Comments Off on Senator Petersen’s January 20 Newsletter
From the Desk of Senator Petersen
The session is off to a fast start. Unfortunately, some very bad bills are being introduced and pushed.
For instance, this week Senate Republicans passed a bill out of subcommittee that would get rid of Iowa’s gender balance requirement on boards and commissions. Iowa was the first state in the nation to require gender balance. We should be pushing for more equality in Iowa, not less. Also, the private school voucher bill is on the fast track (more in article below). Thank you for all of the emails on this issue!
On a more positive note, last week I filed several bills including three co-sponsored by all 16 Senate Democrats that will help parents and caregivers with young children:
SF57, the Post-Partum Care Extension bill, continues Medicaid coverage for a full year following a pregnancy. This measure ensures that new parents in need have access to essential post-pregnancy care beyond the current 60-day post-pregnancy window.
SF56expands the post-pregnancy expenses eligible for reimbursement under Medicaid to include counseling, breastfeeding supports, transportation to appointments, and more.
SF62expands the Childcare Assistance Program, providing more support to working families struggling to afford childcare.
Tell Us What You Think About Private School Vouchers
This week Senate Republicans continued pushing Governor Reynolds’ private school voucher bill. The bill passed out of the Senate Education and Appropriations Committees on a party line vote. It could be debated on the Senate floor as early as next week.
This bill will divert an estimated $900 million in public funds to private schools over the next four years alone, largely handing over taxpayer money to an out-of-state, for profit third-party administrator to distribute the funds to parents with little public input or oversight.
Senate Democrats are united in opposition to this bill, and we stand with the majority of Iowans who believe public dollars belong with public schools. We are uncertain if there are enough Republican House members to stop the bill from getting to Governor Reynolds’s desk.
Iowa Senate Democrats introducedlegislation this week to shore up the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund. The trust fund provides critical support for veterans, including emergency medical care and equipment; home and vehicle repairs; and counseling, but ran out of money after just four months earlier this year. Senate File 82, will boost the fund by $500,000 in the current year and then double trust fund appropriations to $1 million in the fiscal year that begins July 1. It’s the right thing to do for our veterans.
Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen recently delivered the annual the Condition of the Judiciary address to the House and Senate. Christensen described how Iowa’s workforce crisis is leaving our courts with dire shortages of court reporters and court-appointed attorneys. These shortages often result in delays in court proceedings that slow the administration of justice. Senate Democrats are fighting to solve Iowa’s workforce crisis.
Good news: Iowa’s adult literacy program is one of the best in the country, ranking second nationally in the percentage of program participants who go on to earn a degree, enroll in college or get a job. Democrats initiated the Adult Literacy program in 2014, and in 2022, programs across the state served over 12,500 students. Iowa’s adult learning programs include adult basic education, English as a second language and workplace and family literacy instruction, and are provided in cooperation with local community colleges. Click here to find adult basic literacy programs in your area.
