns and rural areas.

    Democratic lawmakers noted that “privatization is not saving money for Iowa’s taxpayers, and it is not resulting in healthier Iowans. Under Medicaid privatization, the state of Iowa keeps giving the private, out-of-state companies more and more money, while giving Iowa taxpayers less and less.”

    Medicaid is a health care safety net that is administered by the states and funded through a federal-state partnership. Roughly 70 percent of Medicaid expenses are for the care of our very poor elderly and severely disabled Iowans. In 2015, the Branstad/Reynolds Administration announced that the state employees running the program would be replaced by for-profit Medicaid managers.

    Despite widespread opposition and repeated delays, large, out-of-state companies took over care of the majority of Iowans receiving Medicaid services on April 1, 2016. As of today, three of the four companies initially hired to manage the program have abandoned the project. When AmeriHealth Caritas quit the state last month, the health care of 215,000 Iowans was disrupted.

    Governor Reynolds has promised that more managed care organizations are being recruited to replace those that left.

    In today’s letter, Democratic lawmakers propose a different approach: “When Connecticut realized its privatized Medicaid was not working, state leaders made the decision to go back to a publicly managed Medicaid system. Connecticut is now seeing much better results with their new model. They are saving money and improving care.”

    The letter concludes with this plea:

    “More than ever before, we all know that privatized Medicaid is not working for Iowa. For the health and safety of so many, will you work with us to put Iowans back in control of Medicaid? We can and should do better for Iowans. Watching our health care system collapse is not an option.”

     

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  • Hart invites public to share ideas for Iowa jobs at town meetings

    Iowa Senate News Release
    For Immediate Release: October 10, 2017

     

    State Senator Rita Hart of Wheatland is organizing town hall meetings on jobs in November.  The events will begin at 7 PM and conclude at 8 PM.

    “Our part of Iowa has opportunities for real growth. We need to work together to promote small business development, entrepreneurship, and educational opportunities.  That’s how we will increase the number of higher wage jobs in our community,” said Hart, a farmer and former teacher.

    “One of the Legislature’s most important jobs is to invest in long-range economic development that ensures future growth and prosperity across all of Iowa,” said Hart, the former Chair of the Senate Economic Growth Committee. “At the meetings, I’ll be listening for ideas that will help create jobs and grow our local economy.”

    The State Senator encouraged people to bring their suggestions.

    “This is a discussion and I hope people will arrive with some suggestions,” said Hart. “The best ideas often appear when we get together and listen to each other.”

    Senator Hart will be holding multiple meetings about jobs and economic development throughout her Senate district. The dates and locations are:

    Date & Time Event Location
    NOV 1
    Wed 7 PM    		 DeWitt Town Meeting on Jobs Dewitt Community Center
    NOV 2
    Thu 7 PM    		 Lost Nation Town Meeting on Jobs Lost Nation Public Library
    NOV 6
    Mon 7 PM    		 Delmar Town Meeting on Jobs Delmar Depot Museum
    NOV 8
    Wed 7 PM    		 McCausland Town Meeting on Jobs McCausland Community Center
    NOV 14
    Tue 7 PM    		 Clinton Town Meeting on Jobs Clinton Public Library (Iowa)
    NOV 15
    Wed 7 PM    		 LeClaire Town Meeting on Jobs Leclaire Library

     

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  • Hart highlights bipartisan opportunities to reinvest in rural Iowa in letter to Governor

    Iowa Senate News Release
    For Immediate Release: Aug. 2, 2017

     

    State Senator Rita Hart of Wheatland highlighted several bipartisan ways to reinvest in rural Iowa and small towns in a letter to Governor Kim Reynolds on August 1. Hart, former chair of the Iowa Senate’s Economic Growth Committee, offered ways to revitalize rural Iowa and indicated her strong desire to focus on workforce training.

    “Extraordinary, bipartisan efforts need to be taken during the 2018 session to support efforts that will result in enough highly skilled workers in our small towns and rural communities to meet existing business demands throughout the state as well as create new business opportunity,” Hart wrote in her letter to Reynolds.

