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“It was once said that the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy, and the handicapped.”
- Hubert H Humphrey
This week the bill that was our primary focus was the Governor’s 1600 page government reorganization / consolidation bill. Here is the link, but the bill is so long that it legitimately might affect the performance of your computer or phone. This bill consolidated 37 government departments and agencies into 16. I want to be bipartisan and recognize that a large portion of this bill will improve efficiency and streamline government. However as any rational individual could recognize a 1600 page bill is going to have some errors.
Sadly my Republican colleagues believed that it was perfect. Had the chamber addressed the concerns that were raised through amendments, I could definitely see myself supporting this bill. This unfortunately did not happen. Our collective knowledge on the bill (Senate File 514) came directly from those most qualified to speak on each topic. I joined many others in the Democratic caucus in a desperate attempt to mitigate the damage soon to be wrought by this dramatic restructuring of the Iowa state government. After doing our homework, 17 amendments were filed to clean up the Governor’s bill, with two of the amendments filed by me.
The first of the  amendments that I brought forward was ( H-1104). This amendment kept Vocational Rehabilitation in the Department of Education instead of sending it to Workforce Development. This would have prevented the loss of services and funding for Iowa’s Vocational Rehabilitation Services, a vital organization to the success of disabled and special needs people in our state. This amendment and the others were faced with an uncompromising Republican majority, committed to proving their loyalty to governor Kim Reynolds without concern for the consequences to our state’s future. It was a thoroughly disappointing display of partisanship and the iron fist that majority party leadership has wielded over their side of the legislature.
Republicans would have us believe that the bill is actually flawless, with not a single error worth amending. Administrators pleaded for more time to complete this consolidation rather than having it thrust upon them July 1st of this year, prepared or not. I prepared an amendment for the state’s Vocational Rehabilitation Services to address this glaring and obvious issue ( H-1096).
This argument also fell on deaf ears. Perhaps most confusing of all has been the refusal of many of our Republican colleagues to acknowledge that the ‘cost-cutting’ measures being brought forward often result in a major net loss due to reduced federal funding. Wherever money is left on the table for Iowa, I am committed to doing everything I can to bring it into the state. That’s just common sense. I will continue to fight for all Iowans and shine light on these egregious errors that will ultimately hurt the most vulnerable in our society.
Below are my comments I gave to the House on my two amendments:
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Amendment H-1104:
“Thank you Mr Speaker and ladies and gentlemen of the house,
I think we can all recognize that a 1600 page document will have at least a few errors. My amendment addresses the most damaging.
My amendment is very simple. It keeps Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services in the Department of Education instead of shifting it to Workforce Development. I am against this as moving the organization away from the Department of Education will severely limit the agency’s ability to provide what are primarily educational services to the disabled individuals that need them.
For those of you that aren’t familiar, Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services or Voc Rehab, is an agency that serves Iowans with Disabilities to assist them in achieving success and independence in life through the provision of educational services for future employment. 50% of all Voc rehab customers are under 18 and 70% are under 24. To add a personal note – it is only due to assistance from Voc Rehab that I, like many other disabled individuals, was able to attend college.
There are several reasons why moving Voc Rehab would negatively impact the organization. The first is structurally. At the federal level, the Vocational Rehabilitation program is under the Department of Education. This enables them to efficiently serve the most vulnerable disabled youth in high schools. Being in the Department of Education offers them access to the educational system to help identify students with disabilities and special needs. Voc Rehab begins providing pre-employment transition services starting in the 9th grade. In order to receive federal funds, at least 15% of Voc Rehab funds must be spent directly on pre-employment transition services.
Last year over half of all Voc Rehab agencies failed to meet their Pre-employment transition services requirements (which results in financial penalties). This requirement does not include the millions of additional dollars that Voc Rehab provides students with disabilities (such as tuition and support services). In total, a majority of Voc Rehab resources go to support students or individuals that have recently transitioned out of education programs. Again, with these services beginning in 9th grade, separation from the Department of Education would greatly reduce the ability of Voc Rehab to carry out its work.
Many other barriers include:
Automated access to student educational records and information will no longer be available to Voc Rehab. This means parents, students, and teachers will have additional steps (and paperwork) to complete to even get students the services they rely upon through Voc Rehab. These records are not only establish eligibility, but they are also critical to deliver quality services. The current efficiencies are the key reason why so many more Iowa students have access to Voc rehab services compared to other states.
