The Iowa Legislature has resumed the 2020 session. Over the next two weeks, I hope we will:
** Pass a balanced budget based on the latest revenue estimates.
** Fight for the needs of Iowans, businesses and communities impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
** Push for laws to address racial inequities in Iowa.
Hospitals and other healthcare providers accessed advanced payments through the CARES Act Medicare Loan Fund to bridge losses. Loan forgiveness is vitally important and is much more critical now, given the fact that hospital losses have far exceeded the relief from Cares Act grants.
Iowa’s Democratic lawmakers have released a plan to address the needs of Iowa families and business during the reconvened 2020 session, starting June 3. The goal is to keep lawmakers focused on addressing problems related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The number of COVID-19 cases is still increasing, and nationally ranked hotspots are popping up all over the state. Yet, the Governor and Republican legislators continue to deliver narratives that are heavy on spin and light on facts and data.
More than 100 years ago, Upton Sinclair chronicled the misery and abuse of American workers in the meatpacking industry, describing them as “centers of contagion, poisoning the lives of all of us.” Today, we are witnessing a new chapter in the life and deaths of meatpacking workers and other essential workers through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Democratic legislative leaders call on the Governor to immediately issue a statewide stay-at-home order.
The Legislature’s International Relations Committee met to address the deadly spread of coronavirus in Iowa’s sister cities in China. The Legislature is partnering with local leaders, industry and business to ship relief supplies to China, and is asking for help.
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We’ve proposed legislation to address Iowa’s growing maternal health crisis. Our maternal mortality rate has more than doubled in the past three years, hospital labor and delivery departments are shuttering at record speed, and 66 Iowa counties have no practicing OB/GYN.
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Sarah Ledger of Mount Pleasant is a physician with Henry County Health Center. Unfortunately, the local obstetrics department is closing. As rural Iowa becomes less safe for pregnant women, new moms and babies, Dr. Ledger discusses the health care challenges.
On Feb. 13, Iowa Senate Republicans approved legislation to take away rights currently in the Iowa Constitution. Sen. Janet Petersen called it a failure to protect moms and babies, especially in light of the many maternity ward closings.
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