Investigation needed into misuse of federal COVID funds
Key Democratic legislators are calling for investigations into reports that Governor Reynolds diverted nearly $450,000 to pay her staff instead of using the funds for COVID-19 relief efforts.
News releases
“The time for half-hearted public relations gestures is over.”
Reynolds’ refusal to listen to medical experts has contributed to the spread of COVID-19, leading to increasing death and disease and making it harder to restart both Iowa’s economy and Iowa’s schools on a sustainable basis.
Iowa Senate Republicans failed to support bipartisan effort to restore voting rights
A permanent solution was blocked by Senate Republicans, who failed to amend the Iowa Constitution to allow more Iowans to vote. Sen. Brad Zaun, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, waited until the 11th hour of the 2020 session to finally get it through the Judiciary Committee but there was no effort to bring it to a vote by the full Senate.
Governor “abusing the power of her office” to force unsafe school reopenings
“Nowhere in Senate File 2310 does it state that Iowa students, teachers and staff will be required to work and learn in unsafe buildings.” the percentage of time Iowans need to spend in buildings. She cooked up that unsafe and unrealistic number herself.”
Health care community asks Gov. Reynolds for statewide mask order
The Iowa Medical Society and a coalition of health care organizations representing more than 12,000 physicians, clinicians, providers, pharmacists, health care facilities, public health professionals and providers-in-training, are calling on Gov. Reynolds to issue a statewide mask mandate to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Statement on Gov’s executive order on schools
Iowa schools are being forced into difficult choices between in-person learning and the health and safety of students and staff. Only when we get serious about knocking down this virus can our kids have a quality education and a safe school environment.
GOP blocked protections for vulnerable seniors; Pandemic intensified damage
The Republican majority in the Senate failed to move a bill that called for minimum help for our state’s elderly in long-term care facilities. The pandemic has laid bare that under-funding in times of crisis can kill.
Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen’s 2020 closing day remarks
Legislators should be helpers focused on building a healthier, happier, safer and stronger Iowa for our parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren and friends. We must send a message that Iowa will be a friendly, inclusive state for everyone.
End-of-Session Statement by Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen
Instead of relying on ribbon-cutting rhetoric and mystery data, Republican leaders should have listened to Iowans and worked in a bipartisan manner.
Statement by Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen on passage of Criminal Justice Reforms
Iowans are calling for social and racial justice. Senate Democrats are ready to make that a reality, and we are so happy to make a first step today in a bipartisan manner.