From the Desk of Senator Wahls
I want to take a moment to thank you. Thank you for speaking up, for being a part of the process and for reaching out to me. It has been a rough week. You’ll read more below that this week is known as “funnel week” in the Iowa Legislature, when we rush to get ideas through committees to keep them alive for further consideration this session.
Next week, once the dust settles, we’ll update you in this newsletter about what made it through.
As legislators frantically try to keep their bills alive, committee agendas get packed. Funnel weeks are typically busier than other weeks, but this year was unusually hectic. This week, Senate committees had more than 100 bills on their collective agendas. It is hard for us to keep up as bills get added and removed to agendas – and it’s even harder for Iowans to know what is going on at the Capitol.
Your emails, phone calls and visits are the reminders all legislators need about why we’re at the Capitol. I am just as disheartened as many of you by some of the bills that have been introduced or come out of committee this week. You’ve let me know you are insulted, sickened, angry, sad and outraged by some of what you’ve seen at the Capitol this week. I hear you and I will continue to fight for ALL Iowans.
Quick Updates
- Funnel Week is here. This week was Funnel Week in the legislature – a key procedural deadline that helps decides which bills will advance and which are no longer eligible for debate. The funnel is always a hectic time in the Capitol, as lawmakers scramble to consider bills and protect their priorities. We’ll have more to say about the Funnel next week.
- Equal pay for equal work. All Senate Democrats signed on as co-sponsors to SF 396, a bill to address wage discrimination under the Iowa Civil Rights Act of 1965 and establish an equal pay taskforce. Making our state fairer for working women and their families is a top priority.
- Supporting pregnant workers. No pregnant mom should have to worry that she will be forced off the job or face workplace discrimination or retaliation. SF 435, cosponsored by several Senate Democrats, requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees based on pregnancy or childbirth.
- Repealing health. Here’s one important but overlooked piece of the Governor’s massive government reorganization bill: one line on page 911 repeals the State Board of Health. The board has operated since 1880 – early 150 years in which it has promoted high-quality public health across our state. Gov. Reynolds proposes folding the Board of Health’s duties into a new Health and Human Services Council, with one big catch: only one member of that new board must be a knowledgeable health professional. The Board of Health requires seven. This is part of the Reynolds’ attempt to centralize power with political appointees rather than professionals and community members.
- Relief for tenants. A bill allowing tenants to seal records concerning unfounded eviction actions and evictions that took place more than five years ago appears to be advancing in the Senate. Half of all eviction actions are withdrawn or unfounded, but they haunt people for years, making it much harder to access stable housing. I’m hopeful this bill will quickly become law.
- Slapping down SLAPPs. Iowa is inching closer to passing Anti-SLAPP legislation, an important tool for protecting whistleblowers and critics from retaliation by powerful corporations and billionaire ideologues. If you need a refresher on SLAPP suits, watch John Oliver’s colorful explanation. (Be beware his language can be a little salty.)
- Be a History Day judge. The State Historical Society of Iowa is looking for people to serve as District Contest judges. The National History Day in Iowa contest is part of a program that challenges junior high and high school students to become historians as they investigate primary sources, craft historical arguments, and create projects about historical topics they’re passionate about. If you’re interested in serving as a judge, simply select a contest near you and sign up. More information is available here.
This Week in the Capitol
