2020 Session Wrap-up
A quick list of the good, the bad and the ugly bills of the 2020 legislative session.
Jobs & Economy
Enhancing communities through land banks
Bipartisan legislation (SF 2369) establishing “land banks” has passed the Senate Local Government Committee. Land banks are public-private partnerships to rehabilitate rundown, vacant and tax-delinquent properties for productive use.
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UNI leads the way with business innovation
Iowa’s state universities are engines for growth by educating our workforce, advancing research and providing businesses with services they need. One example is UNI’s Additive Manufacturing Center.
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What Iowans are saying
Iowans want decent-paying jobs, affordable health care and the chance to lead a good life. In recent years, however, we’ve seen stagnant wages, rising health care costs and more Iowans living paycheck to paycheck. Iowans […]
HWY 20 shows the promise of rural Iowa investments
“Safe, efficient roads for Iowans, travelers and commerce have been top priorities over my last eight years on the Senate Transportation Committee. We’ve accomplished a lot in that time through bipartisan efforts focused on making Iowa the best place to live, work and do business.”
How can we stop the increase in Iowa suicides?
The U.S. has seen a jump in suicides in recent years, with rural states being hardest hit. Iowa’s suicide rate increased more than 35 percent between 1999 and 2016. Mental illness, economic hardship, relationship problems, […]
2018 End-of-Session Report
This session, we heard from thousands of Iowans who work hard but struggle to get by. They just want a decent-paying job and the chance to lead a happy, healthy life. Our job in the Legislature is to listen and work to improve the lives of everyday Iowans.
Lawmakers Unveil “Putting Iowans First” Plan
Democratic lawmakers outlined their new plan today called Putting Iowans First. The plan was developed by lawmakers to keep the 2018 session focused on improving the lives of everyday Iowans with better-paying jobs, revitalized small towns and rural communities, the best education in the country and a great quality of life.
Senators to meet with students, tour job training programs at Northeast Iowa Community College
Democratic State Senators Rob Hogg of Cedar Rapids and Pam Jochum of Dubuque will be touring job training programs and meeting with students at Northeast Iowa Community College from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, November 1, at the Peosta campus.
Ragan invites public to share ideas and concerns about Iowa jobs
North Iowa has opportunities for real growth. To bring higher wage jobs to our communities, we should focus on small business development, entrepreneurship and educational opportunity. The Legislature has to invest more in long-range economic development, measures that ensure future growth and prosperity across all of Iowa.