New Iowa health care disaster approaches: End of hawk-i

December 18, 2017 Senate Staff 0

Iowa’s outstanding health insurance for children is at risk due to the Congressional failure to reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Without federal action, the state of Iowa faces millions more in costs even though 44,000 fewer children would be insured.

Urge Gov Reynolds to let parents affected by individual health insurance crisis to buy hawk-i children’s health insurance

July 24, 2017 Senate Staff 0

“There is a very real possibility that 72,000 Iowans could be without health insurance next year.  Governor Reynolds should immediately ask the Trump Administration to allow Iowa families to purchase health insurance for their children through hawk-i, Iowa’s children’s health insurance program,” said State Senator Janet Petersen of Des Moines.

Legislators offer next steps to improve child welfare

July 6, 2017 Senate Staff 0

Legislators fear more children under state care will suffer due to Republican inaction on child welfare. State Senators Matt McCoy and Janet Petersen, members of the Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee, offer steps to improve the welfare of foster and adopted kids, and prevent tragedies like the horrific deaths of Natalie Finn and Sabrina Ray.

Latest state deficit figures show GOP budget is ‘out of whack’ and hurting Iowa families

July 3, 2017 Senate Staff 0

 “Iowa is not in a recession. Iowa is experiencing slow revenue growth because the policies of Governor Reynolds and legislative Republicans are out of whack. Delaying tax refunds for Iowa families and other gimmicks will not solve this budget mess. Republicans must stop showering tens of millions on large tax giveaways to out-of-state corporations.  These tax giveaways now top $500 million annually and are the fastest growing part of the state spending.

Wednesday: Legislators host discussion about “Medicaid for All” proposal for Iowa

June 20, 2017 Senate Staff 0

State Senator Matt McCoy and State Representative John Forbes invite the public to a public discussion of their “Medicaid for All” solution to Iowa’s health insurance mess. The goal is to ensure that every Iowan has access to more affordable and reliable health insurance. The event will be held at Des Moines Central Library, 1000 Grand Avenue, from 6 PM to 8 PM on Wednesday, June 21. The event will be livestreamed on Senator McCoy’s Faceboook page, https://www.facebook.com/senatormccoy/.

Three-point plan to end string of Iowa child deaths

May 18, 2017 Senate Staff 0

A three-point reform plan to prevent another Iowa child from being injured or killed by abuse has been put forth by two members of the Iowa Senate Government Oversight Committee. Senators Petersen and McCoy released the plan to prevent another death like that of Sabrina Ray. The Iowa teen had been adopted out of foster care and was being home-schooled when her body was found last Friday in a Perry home.