From the Desk of Senator Wahls
The First Funnel has come and gone, so the Iowa Senate is full speed ahead with the debate calendar. Iowa Republicans pushed through more awful legislation, rejecting dozens of Democratic amendments on party-line votes.
These bills included the Governor’s state reorganization bill that is effectively a power grab by the Executive Branch as well as an all-out assault on the authority of Iowa Auditor Rob Sand to serve as an effective taxpayer watch dog.
I also spoke out against the GOP attack on transgender youth in Iowa and their ability to use bathrooms or receive gender affirming care. These awful bills will further stigmatize Iowa children who deserve our love and support to help keep them safe and healthy.
This was one of the more difficult debates I have ever taken part in, and I can only imagine how it felt to the families watching at home who will be affected by these bills. For those of you who will be personally affected, please know that there so many of us who support you, who love you for who you are, and who will always fight for your rights.
On that note, I was deeply inspired by the photos I saw of last weekend’s rally in support of LGBTQ Iowans at the Capitol on Sunday, March 5.
While I was not able to attend myself due to a conflict, the photos I saw were great inspiration for our entire Senate Democratic caucus during a really difficult week. Thank you to everyone who showed up to speak out against the awful anti-LGBTQ legislation Iowa Republican politicians have advanced.
Our Priorities & Theirs: The Contrast Couldn’t be Sharper
Last week, the legislature met a key procedural deadline (the first funnel) that helps decides which bills could become law this year, and which won’t receive further consideration.
I wish I could say we had a lot to celebrate, but the fact is we don’t. Republican politicians in Des Moines are advancing mean-spirited and frankly dangerous bills that will make life harder for Iowa families in need, our educators, our LGBTQ youth, and more.
Many of those bad bills are still in play, while a lot of good bills have been cast aside. Here’s a quick rundown on where things stand:
The Statehouse Republican Agenda: All these bad bills could still become law
- Roll back child labor laws, allow minors to serve alcohol (HF 647/SF 542)
- Reduce unemployment benefits for some Iowans with larger families (SF 481)
- Add new red tape and roadblocks to food assistance for hungry families (HF 613/SF 494)
- Dictate a government-mandated price on human life for Iowans injured in trucking accidents (HF 201/SF 228)
- Ban books in public schools (SF 496) (HF 597)
- Ban school instruction on AIDS/HIV and HPV vaccine (SF 496)
- Write LGBTQ+ Iowans and families out of history and public schools (HF 348/SF 496)
- Ban healthcare for LGBTQ+ kids (SF 538/HF 623)
- Allow healthcare providers to discriminate based on religious beliefs (SF 297)
- Consolidate Governor’s power and eliminate workplace, retirement protections for workers (SF 514/HSB 126)
Senate Democrats’ Vision: GOP rejects bills for stronger families and a stronger economy
- Paid family leave (SF 95)
- Expanded postpartum medical care (SF 56)
- Protections and accommodations for pregnant workers and adoptive parents (SF 435)
- Equal pay for equal work (SF 396)
- Protections against wage theft (SF 122)
- Double Iowa’s earned income tax credit (SF 459)
- Affordable, accessible childcare and preschool (SF 62 and SF 310)
- Free school breakfast and lunch (SF 303)
- $267 million investment in public schools to reduce class sizes and increase student mental health services
Quick Updates
- ISU, UI, and UNI are economic engines. Iowa’s three public universities added $15 billion in income to the state of Iowa economy during fiscal year 2021-2022, according to an economic impact study. Public university activity supports one out of 10 jobs in Iowa, and returns nearly three dollars for every taxpayer dollar spent.
- An Iowa degree pays. Iowa’s public universities also rank 3rd in the nation the amount a student can expect to gain financially from their degree. Read the full study from the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity.
- Child labor on the rise. Since 2018, the U.S. Department of Labor has seen a 69% increase in children being employed illegally by companies. Senate File 542, the Republican bill allowing children to work in dangerous and hazardous jobs, will only cause more violations in Iowa. That’s why Senate Democrats in the Senate Workforce committee unanimously opposed the bill.
- Celebrate Women’s History Month: You can learn about groundbreaking women through virtual online exhibits, documents, and video clips offered by organizations such as the National Women’s History Museum. The museum covers a variety of topics related to women’s history, including the women of NASA, women in social justice, women in STEM, women’s involvement in wars, first ladies and more.
- Become an Outdoorswoman. Register now for the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) workshop at Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca, near Solon April 21-23. In partnership with Johnson County Conservation, the workshop courses include boater education, driving and trailer backing, shotgun shooting, turkey hunting and a mentored turkey hunt, bow fishing, canning and preserving, fly fishing, Dutch oven cooking, kayaking, foraging, basket weaving. The workshop is $280 (shared bunk lodging) before April 3, and $320 (no lodging) beginning April 3 and includes program materials, equipment, lodging and meals. Register at www.iowadnr.gov/bow.
- No restitution to offenders. A bill moving through the legislature this year gives judges discretion when ordering restitution in cases where the victim committed offenses against the defendant. The bill fixes a quirk in Iowa law that made national headlines after it forced a human trafficking victim to pay restitution to her alleged rapist. We can all agree victims shouldn’t have to pay restitution to their abusers – this bill ensures the law says so, too.
- Still time to order seedlings. The Iowa DNR’s State Forest Nursery offers spring delivery in April and May for nearly 40 varieties of hardwood, conifer and shrub seedlings, with options for shipping or pickup at the nursery in Ames. Prices range from $.70 to $1.20 per seedling. Seedlings can be ordered through May 30. For more information visit the online store at http://nursery.iowadnr.gov/ or call 1-800-865-2477.
- Did you move recently? The annual National Change of Address process to update Iowa’s voter registration records is underway. Notices are being mailed to 90,948 registered voters in Iowa who filed a change of address with the U.S. Postal Service during the past 12 months. Voters who receive these cards should follow the instructions on the return postcard to verify or correct their voting address, sign and return it to their county auditor’s office as soon as possible. Postage is prepaid.
This Week in the Capitol
