From the Desk of Senator Trone Garriott
Let’s use columns this week! First column on the left: Our Senate Pages getting ready to start the last day of funnel week; Iowans advocating with the Alzheimer’s Association for Dementia Care Specialists (bill did not pass funnel).
Second column: The Petros from Booneville with AARP; Waukee Community School District board and superintendent and Curtis Badio from Waukee shadowing me for the day with State of Iowa Youth Advisory Council; Advocates with AARP who just happened to have children who live in my district.
Third Column: In addition to thousands of emails I received dozens of valentines showing love for the AEAs, I was feeling the love from Save the Children Action Network.
Fourth Column: Senator Giddens and I took visitors from Iowa Public Health Association and Iowa Safe Schools up to the top of the dome; West Des Moines Community School District board and superintendent (I have one precinct in Cumming (Dallas County) in WDM schools!).
Have a Heart
I love hearing from Iowans! You are always welcome to visit me at the capitol, but I also have a couple of events coming up out in the community:
- This Sunday, February 18th from 2-3:30 there will be a forum on the AEAs at the Grimes Public Library.
- On Saturday, February 24th the Adel Chamber is hosting a legislative update at the Adel Public Library.
We have a lot to talk about. This past week was the first funnel, and a number of very consequential bills (some harmful, some helpful) are moving forward. A lot of bills (some great, some terrible) won’t move forward.
This past week we also heard that the Governor of Nebraska changed course and decided to accept the federal Summer EBT program for children. After spending time listening to his state, he had a change of heart: “When you sit down with kids that are living it, I’ve learned life lessons from the students that I talked to,” Pillen said. “We have to do better for them, pure and simple.” I shared my appreciation for Governors who listen and do better on the floor of the Senate this week.
Unfortunately, our Iowa Governor doubled down on her position to refuse $29 million to feed 244,000 Iowa children this summer. The Governor continues to point to existing summer feeding sites as being enough. However, these sites only served about 18,000 Iowa children last summer — a far cry from the 244,000 that this program would help. Many school districts don’t even have a site, despite having hundreds of qualifying students. Check out the Iowa Hunger Coalitions interactive map to see if there are any sites in your area.
You can also click on the button for Legislative districts and see how many kids in your Legislative district qualify for Summer EBT but WON’T get help, and how much money your local community will NOT receive to benefit local economy. Health and Human Services Chair Sen. Jeff Edler supports the Governor’s refusal, yet has 5,639 kids missing out on $676,680 that would get spent at local grocery stores. Meanwhile feeding sites in his area are few and far between. We’ve missed the deadline, but it is still worth asking our Iowa Governor to have a heart, listen to Iowans, and do better for kids.
Ensuring Safety, Support, and Accountability in Iowa Nursing Homes
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. Despite bipartisan opposition, Senate Republicans moved forward Gov. Reynolds’ controversial plan to slash funding and services at Iowa’s Area Education Agencies this week. Pulling apart this integrated system, turning parts into fee for service, will hurt the AEAs overall ability to respond to needs when and where they arise. Crisis response services that were and continue to be so important for the Perry School District are a prime example. There is so much about the AEAs that legislators do not understand, as I explain in my remarks on the floor this past week. Keep up your advocacy about Senate Study Bill 3073 and be aware that the House has moved its own proposal HSB713 forward, too.
- February is “Love Your Library Month.” One piece of good news coming out of funnel is that the bad library bills in both the Senate and the House did not pass the funnel! Libraries play an invaluable role in our communities by fostering knowledge, connection, and lifelong learning. Show your library some love this month—go visit and thank your local librarians!
- 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.
This Week in the Capitol
A perennial bad idea that just won’t die:
Late night updates:
Funnel Week Photo Dump:
It’s time to listen and do better:
