Senator Donahue’s February 16 Newsletter

From the Desk of Senator Donahue

The first funnel ended with a bang for me on Wednesday evening, with both the AEA bill and the union-busting bill passing through their committees on party line votes. Both committees ran long and late into the night, and I served on both of them.

Senate Study Bill 3073, the AEA bill, was amended yet again by the GOP senators, and pushed through committee Wednesday evening with NO filing for the public to see, NO open forums, or open hearings for the public to hear about what was in the amendment, and little to NO discussion with stakeholders — let alone attention given to the thousands of constituents from all across Iowa rural, suburban, and urban communities who contacted the committee to let everyone know they there is no appetite in Iowa for this bill anywhere.

There are no factual answers that can justify the carving up of the AEAs. The GOP is unwilling to listen to their voters to let this be hashed out — or to solutions brought forth by the AEAs along with their boards and the governor — rather than legislating unnecessary solutions.

The answer does not lie in the Department of Education — that is an organization that needs to be restructured with an appropriate leadership who has been vetted and appointed with the appropriate qualifications put in place.

In Workforce the only bill to go through Wednesday evening was Senate Study Bill 3158, the union-busting bill. Seven years ago this week, the legislature gutted Chapter 20, the state law concerning public sector workers. With that, they required union recertification. That recertification would happen towards the end of a contract to make the bargaining unit vote to remain part of the union. This portion required 50+1% of all workers to vote or lose the union — and a dropped vote, or someone choosing not to vote, was automatically called a no vote. This was to try to break up these bargaining units and get rid of them.

But seven years later, that hasn’t happened — people are not decertifying because they want their bargaining units. So in the infinite wisdom of the GOP, which want the unions gone, they decided to open up the recertification law, because there are some employers who choose not to participate, whether because they have a harmonious working relationship with their union leaders and employees, or maybe because they don’t like the union and they want a way to get rid of it.

The Republicans put together a bill that would do that. If an employer does not turn in the list to PERB for the vote, then the workers lose the ability to be part of the union. Make that make sense: punishing the employees for something they have no control over. Total GOP move.

Democrats offered a plethora of alternatives that made sense, but none were taken up because the GOP intend for what’s going to happen to happen if this is pushed through and into law. They want to gut the unions.

There are plenty of other bills that have made it through funnel that are not good for Iowans — far more than the good ones. We will be sharing that information out at our forums this weekend as well as via social media and emails over the next weeks as we start debating on the floor.

In the meantime, there were a lot of other things happening at the Capitol this week with lots of visitors. You can check those out below with my social media posts.

A Better Deal for Iowans: Accountability for Iowans

In 2024, Iowa Senate Democrats are leading with our values: Opportunity, Freedom, and Accountability. We’ve got a Better Deal for Iowans — one that increases Iowans’ opportunity, protects our freedom, and ensures accountability in state government.

This week, I want to go in-depth on our Accountability Agenda and the work we’re doing to ensure our government serves the people of Iowa – not insiders and special interests.

We believe politicians, government, and big corporations must be held accountable to the people. That means endingcorporate giveaways and insider deals and holding politicians accountable when they put special interests before their constituents. It means enforcing checks and balances in government and fighting back against corporate power and greed.

What does that mean for you?

We’re committed to tax relief that reaches middle-class families, not out-of-state corporations and the wealthy.
We stand with organized labor and support the right of Iowans to join a union and bargain collectively for wages and benefits.
We defend the rights of Iowa consumers and anyone seeking justice when they’ve been harmed.

This all sounds like common sense to Iowans — and I know my job is to bring common sense back to the Capitol.

Ensuring Safety, Support, and Accountability in Iowa Nursing Homes

The reports of understaffing, abuse, neglect, and an overall lack of accountability in Iowa nursing homes are devastating — and unacceptable. Our state’s current approach to long term care is fundamentally broken and failing to protect Iowans.

This week, the Iowa Senate Democratic caucus introduced a comprehensive legislative package to address this crisis of abuse and neglect and ensure accountability in our nursing homes and care facilities. This is what accountability looks like.

