Hopefully, everything is going great. October is about to be done and Fall has arrived. Enjoy the warm weather while it lasts! The election date is fast approaching and I encourage Iowans to get out and vote.
I recently attended a public gathering at Overman Park, in Cedar Falls. Rob Sand, the State Auditor spoke and he shared that the current voucher program does not have to report any spending to the state. That’s not the right way to deal with our public dollars.
In the newsletter, you will find topics that are important to Iowans. Please share your comments.
-Make a Plan to Vote to Make Your Voice Heard
-Every Iowan Should Have the Right to Reproductive Freedom
-Price Tag Grows for Private School Voucher
– Iowa Sees Negative Revenue Growth
Going forward, I will be listening and working closely with local leaders and community members to ensure the state is partnering with those in our community who need help and assistance. I’m available by email, phone, and social media, to answer questions and listen to your concerns. You can always reach me by email or call me at home at 319-266-9021. We can also stay connected through social media, including Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. I appreciate hearing from you and I thank you for your continued support.
Thank you for taking the time to read the Statehouse News. Please keep in touch!
For Iowans who want to put People Over Politics, protect abortion rights, support our public schools, legalize marijuana, and lower costs for all Iowans, it’s time to show up and vote now through November 5th.
Voting by Mail
If you are one of the many Iowans who has requested to vote by mail, it is vital to return your absentee ballot as soon as possible. Iowans can track their absentee ballot to ensure they are returned. The deadline to return absentee ballots has been shortened and ballots must now be returned to your local Auditor’s Office by 8 pm on Election Day.
Voting Early In-Person
Some Iowans may not want to wait until November 5th to cast their vote. In-person voting is available at your county auditor’s office during normal business hours. There may also be an opportunity to vote at a satellite voting location in their neighborhood. Check with your county auditor’s office for locations.
Election Day Voting
On November 5th polls will be open from 7 am to 8 pm. If a voter is in line by 8 pm they must be allowed to vote.
What Do I Need to Vote
All voters will need to show a form of ID to vote. The most common form of ID is a driver’s license or nonoperator ID. Other forms of identification that are accepted include a voter identification card, U.S. Passport, U.S. military or Veteran ID, or Tribal ID or document.
Every Iowan Should Have the Right to Reproductive Freedom
A restrictive abortion ban passed by Iowa GOP lawmakers went into effect this summer, which outlaws abortion in the state after just 6-weeks – before most people even know they’re pregnant.
As one of the strictest bans in the country, Iowans are just beginning to understand the negative consequences of the ban. A couple from Texas, which also has one of the most extreme laws, found themselves in an impossible situation when she miscarried their second child and was sent home from the hospital, unable to receive care because physicians weren’t allowed to remove the deceased fetus from her body. After her husband found her bleeding and unconscious on the bathroom floor, she was then rushed to the emergency room where the couple was informed, she could have died.
Another young mom from Georgia, Amber Nicole Thurman died after suffering from an infection while pregnant that her Atlanta hospital was well-equipped to treat but she was denied care.
Stories like these are horrific and are becoming all more common as more and more states enforce restrictive abortion bans. These stories are now our new reality in Iowa because of the GOP’s new abortion ban.
Iowa Losing Access to Reproductive Healthcare
Unfortunately, we’re seeing more than just a lack of abortion-providing services, we’re feeling the unintended consequences of the Republicans’ overreach: a maternal healthcare crisis in our state.
A recent American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology report found that Iowa has the lowest per capita ratio of OB/GYN providers.·33% of Iowa’s counties are considered maternity care deserts, with almost 70,000 women living in a county without a single obstetric provider.· A DHHS report found that 31% of Iowa counties have closed OB/GYN clinics.
Birth Control and IVF at Risk
Iowa Republicans say they won’t stop at a six-week abortion ban. Last session, House Republicans passed a bill that defined “personhood” in the Iowa Code, stating that “life begins at conception”. While it didn’t make it through the Senate last session, Republican leaders have already said it’s a top priority next year, which could put access to healthcare like birth control and IVF at risk.
Iowans have the opportunity to send a message at the ballot box on November 5. A huge majority of Iowans support reproductive freedom and do not want the six-week ban passed by GOP politicians.
Price Tag Grows for Private School Voucher Scheme;
36 New Private Schools Now Accepting Vouchers
Private school vouchers are now shifting hundreds of millions from public schools to private schools. According to data released by the Iowa Department of Education, 36 new private schools are now taking vouchers since the bill was passed by Republican lawmakers in 2023.
Governor Reynolds recently announced that vouchers for the ‘24-’25 school year will cost at least $235 million of taxpayer dollars, which is $56 million over the estimated budget and the cost may go even higher. Already the fastest-growing part of the state budget, the cost will be even higher next school year when private school vouchers become available to everyone attending a private accredited school with no income limits. Iowa taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to pay for the richest families to send their kids to private schools.
It’s no secret that the Republican private school voucher scheme has shifted significant amounts of money out of our public schools, leaving 485,000 students with fewer and fewer resources. It’s especially acute in rural areas since 42 Iowa counties don’t even have a private school.
For generations, Iowans have counted on great public schools to educate our kids and be the heart of communities. But we’ve lost ground and our public school kids are losing out and teachers are leaving the classroom. The Governor’s voucher program is making it even worse for our kids in public schools.
Capitol and Community Updates
CORRECTIONS STAFF DESERVE HIGHER WAGES: Democrats and labor leaders called for increased protections and wages for correctional workers following serious attacks on personnel. Due to the Majority party’s chronic underfunding and stripping protections from Department staff, state prison staff safety has been lower than required leading to multiple assaults and two tragic deaths.
IOWA SEES NEGATIVE REVENUE GROWTH: A nonpartisan group of budget experts found that Republican lawmakers are on track to spend more than the state will receive in revenue. Tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy combined with increasing costs for vouchers have created an unsustainable budget while costs keep rising for Iowa families. While the rest of the country is experiencing growth in jobs, personal income, and economic momentum, Iowans are facing layoffs and rising costs.
TAX RATES SET FOR 2025: Tax brackets for Tax Year 2025 for individual and corporate income taxpayers have been set by the Department of Revenue. The individual income tax rate will be 3.8% for state-taxable individual income. This is the first year the flat tax rate will apply to every income level due to legislation passed in May 2024. The Department also set the corporate income tax rates at 5.5% on the first $100,000 of income and 7.1% on all income over $100,000. The Iowa Legislature had previously enacted a mechanism to reduce corporate tax rates in any year that net corporate receipts exceed $700 million, the threshold was not met in Tax Year 2024.
EMERALD ASH BORER UPDATE: The emerald ash borer, an ash tree-killing insect, has been found in all 99 counties. Property owners with ash trees are encouraged to take action to prevent the spread of the insect.
PHEASANT SEASON STARTS IN IOWA: The pheasant season in Iowa opens on October 26.