Public Education Disaster Week

January 24, 2021 Senate Staff 0

Monday, two harmful bills are being rushed through the Senate Education Committee before Iowans have time to respond.  SSB 1065 would divert taxes for public schools to private schools and SSB 1064 would make Iowa schools unsafe during the pandemic.

Iowa Legislature Must Act to Feed Hungry

December 16, 2020 Senate Staff 0

We propose using the state’s ending balance or the state’s “rainy day funds” to provide $30 million or more in immediate supplemental food assistance for Iowans directly and through food banks, food pantries, and other feeding entities in Iowa.

Gov. Reynolds’ Misuse of Federal Pandemic Relief Funds

December 8, 2020 Senate Staff 0

Senator Claire Celsi is formally requesting that Republican leaders in the Iowa Senate convene a Senate Government Oversight meeting. The Legislature must ensure that all CARES dollars are used properly. If the State fails to do so, Iowa could be required to return misspent money.

Statement on Reynolds’ failed COVID strategy

November 16, 2020 Senate Staff 0

The Governor’s half-measured attempt at a mask mandate will not be enough to make Iowans safer, especially heading into the holiday season. Her actions today are simply too little, too late. Half-measures will only prolong this pandemic and the suffering of Iowans.

Statement on Governor’s latest COVID steps

November 10, 2020 Senate Staff 0

Governor Reynolds’ latest steps to fight COVID are like buying a smoke detector after your house is blazing out of control. If the Governor had listened from day one to health care experts – including the White House Coronavirus Task Force – more Iowans would be alive today and the Iowa economy would be rebounding.

The Truth about Iowa Unemployment

October 21, 2020 Senate Staff 0

The headline today from the Reynolds administration of 4.7% unemployment in Iowa wildly underrepresents the dire current unemployment situation in Iowa. A truer unemployment number would be 12.3%.

Statement on Governor’s misuse of federal COVID funds

October 19, 2020 Senate Staff 0

Instead of directing more money to testing and contact tracing, paid sick leave for essential workers, food assistance, childcare subsidies, additional money for rent assistance, unemployment insurance, utility assistance, providing PPE to healthcare workers and educators, and to help schools prepare for the winter season — and myriad of other uses —  Governor Reynolds is using the CARES Act money as a means to fund pet projects and make Iowa’s budget appear flush with excess funds.