At the center of the package is Senate File 2304, which increases oversight and requires new transparency and accountability standards for long-term care facilities — ensuring regulators can adequately monitor nursing homes, enforce state law, and issue meaningful penalties for violations to help ensure residents are better protected.

Other elements of the package include a bill expanding alternatives to nursing-home care for Iowa seniors; increasing pay for direct-care workers to address staffing issues; and increasing the personal needs allowance provided to residential care facility residents through Medicaid.

Iowans deserve safe, high-quality care that allows them to live their best lives and age with dignity in long-term care facilities and at home. This legislation aims to provide seniors with the safeguards, options, and accountability they need.

Quick Updates

Justice for Swifties. A Senate Bill advancing this week aims to level the playing field when buying concert tickets. Senate File 2269 prohibits ticket resellers from using a bot or other nefarious web tools to jump ahead in line or buy up tickets for in-demand events. It also empowers the Iowa attorney general to sue bad actors and levy fines. Ticket schemes emerged as a big issue during Taylor Swift’s “Eras” tour last year and remain a problem for high-profile concerts and events.
Boards and Commissions Consolidation. Senate Republicans moved legislation this week to eliminate dozens of state boards and commissions and consolidate dozens more. Senate Democrats have major concerns with this bill: it reduces accountability in government, silences the voices of Iowans, and could jeopardize health and safety. Our government works best when Iowans have a say. Senate Study Bill 3172 takes us in the wrong direction.
AEAs still at risk. Senate Republicans saved Gov. Reynolds’ controversial plan to slash funding and services at Iowa’s Area Education Agencies this week, advancing it past a key procedural deadline. I’ll be following Senate Study Bill 3073 closely as we turn to floor debate in the weeks ahead.
February is “Love Your Library Month.” This annual observance reminds us of the invaluable role libraries play in our communities by fostering knowledge, connection, and lifelong learning. As we try to navigate the challenges of information overload and unreliable information, libraries remain a trusted place to vet information and to gain knowledge, compassion, and connection through books.
Educators advocating at the Capitol. This week I had the opportunity to meet with local school officials and school board members who were in Des Moines to advocate for three main priorities: strengthening our educator workforce; supporting students in need with increased preschool funding and stable special education supports; and sustaining essential services for ALL public-school students.
Online age verification. This week, the Senate Technology Committee advanced Senate File 2227, creating new protections for children online. The bipartisan bill requires age verification for certain websites and allows Iowans to sue web publishers who distribute harmful content to minors, including obscene and indecent material and child pornography.
Take the Iowa HHS Survey. The Iowa Health and Human Services Department is soliciting feedback on the needs of Iowa’s communities, potential changes to existing programs, and ideas on new initiatives across the state. Take the survey and let the Department know how our state could provide more help to you, your family, and your community.
Farm safety grants. Iowa’s Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (I-CASH) is currently accepting applications for their 2024 youth grant program. Community youth groups can use the grants to fund farm safety-related projects. Click here for more information.

Upcoming Events

There is a League of Women Voters forum from 10:30 a.m. to noon this Saturday at the Cedar Rapids Public Library. Please come and join us to hear what everyone worked on the past couple of weeks.
The League of Women Voters Linn County is also holding an informational program on ranked choice voting. A bill has recently been proposed in the Iowa Legislature to ban ranked choice voting. A presenter from Better Ballot Iowa will explain how the process works on at 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 28 at Methwick Manor’s Governor’s Room.
My next Coffee Talk will be from 8:30 to 10 a.m. on Sunday, Feb.25 — location to be determined. Check my social media for updates.
A Senate District 37 forum will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24 at the Marion Library with state Reps. Elizabeth Wilson and Eric Gjerde.
Check out the Marion Winter Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 24. Details here.
Don’t miss the Hiawatha Craft & Vendor Show from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on March 2.
The 2024 Linn County Cattlemen’s Banquet is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on Saturday March 9. Click here for details.