News releases

Statement on Governor’s misuse of federal COVID funds

October 19, 2020 Senate Staff 0

Instead of directing more money to testing and contact tracing, paid sick leave for essential workers, food assistance, childcare subsidies, additional money for rent assistance, unemployment insurance, utility assistance, providing PPE to healthcare workers and educators, and to help schools prepare for the winter season — and myriad of other uses — Governor Reynolds is using the CARES Act money as a means to fund pet projects and make Iowa’s budget appear flush with excess funds.

Investigation needed into misuse of federal COVID funds

September 16, 2020 Senate Staff 0

Key Democratic legislators are calling for investigations into reports that Governor Reynolds diverted nearly $450,000 to pay her staff instead of using the funds for COVID-19 relief efforts.

“The time for half-hearted public relations gestures is over.”

August 27, 2020 Senate Staff 0

Reynolds’ refusal to listen to medical experts has contributed to the spread of COVID-19, leading to increasing death and disease and making it harder to restart both Iowa’s economy and Iowa’s schools on a sustainable basis.

Senate GOP failed to support bipartisan effort to restore voting rights

August 5, 2020 Senate Staff 0

A permanent solution was blocked by Senate Republicans, who failed to amend the Iowa Constitution to allow more Iowans to vote. Sen. Brad Zaun, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, waited until the 11th hour of the 2020 session to finally get it through the Judiciary Committee but there was no effort to bring it to a vote by the full Senate.

Gov Reynolds is abusing the power of her office to force unsafe school re openings

Governor “abusing the power of her office” to force unsafe school reopenings

August 5, 2020 Senate Staff 0

“Nowhere in Senate File 2310 does it state that Iowa students, teachers and staff will be required to work and learn in unsafe buildings.” the percentage of time Iowans need to spend in buildings. She cooked up that unsafe and unrealistic number herself.”

Health care community asks Gov. Reynolds for statewide mask order

July 27, 2020 Senate Staff 0

The Iowa Medical Society and a coalition of health care organizations representing more than 12,000 physicians, clinicians, providers, pharmacists, health care facilities, public health professionals and providers-in-training, are calling on Gov. Reynolds to issue a statewide mask mandate to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Statement on Gov’s executive order on schools

July 20, 2020 Senate Staff 0

Iowa schools are being forced into difficult choices between in-person learning and the health and safety of students and staff. Only when we get serious about knocking down this virus can our kids have a quality education and a safe school environment.