Senator Donahue’s March 1 Newsletter – Iowa Sen. Molly Donahue

From the Desk of Senator Donahue

We just finished Week 8 in the Legislature, and once again, there was a lot going on at the Capitol this week.

The Senate has yet to bring the SSA bill forward, which is the main funding source for the schools to be debated on. The schools must release their budgets next Monday in order to allow the public to see them before they’re is finalized.

The school districts are flying blind because Senate Republicans refuse to do the work to move the bill. The House has done theirs already, and the two will have to be reconciled to be identical in order for the governor to sign it. This late SSA very likely will trigger a property tax hike for many areas this year from the urban centers to the rural towns because they don’t know how much money they will have for next year‘s budget. That’s only a couple months away. Not what we wanted.

So every tax break that we try to give Iowans there’s an equal, or even sometimes greater tax hike being implemented to make up for shortfalls with the governor’s “tax breaks”.

There were a number of bills passed through the Senate again this week — some not so great for Iowans. That includes a workforce bill that requires all businesses to e-verify every employee, which slows down the hiring process. Given that Iowa is facing a workforce crisis, that is the last thing we need right now. But attached to that bill is a section that will likely result in some phone calls to the authorities based on workers’ skin color. Senate File 108 has a racist overtone.

There was another bill that was not helpful to farmers who are trying to sell their land at the best price. The same senators push this bill every single year, trying to prevent certain entities from participating in auctions, which is how farmers get the best price. This has been passed in the Senate six years in a row and never picked up by the House. There’s a post below about it.

And then our governor showed her true colors once again this week when an email was leaked revealing that the Family Education Partner program, better known as FEP, has been canceled for next year by the Department of Education of Education. This is a decision made by the governor utilizing the executive branch rather than the legislative branch to complete the AEA bill that has not passed out of either chamber and is still being written. FEP is an important program for parents trying to learn and navigate the special education system for their children to receive the best possible services for their success. It also saves the state millions of dollars in lawsuits every year. I posted a video earlier this week about it.

Visit Your State Capitol!

Every day of the Iowa legislative session, the Capitol is full of Iowans. From organizations holding lobby days to school groups on class trips to sightseeing families and tourists, every visitor is a welcome reminder of the people and places we represent.

We’d love to see you at the Capitol! Here are a few tips if you’re planning a trip to the Golden Dome.

When to come: The Iowa State Capitol is open year-round 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. But if you want to meet your legislators and see the Legislature in action, you’ll need to plan ahead. The House and Senate are typically in session Monday through Thursday from January through late April or early May – that’s when the action is happening, and the best chance you’ll have to see your government up close.
Take a tour: Our Capitol is a beautiful place, full of art and history. Capitol guides lead tours multiple times a day (always on the half-hour), and provide numerous options for self-guided audio and video tours. More information is available here. To schedule a tour for 10 or more people, click here.
Watch a debate: If you happen to visit on a day the Senate is debating legislation, you can watch the discussion and tally the votes in person from the third-floor galleries overlooking the chamber.
Meet me in the rotunda: Come say hi! You can always ask to meet a senator while we’re in session. Outside the Senate chamber in the second-floor rotunda, you’ll find a pad of “pink slips” where you can write a message and provide your contact information. Hand your pink slip to the Sergeant at Arms or a page at the Senate door and they’ll hand-deliver it to the senator on the floor. When there’s a break in the action, we’ll come out to say hello, hear your concerns and pose for a photo.
Let’s make a plan: If you’re going on a visit to the Capitol – especially with a group – please reach out and let your senator know in advance. If we know you’re coming, we can set aside time to meet and even formally recognize you from the Senate floor.

Quick Updates

New voting video series. Have you ever wondered how Iowa’s voting process REALLY works? In the age of mis- and disinformation, Iowans increasingly need trusted facts about our elections process. The Iowa Secretary of State is launching a new video series answering key questions about voting in Iowa. Visit VotingProcess.iowa.gov for more information.
Iowa Fraud Fighters Tour. Iowa’s Department of Insurance and Financial Services, the state Attorney General’s Office, and AARP-Iowa have launched a new Stop the Scammers tour with upcoming events in 18 cities across the state. As technology evolves, con artists are coming up with ever more aggressive and elaborate ways to target Americans – especially those aged 60 and older. The tour aims to educate Iowans on the ways they can protect themselves and loved ones from scams while also educating them on the tools and resources available through the department and Attorney General’s office. Click here for more information about the tour.
New county-level data. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services has prepared snapshots of health-related data for all 99 counties across Iowa. You can search through the county snapshots here, and then compare the county data to the statewide snapshot.
P&Z 101. ISU Extension and Outreach is offering an introduction to planning and zoning workshop for local officials. The program focuses on delivering foundational knowledge in land-use planning and development management, and covers comprehensive planning, variances, special uses, nonconforming uses, spot zoning, hearing procedures and ethical dilemmas. Enrollment is $65 per person for a three-hour session. Click here for more information.
Don’t prune that oak tree. Due to unseasonably warm temperatures this winter, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is recommending Iowans finish pruning oak trees immediately to prevent the spread of oak wilt, a dangerous fungus. A healthy tree can be infected with oak wilt through open wounds during the growing season, when the fungus is carried from a diseased tree to a healthy tree by beetles or root grafts between oak trees of the same species. DNR usually recommends cutting off pruning by March 15. Click here for more information.
Land donors to be honored. Donors responsible for permanently protecting more than 950 acres of Iowa land in 14 counties with an estimated value of more than $3.9 million through conservation donations will be recognized during a ceremony at 2 p.m. on March 14 at the State Capitol in Des Moines. Landowners in attendance will be honored individually for their donations. For more information on land donation, click here.