VIDEO: “Party of No” turns back on mentally ill, counties & property taxpayers

Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal calls out the “Party of No,” citing the irresponsible vote by Senate Republicans on February 4, 2010 against Senate File 2151.  This supplemental appropriation uses the ending fund balance to prevent hundreds of poor, mentally ill Iowans from losing their health care, which is provided by Iowa’s county governments with help from the state.

TRANSCRIPT: Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal

“I’d also say I was troubled today. We had a bill up, a supplemental appropriations bill that provides no new dollars.  It didn’t spend any more money.  A big chunk of it was about providing more resources to counties because they were going to have to dis-enroll mentally ill people in their communities.

“Counties have been clamoring for help from us and this bill will provide about $1.8 million dollars for counties in the state of Iowa.  And the ‘party of no’ couldn’t find a way to help mentally ill people, counties, or property tax payers in this state.

“The ‘party of no’ seems to think that’s the best approach to play politics with the legislative session and even on an issue so simple and fundamental as making sure indigent, mentally-ill people get treatment, they were the ‘party of no,’ they all voted no.

“I understand they’ll probably vote against most of our appropriations bills and argue that we’re spending too much or whatever, but I really find it just absolutely amazing that they’re going to walk away from every county in this state that needs this assistance, and hundreds of people that would be denied help, hundreds of mentally ill, poor people that would get no help because of their no vote.

“I was just amazed at that today.”