Consumer Protections

(VIDEO) Gronstal, Paulsen discuss the 2012 session on Iowa Press

May 14, 2012

Senator Mike Gronstal reviews the 2012 legislative session on an edition of Iowa Press along with Speaker of the House Kraig Paulsen.

Health and Human Services Budget shows Senate, House Differences

April 12, 2012

On April 12 the Senate passed the Health and Human Services budget which allows seniors to stay in their home and protects at-risk kids in Iowa.

(VIDEO) Improving care by certifying direct care workers

March 12, 2012

Floor manager Senator Pam Jochum gives opening and closing remarks on legislation to crfeate a certification system and professional career pathway for direct care workers with the goal of ensuring quality services and health care for our most vulnerable citizens.

(VIDEO) Iowa Senate votes to “Buy American”

Video of floor manager Senator Bill Dotzler of Waterloo giving opening and closing remarks as the Iowa Senate voted 37-13 on Monday, March 12, to make sure Iowa taxpayer dollars support job creation here at home.

Ensuring a patient’s wishes are respected

March 1, 2012

The Senate has voted to take a successful health care initiative statewide. The “Iowa Physician Order for Scope of Treatment” (IPOST) is a short document in which patients state their treatment preferences based on their medical condition in consultation with their provider and family. The effort has been used successfully in Linn and Jones counties [...]

Protect yourself when buying online

December 16, 2011

With the holidays upon us, it’s good to take extra precautions if you shop online. Here are a few tips to follow: Look for the “lock” icon on your browser’s status bar and be sure “https” appears in the website address before making an online purchase. Don’t use public computers for your online shopping. They could have malware that steals your credit card information when you place your order. Never e-mail credit card information, as there is potential for other people to access it.

Don’t get hooked by a phishing scam

November 2, 2011

Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller is reminding Iowans that crooks target us through our cell phones and computers. These gadgets are a regular part of our daily lives, providing convenience and entertainment, but they can also make us vulnerable if we don’t take precautions. Here are a few tips to protecting yourself from getting hooked by a telephone or e-mail scam.

Improving Iowa health and health care

October 29, 2011

This year, the Legislature approved several initiatives to improve the health and wellbeing of Iowans, including protecting seniors from abuse. Iowa is among the top states in the nation for the quality of care provided to its senior citizens, according to the AARP. We want to keep it that way. That’s why we re-established 10 long-term care inspectors, three inspectors for residential care facilities and an attorney with the Iowa Department of Inspections & Appeals. The AARP applauded our efforts to give Iowans improved oversight of quality standards in nursing homes. Unfortunately, the Branstad Administration has failed so far to hire the necessary inspectors, meaning there’s more work to be done on this issue.

Beware when buying flood-damaged vehicles

August 14, 2011

With all the flooding we’ve had here in Iowa this year, many used cars that you see up for sale could be flood-damaged. If you’re looking to buy a car, you’ll want to take precautions because a flood-damaged vehicle can present a safety hazard. Most used car dealers can be trusted to share information about a car’s history, but not every dealer will give you all the details. In addition, some dealers may not know if a car is flood-damaged.

2011 Legislative session in review

July 6, 2011

The Legislature adjourned for the summer on June 30. The Senate Democratic Research staff has compiled a review to help you sort through the highlights, low-lights and missed opportunities of the 2011 legislative session. (Updated 8/1/11)