McCoy to chair Senate Commerce Committee
September 19, 2011
Senator Gronstal has appointed Senator Matt McCoy to serve as chair of Senate Commerce Committee.
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State Government Reorganization
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No support for Governor’s main argument for severe cuts
June 6, 2011
“Fiscal crisis” is the Governor’s only defense for the deep cuts to education, job creation, and other state services that Iowans depend on. It is past time for him to produce convincing evidence supporting his position. He must offer a strong defense because a steady stream of facts is proving him wrong. These facts flow from his own Iowa Department of Revenue,2 from the non-partisan Legislative Service Bureau,3 from the Treasurer of the State of Iowa,4 and from the nation’s top credit rating agencies.
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Improving mental health services for Iowans
May 23, 2011
How can we make mental health and disability services more accessible to Iowans in all parts of the state at an affordable cost? Currently, mental health services for adults are provided at the county level, meaning Iowa has up to 99 different mental health systems.
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“A gut-punch to the middle class” (VIDEO)
May 5, 2011
At a statehouse news conference on May 5, Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal describes Governor Branstad’s last minute decision to cut state services even deeper as “a gut-punch to the middle class.” (Video and partial transcript)
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Budget reforms to break statehouse gridlock (VIDEO)
April 20, 2011
News release and video from an April 20, 2011, news conference on an effort to break the budget gridlock at the Iowa Capitol. Two Senate Democratic leaders offered a bold budget reform designed to address the budgetmaking concerns of Governor Branstad and preserve the key priorities of Iowans.
Read the full story >>Thursday’s leadership news conference (VIDEO)
March 31, 2011
Video of Thursday’s leadership news conference is below the fold.
Read the full story >>Gronstal: Tax deadlock shouldn’t prevent state from paying bills
March 17, 2011
Speaking at the Statehouse news conference Thursday, Senator Majority Leader Mike Gronstal said legislative disagreements should not prevent the state from paying its bills. Supplemental funding for community colleges, public safety and other urgent items are caught up in disagreements over House Republican demands to create a giant fund for unspecified later tax relief.
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Sen. Pam Jochum urges Governor to lead time-sensitive effort to secure 14.5 million federal dollars for Iowa families
March 7, 2011
The state must beat a March 10 deadline or lose $14.5 million in federal funds. The cost to Iowa businesses is the same whether or not Iowa requests these funds.
Read the full story >>All Senate job creation proposals survive 1st funnel
March 3, 2011
The Senate remains focused on job creation. All seven job creation measures introduced so far by Senate Democrats survived the first legislative funnel.
Read the full story >>Spend less, focus on jobs and small businesses, fund local schools, no tax increase
February 22, 2011
Democrats in charge of the Iowa Senate today outlined a state budget focused on job creation and protecting Iowa’s quality schools. The Senate Democrats’ budget calls for $6.145 billion in general fund spending, $16.2 million less Governor Branstad’s proposed budget. The Senate Democrats include a $199 million tax cut to help working Iowans and encourage small business investment in Iowa. It also increases investment in educational opportunities at Iowa’s local schools, and it continues Iowa’s successful ensures access to Iowa’s quality preschool initiative.
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