Work Requirements, DEI Local Offices On Senate Calendar Today
The Iowa Senate will debate three controversial bills today: SF 615: Iowa Health & Wellness Plan Work Requirements: Requires ACA Medicaid expansion population – those up to 133% federal poverty level who are otherwise not eligible for traditional Medicaid – to work at least 80 hours/month. SF 507: Local Government DEI: Prohibits state and local…
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Higher Education Slammed, Two Weeks Until Next Deadline
By all accounts, this was a rough week for higher education, both private and public. The Iowa House of Representatives passed several bills in its continued attack on diversity and social justice efforts, while claiming this clamp down on DEI discussion is actually an effort to preserve free speech on campus. The party line votes…
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First Deadline Passes, Session Hits Halfway Mark
LWVIA Bill Tracker: ialobby.com/billtracker/lwvia Monday marks Day 57 of the 110-day scheduled session, just over the halfway point. Friday (March 7) was the first “funnel.” Bills had to be voted out of committee before this deadline in order to stay alive and keep moving through the process. Bills that failed to make it out are done…
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Public Schools, Private Schools, and Micro-Schools; Oh My!
On Monday, March 3rd, the House Education Appropriations Subcommittee met to discuss the future of Education Choice in Iowa. Education Choice refers to the various avenues parents can take to have their children effectively educated throughout their adolescence. Some choices include public schools, private schools, homeschools, and microschools. All of these options have the potential…
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Our Liberties We Prize
Last week Iowa made history, but not the kind you’d put on a postcard. On Friday, February 28, Governor Reynolds signed Senate File 418 into law, making Iowa the first state in the nation to remove a protected class from its civil rights code. The bill eliminated gender identity as a protected class, rewrote the…
Death Penalty Sub Today!
The Iowa Senate will have a subcommittee today (Wednesday, February 26) on their newest attempt to reinstate the death penalty (SF 320). You can take action by emailing your legislators, emailing the members of the subcommittee and committee, attending the subcommittee meeting virtually and commenting, or adding written comments. The bill allows the death penalty…