Special Session or Cook The Books? The GOP Budget MESS!
While the state’s fiscal year ended back in June, lawmakers are still waiting to see if Gov. Reynolds will be forced to call us back into a special session to finally close the books on [...]
September 2017
AG tells agency to halt part of Iowa’s medical marijuana law
Barbara Rodriguez, Associated PressPublished 10:52 a.m. CT Sept. 10, 2017 An unusual attempt by Iowa to work with another state to transport medical marijuana oil across state lines is on hold amid legal concerns it could invite [...]
August 2017
As complaints pile up, lawmakers overseeing privatization of Medicaid have not met this year
As complaints pile up, lawmakers overseeing Medicaid privatization haven't met this year Jason Clayworth,jclayworth@dmreg.comPublished 3:12 p.m. CT Aug. 20, 2017 | Updated 3:14 p.m. CT Aug. 20, 2017 A legislative committee tasked with oversight of the [...]
Complaints about Iowa’s privatized Medicaid are spiking
Allegations that private companies are terminating and reducing health services of Iowa's poorest and oldest populations has increased, multiple reports show Centered largely on allegations of terminated or reduced health services, complaints about Iowa’s privatized [...]
May 2017
Iowa GOP lawmakers get boost from Koch-funded groups Republicans deny agenda was influenced by out-of-state interests
DES MOINES — Before the 2016 election, political advocacy groups funded by billionaire brothers from Kansas donated tens of thousands of dollars to Republican candidates for the Iowa Legislature and reached hundreds of thousands of [...]
Editorial: Will UI’s Medicaid concerns break Branstad’s state of denial?
Des Moines RegisterPublished 5:45 p.m. CT April 28, 2017 | Updated 6:27 p.m. CT April 28, 2017 Privatization hasn't worked for anyone Perhaps it wasn’t obvious before, but it should be now: If the hired [...]
April 2017
Education took hits at the Iowa Capitol
Last fall, Republicans running for legislative seats deployed TV ads and mailers promising to “fix our schools,” among other such pledges. It seemed there was no issue GOP candidates cared more about than education. So [...]
Iowa’s budget pinch: How did we get here?
• Erin Murphy Times Bureau • Apr 7, 2017 Updated Apr 8, 2017 DES MOINES -- A mere five years ago Iowa’s state budget had nearly $1 billion to spare and its reserve accounts were [...]
For some, legislative session has been ‘nightmare scenario’
Linley Sanders, Associated PressPublished 2:00 p.m. CT April 2, 2017 | Updated 19 hours ago DES MOINES, Ia. — With Republicans in control of state government, Iowa union leaders approached this legislative session with apprehension, [...]
March 2017
State agrees to help Medicaid companies shoulder huge losses
Tony Leys , tleys@dmreg.comPublished 3:09 p.m. CT March 24, 2017 | Updated 5:43 p.m. CT March 24, 2017 State leaders have agreed to help private Medicaid management companies shoulder huge losses they’ve suffered in covering [...]