    Hart’s suggestions for reinvesting in rural Iowa and small towns include:

    • Ensuring safe, affordable housing for Iowa families.
    • Enhancing cultural and community attractions.
    • Access to reliable high-speed Internet.
    • Encouraging a regional approach to economic development that supports rural revitalization.

    Hart also expressed a willingness to work with Governor Reynolds on workforce training initiatives. She noted that in previous sessions, they had worked together to craft bipartisan solutions, such as keeping tuition affordable at Iowa’s universities and community colleges and funding an adult literacy program.

    “Like many Iowans, Senate Democrats remain concerned about funding cuts to Iowa universities and community colleges that were approved during the 2017 session,” Hart wrote. “Those cuts have a negative impact at a time when we need to invest more in Iowa’s current and future workforce training.”

     

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  • Senator Hart hosting Iowa Water Quality Summit in DeWitt

    Iowa Senate News Release

    Senator Hart hosting Iowa Water Quality Summit in DeWitt on Tuesday, August 1

    More information: www.senate.iowa.gov/democrats/event/iowa-water-quality-summit/ and www.facebook.com/events/734488126736114

    Senator Rita Hart of Wheatland is hosting a non-partisan summit to discuss improving water quality in Iowa.

    The event will be from 6 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, August 1, at Central DeWitt High School, 425 E. 11th Street, DeWitt. Doors will open at 5 p.m. and several organizations will have informational tables in the atrium.

    A number of local and statewide organizations will participate in the summit.

    “I invite the public to come and learn from the experts and begin to discuss the challenge of balancing the needs of the agricultural economy and wastewater management with the demand for clean water,” said Senator Hart.

     

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  • Tax break for farmers, small businesses, teachers & families

    Senate Democrats have introduced legislation to help Iowa taxpayers by “coupling” Iowa’s tax code with recent federal changes for 2016, the taxes Iowans must pay this April. Thousands of Iowans want to use these provisions, which have been available to them in previous years, to lower their state taxes.

    Senate File 428 will benefit nearly 24,000 farmers and small business owners by allowing them to take advantage of a provision called Section 179 expensing. Federal law allows these taxpayers to take a larger deduction on equipment they have purchased as an investment in their operations. If Iowa “couples” with the federal tax code, these folks also get to take a similar deduction on their state tax returns.

    The Republican chair of the Senate’s tax-writing committee says he does not intend to support the legislation this year, but I am not giving up. Thousands of Iowans want to use these provisions, which have been available to them in previous years, to lower their state taxes.

    Last year, tax coupling legislation helped:

    • More than 39,000 Iowa teachers who purchase supplies for their classrooms with their own money.
    • More than 43,000 Iowans who own their homes, by allowing them to deduct mortgage insurance premiums from their state taxes.
    • More than 18,000 Iowans who are going to college or getting training to improve their skills and better their lives.
    • More than 45,000 working Iowans who are married with three or more children, by expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit.

  • Pre-session listening tour: Mason City, Waterloo, Davenport, DeWitt, Ottumwa, Anamosa

    Legislative Democrats are holding six listening sessions to begin our 2017 outreach. We’ll be stopping Jan. 3-6 in Mason City, Waterloo, Davenport, DeWitt, Ottumwa and Anamosa. Throughout the year, we hope to meet with Iowans across our state.

    We want to hear local concerns and share a positive vision for good jobs with good benefits, good schools, better health, and real public safety.

    • Mason City, Tuesday, January 3, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., at the Mason City Public Library, 225 2nd Street SE.
    • Waterloo, Tuesday, January 3, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., at the Waterloo Public Library, 415 Commercial Street.
    • Davenport, Thursday, January 5, from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m., at the Village Inn, 1919 N. Harrison Street.
    • DeWitt, Thursday, January 5, from 11:00 a.m. to noon, at the Frances Banta Waggoner Library, 505 10th Street.
    • Ottumwa, Thursday, January 5, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., at the Hotel Ottumwa’s Iowa Room, 107 2nd Street E.
    • Anamosa, Friday, January 6, from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m., at Grounds & Goodies, 112 E. Main Street.

    Complete details are available for each event at www.senate.iowa.gov/democrats/events.