Voc Rehab staff are physically out in the schools delivering services directly to students. This contrasts with the delivery model for Workforce Development – where individuals self-identify and typically must come to the office for services.
Pre-Employment Transition Services are delivered collaboratively with teachers, Area Education Agency staff, and school staff all across the state. Voc Rehab braids funding with local school districts and AEAs and jointly employees staff to serve students with disabilities. This alignment of services reduces costs and maximizes federal resources.
Secondly this transition could jeopardize funding and resources to Voc Rehab. The funding for Voc Rehab is about 80/20 with nearly 80% coming from federal dollars. Vocational Rehabilitation's recommended appropriation for 2024 is $6.1 million (a reduction of $9,596 from 2023). The amount of non-federal dollars to meet the match requirement for the full award of the federal grant is $7.9 million. Voc Rehab’s financial position is such that the agency must generate non-federal dollars to be able to draw down as many federal dollars as possible. Voc rehab relies on school districts to fund the budget shortfall caused by inadequate state appropriations. (About $1.67 million generated in 2022 from local school districts that allowed Voc Rehab to draw down nearly $7 million from their federal grant that would have been unavailable otherwise).
The federal grant will continue to grow and instead of Voc Rehab asking for more state appropriation, under the Dept of Education they can expect to grow their school partnerships to generate the needed match dollars. A shift to Workforce Development could jeopardize those local school dollars by reducing the number of students served and reducing the efficiencies that Voc Rehab has built with schools. Voc Rehab relies on the number of students it services and programmatic efficiencies to convince local school districts to invest in partnered programs.
The recent LSA fiscal note identified that Voc Rehab will be expected to reduce by 25 employees, 10% of the Voc Rehab workforce, with these employees being primarily field positions. Expecting Voc Rehab to provide the same quantity and quality of services with less staff is not reasonable.
With the Department for the Blind restructuring, The Office of Deaf Services consolidating into HHS, and then Voc Rehab going to Workforce Development, providing consistency in services to different members of the disabled community will be difficult to impossible.
Left unamended, this bill will critically reduce funding, reduce resources, reduce staff, and inhibit the agency’s ability to provide services to disabled peoples.
I move this amendment forward for disabled Iowans.”
Amendment H-1096:
“In addition to my concerns outlined in the previous amendment, I am very concerned about the timeline of this bill. For this bill to be approved by the US dept of education, the state Voc rehab agency must engage in a thorough planning process. This process is required to occur before the agency can switch departments. If the sections of this bill impacting Voc Rehab go into effect on July 1, 2023, we risk losing access to all resources (including state dollars) as Voc Rehab will have no authority to spend federal funds (or to count state funds as match) until the change has been approved. This would pause all expenditures including salaries to staff and services to individuals with disabilities. I repeat - this will pause ALL expenditures including salaries to staff and services to individuals with disabilities!
The approval process requires a thorough plan detailing every change to Voc Rehab. Efficiencies, staff reductions, and any other change that impacts the program must be included in that plan. Additionally, the process must include opportunities for individuals with disabilities and stakeholders, including the State Rehabilitation Council, to participate in the formulation of the plan and opportunities for public comment. After the plan is created, federal agencies have between 90 and 120 days to grant approval BEFORE the program can spend funds under a different department. Given that federal approval timeline alone, it is not possible to ensure approval before July 1st.
This is not a program that we can just move and then decide what changes are needed. Changes and impacts must be thought out and considered before they are implemented - and not after the fact. Not only is that required by federal law, it should also be our expectation that services to the most vulnerable Iowans be handled with care and with the ultimate good of the individual being served in mind. It is not unreasonable to move this timeline to July 1, 2024. We should all want to ensure that these changes are handled appropriately and transparently with input from stakeholders. We must ensure that these services are not compromised. Moving the timeline for this section is essential to ensuring services continue uninterrupted.
With that I move the amendment forward for disabled Iowans!”
A link to the Des Moines Register’s article on the house proceedings
As a respite from sharing strictly political information with you each week, I wish to share my love of history with you by adding in an interesting article each newsletter. In light of the announcement of a new streetcar project, I felt it was a great time to explore the topic a bit locally. Unbeknownst to much of the modern day American public - the United States maintained one of the most extensive streetcar networks in the world throughout much of its history.
