From the Desk of Senator Wahls
It’s one of the busiest times of year in the State Senate.
Last week, Republicans forced through a bill banning gender-affirming legislation for Iowa children. I spoke on the Senate floor to make clear just how dangerous this legislation is.
Meanwhile, a Republican bill to significantly reorganize state government officially passed the House yesterday, shifting an unprecedented amount of power to Governor Reynolds.
Both of these bills were passed over the objections of concerned Iowans. As legislators, we were elected to solve problems and address the key issues facing our families today – our workforce crisis, improving public education, and keeping our communities safe. This legislation not only fails to address these crises, but will exhasperate many of those issues.
Amidst the tough week of votes and debate, I caught up with librarians from my district to talk about how important books are to everyday Iowans and the civic health of our state.
I also met with representatives from the GuideLink Center (one of Iowa’s new mental health access centers), staff at the Domestic Violence Intervention Program, and representatives from Iowa’s railroads.
Visit Your State Capitol!
One of the best things about being a senator is meeting constituents who visit the Capitol and stop by the Senate to say hi.
Every day that we’re in session, the Capitol is full of visitors: organizations holding lobby days, school groups on class trips, sightseeing families, and tourists just passing through. All are welcome, and every one is a welcome reminder of the people and places we represent.
I’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 have to see your government up close.
Take a tour: Our Capitol is a beautiful place, brimming with art and history. The Capitol’s wonderful 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 live and 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 he’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 me 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
- Local Business Grant Award. Several local organizations recently received Choose Iowa grants from the Iowa Department of Agriculture for expanding and diversifying the availability of Iowa grown, raised, and processed products:
- Walker Homestead Farm & Winery, Inc. of Iowa City received $25,000 to increase wine production capacity utilizing Iowa grown grapes.
- Field to Family of Iowa City received $25,000 to purchase a refrigerated truck to expand food hub operations and local food distribution.
- Urban Greens of Iowa City received $12,045 to improve processing and packaging equipment and cold storage capacity.
- Equal Pay Day. This past Tuesday was Equal Pay Day, the day marking how far into the year a woman must work before her pay catches up with the annual earnings of men doing the same job. Senate Democrats used this symbolic day to raise awareness of the gender pay gap. We’ve introduced legislation to address wage discrimination, because we know equal work deserves equal pay.
- New numbers for Iowa’s next budget. Last week, a state panel met to set revenue estimates for the current and upcoming budget years. The panel is projecting lackluster growth, with projected revenues for 2023 and 2024 falling below previous years. Our top responsibility as legislators is to pass a balanced budget that serves the needs of Iowans. It’s time for statehouse Republicans to put aside their nationally-driven, culture-war agenda and get to work on a budget.
- Bipartisan win for vulnerable Iowans. One of the few bipartisan bright spots of the legislative session so far passed the Senate floor last week. Senate File 295 increases protections for Iowans with a guardian or conservatorship. Iowa’s most vulnerable citizens deserve accountability and transparency when they entrust their entire lives to another person.
- Bipartisan progress for new moms and babies: Two months after all Senate Democrats cosponsored Senate File 57 to increase postpartum Medicaid coverage for pregnant Iowans, we’re glad to see that House Republicans have introduced a similar bill, House Study Bill 226. Senate Democrats hope to see more bipartisan support for this common-sense legislation that would better support pregnancies and newborns in Iowa.
- Iowa Drought Plan announced. The state has finalized a comprehensive drought plan for use by local, county, state agencies and governments. The plan designates five drought regions in the state and provides an approach to prepare for, identify, respond to and recover from a drought. Read the full plan here.
- Read Across Iowa: Celebrated throughout the month of March, Read Across Iowa helps motivate kids to read. Join Abby Brown from Iowa PBS on Facebook as she reads “Our School Garden!” by Rick Swann on at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 18.
- Spring break at the library. Visiting your local library can help keep kids entertained during spring break. Community libraries have free resources and offer children’s programs that support reading. In addition to books, you can also get access to technology and learning games.
- Help is here if you need it. Are you or someone you know searching for mental health or substance use counseling? The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services maintains this tracker of providers, so you can quickly enter your zip code and find a provider near you. Senate Democrats continue to seek improvements to our mental health support system in Iowa.