From the Desk of Senator Bisignano
This week in the Legislature, I filed Senate File 120 to help limit employer inquiries and background checks into an applicant’s criminal history until after they have been given a conditional offer of employment. I have filed this bill several times in my years in the senate.
As a retired human services director, I have personally seen the way banning the box would benefit Iowans. After individuals with a criminal record check the box saying they have a record, they are often immediately removed from the running. By banning the box, past offenders would get a chance to show their qualifications for a position, without being “thrown out” simply because of past mistakes.
I appreciate so many of you reaching out to me about issues that matter to you, and something that has been coming up regularly is HF 3,the bill placing new restrictions on SNAP benefits. Many of you are concerned about this bill, and I want you to know I stand with you on this. I am deeply concerned about any bill that would take food away from Iowans who are facing food insecurity. Although this bill has not come up for consideration in the Senate yet, I will monitor the bill’s progress and encourage you all to continue telling me about the things that matter to you.
Quick Updates
Vouchers are a done deal. Gov. Kim Reynolds and statehouse Republicans rammed their private school vouchers bill through the legislature this week, using an unprecedented array of political maneuvers and parliamentary tricks to pass it into law as quickly as possible.
- In the House, Republican leaders created an entirely new committee to consider voucher legislation, shutting many of their own members out of the discussion, and then tweaked the rules to dodge any scrutiny into the financial implications of the plan.
- In the Senate, the GOP used a legislative trick to block any amendments to the bill – from Democrats or Republicans – that could’ve been offered to make it less harmful to public schools and rural communities.
- The governor welcomed national school voucher lobbyists to the Capitol late Monday night for the bill’s final passage, and then rushed to sign it into law less than 12 hours later.
The final Senate vote was 31 to 18, with three Republicans joining 15 Democrats in opposition. Now, private school vouchers are the law of the land, beginning an unprecedented diversion of taxpayer dollars to exclusive private schools.
The plan is projected to pay private school tuition for 41,687 Iowa students at a cost of $341 million a year once fully phased in – while slashing funding to public schools by $46 million per year.
- Senate Dems support family leave. Last week, every Senate Democrat signed on as cosponsor to SF 95, a bill establishing paid family leave for Iowa’s working families. Senate Democrats’ number one priority is supporting working families, lowering costs, and creating opportunity, and paid leave is essential to accomplishing those goals.
- License to Kale. The Senate Local Government Committee advanced a bill to open up farmers markets vendor licenses on a statewide basis. That means your favorite stand could have an easier time covering multiple locations this summer.
- Cold Cases at DPS. The Senate held a hearing this week on the creation of a cold case investigation unit in the Department of Public Safety. Solving cold cases give closure to victims and is a huge morale boost for a police force.
- Don’t device & drive. A bill banning handheld devices while driving advanced in the Senate Transportation Committee this week. SF 60 is aimed at keeping Iowa’s roadways safe by preventing distracted driving. Under the bill, using a device while driving would be a moving violation subject to a $100 fine and could lead to a suspension of your license.
- Insulin relief is on the way. Medicare beneficiaries who need insulin will see tremendous relief with the implementation of price caps included the federal Inflation Reduction Act. That’s great news for Iowa, which currently faces the second-highest out-of-pocket insulin costs in the nation. Check out this report on the Rx benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act.
This Week in the Capitol