Metropolitan areas across the United States were built upon an elaborate system of streetcars and electrified railways. Many cities that today have little or no access to public transit were originally constructed around these networks. The Omaha metropolitan area was one of these many cities, with Council Bluffs connected over the river via streetcar. The system was operated by the Omaha and Council Bluffs Railway & Bridge Company. The O&CB was one of the earliest electric street railway systems in the nation, and was one of the last streetcar operators in the U.S., making its last run in 1955. I am hopeful that the Omaha streetcar project will usher in new growth and prosperity to the metro area as it did in
The network’s layout as of October 1944 can be seen below:
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Iowans Deserve a Government that Works for Them
 Last year, Governor Kim Reynolds gave $1 million of taxpayer money to an out-of-state consulting firm to develop a plan to consolidate Iowa’s state government.
When the 1,600 page bill, Senate File 514, was introduced earlier this session, it was clear GOP leaders did not listen to any Iowans about how to make state government work better for them.
The Governor is calling this a “realignment,” but in reality, this bill is all about politics and consolidating her own power. Here are just a few examples:
- Gives the Governor control over currently independent offices and agencies, and provides her more power to appoint friends who are not required to have experience or expertise.
- Allows the Governor to set up sweetheart salary deals for her cabinet-level directors, while at the same time eliminating certain workplace and retirement protections for other employees.
- Gives the Iowa Attorney General expanded powers to pursue political lawsuits over the top of local county attorneys.
Iowans deserve a government that works for them, and not special interests.
Job Boom Hits Nationally, while Iowa Job Growth Continues to Slow
This week, the U.S. Department of Labor announced the U.S. economy has added more than 12 million jobs, including 800,000 manufacturing jobs. The unemployment rate has fallen to 3.6 percent, the lowest in 54 years. The average hourly earnings climbed 4.6 percent compared to last year.
However, Iowa employers continue to struggle with filling positions locally. Iowa’s labor force participation rate remains down compared with January 2020, before the pandemic. Despite Iowa’s gross domestic product growth, the state ranks 30th nationally.
As Iowa’s population growth continues to trail behind other states, some Iowa policymakers and business leaders are looking to roll back child labor laws for younger Iowans to fill the employment gap instead of growing and diversifying the job market. Last week, the House majority party advanced legislation out of committee that drastically weakens Iowa’s current child labor protections, which could jeopardize Iowa businesses with federal labor regulations.
House File 647 would allow 14-and-15-year olds to work six-hour nightly shifts in industrial laundries, meat freezers, or on manufacturing lines; allow 16-and-17-year olds to serve alcohol at businesses with an alcohol retail license; and employers may recruit 14-18-year olds for a “work-based learning” program that could potentially include hazardous job requirements.
Two of the most extreme proposed changes to Iowa’s child labor laws include eliminating the Iowa Labor Commissioner’s authority to require work permits for minors in certain occupations and allowing the state new discretion to waive, reduce, or delay civil penalties if an employer violates any child labor law.
Iowa House Democrats will continue to fight for fair wages, benefits, and a safe working environment.
House File 647 passed the House Commerce Committee on a party line vote and is pending full House consideration.
Bill Aims to Protect Consumer Data
Many Iowans continue to be concerned about their personal information or data being sold, breached, or stolen.
This week, the House passed Senate File 262 which allows consumers to opt-out of companies selling their data. Under the bill, customers can submit a request to the company to confirm whether the company is processing their personal data, request the controller delete their personal data, obtain a copy of their personal data, or opt-out of the sale of personal data. The company must comply within 90 days of receiving the notice, and must also give customers a way to opt-out of personal data being sold to third party companies.
This bill applies to companies that control and process personal data of 100,000 or more customers and businesses who derive most of their revenue on the sale of personal data. Iowa’s Attorney General will investigate and enforce the provisions in the bill. Companies that do not comply will be subject to a civil penalty of $7,500. The bill now goes to the Governor and if signed, will become effective on January 1, 2025.
Same Pay for Same Work Benefits Families
Iowa women working full time are paid 79% on the dollar of what men earn – for the same job.
This year, March 14th was Equal Pay Day, which symbolizes how far into the year women must work to earn what men earned in the previous year. Iowa is 32nd worst in state-by-state comparisons of the pay gap, with women earning $10,000 less than men, on average.
Nationwide, women on average earn just 83 cents for every dollar earned by men. For women who represent minority communities, the gap is even worse. Major racial wealth disparity is reflected in 2019 Census Data showing a median household wealth of $187,300 for Non-Hispanic White householders compared with $14,100 for Black householders and $31,700 for Hispanic householders.
The needs of working families, from the costs of healthcare, childcare, food, and shelter have increased, but the wages and equity in the workplace has not kept up. Forty-one percent of women with children are the sole or primary breadwinner in the United States. Research has shown that hiring managers are less likely to employ mothers compared to women who don’t have kids. When employers do make an offer to a mother, they offer women with children a lower salary than they do other women.
Closing the gender pay gap could add billions of dollars in wage or salary income to Iowa’s economy and could decrease the number of Iowa women living in poverty at around 13 percent.
Working to lessen the gender pay gap would decrease the number of Iowa women living in poverty (13 percent) and will dramatically improve mothers’ ability to provide for their children. For information about the state of inequality overall feel free to visit these links:
Inflation Adjusted Wealth Growth by Socioeconomic Status (1976-2022)
Total Real Wealth by Socioeconomic Status (1976-2022)
Safe Haven Law Expands Abandoned Newborn Protection
A law that was designed to protect abandoned newborns was expanded this month in the Iowa House.
The bill, House File 425, expands the locations where an individual can turn over an infant as part of the Newborn Safe Haven Act. The Newborn Safe Haven Act currently allows parents, or someone authorized by the parents, to leave an infant up to 90 days old at an institutional health facility or to a first responder who is responding to an emergency call. The person can only relinquish a newborn without fear of persecution for abandonment if the newborn is directly handed to someone at one of the eligible facilities or if the parent immediately calls the facility where they took the newborn.
This bill will now allow individuals who wish to remain anonymous to place the newborn in a safety device box, which will be located at some fire stations or emergency medical care provider locations. The safety device box is climate-controlled and required to have an alarm that sounds once the newborn is placed in it to alert the medical staff.
Iowa implemented the Safe Haven law in 2001, and since its inception, more than 50 infants have been relinquished to the state’s care.
The bill now goes to the Senate for approval.
School Employee Training for Seizures Passes the House
Under a new law, school employees will now be trained on a lifesaving course of action if a student is having a seizure.
House File 608 allows for a “Seizure Action Plan” that will be a written set of instructions to direct caregivers and staff actions to intervene in the event of a seizure emergency. All Iowa schools will now provide training to every school personnel on how to recognize the signs and symptoms of seizures, and the appropriate steps for seizure first aid.
Advocates, including those supporting students with epilepsy, have been trying to get such a bill passed for five years. Prior to school personnel administering a seizure rescue medication, the school is required to obtain from the student’s parent or guardian, a signed and dated authorization for the school registered nurse to administer medications.
The bill now heads to the Senate for debate.
Other Iowa News
DEPT. OF EDUCATION DIRECTOR HAS BEEN A PROPONENT OF VOUCHERS: After the current Department of Education Director Lebo resigned amidst a personnel decision lawsuit, the Governor has appointed Chad Aldis to be the new head of the department. Most recently Aldis was Vice President for Ohio policy at the Fordham Institute, a conservative education policy group. In Ohio, he worked and advocated for charter schools, and he served as the executive director of School Choice Ohio. Aldis has a law degree from Florida State, and is a native Iowan from Clinton.
STATE DROUGHT PLAN RELEASED: The Iowa Department of Natural Resources announced the drought plan has been finalized for the state. The drought plan is intended to help local governments and the state determine what to do in future droughts. The plan is intended to give statewide drought condition evaluations and provide risk assessment and mitigation measures. The plan creates five drought regions around the state. The regions will be each independently evaluated for four levels of drought: normal, drought watch, drought warning, or drought emergency. The Drought Coordinating Team will include the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The plan will be updated comprehensively every five years. The plan was developed over several years with input from state agencies as well as local governments and agricultural stakeholders. Meetings were held around the state to gather additional input on the plan. The development of the plan started during the summer of 2022, and input was collected throughout 2022 until the release of the plan. The full plan can be found at: iowadnr.gov/Portals/idnr/uploads/files/2023-iowa-drought-plan.pdf.
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