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Greetings,
Another busy week at the Capitol. Second funnel ended this week-so there was a lot of fluidity in legislation as well as a lot of behind closed door meetings trying to navigate the end of session.
There were a few wild turns this week with strike after amendments that would become the bill in committee meeting, changing the whole topic. such bill was for Cosmetology that became a moratorium for one year on pipelines with a strike after amendment. The cosmetology bill is actually a decent bill and would’ve helped Iowans who are working in the field, and the strike after amendment about pipelines— was really a Hail Mary, not what the landowners needed, and does nothing to protect farmers and landowners after the next year. They need a bill that protects their land and the ownership of their land, from private companies profiting from eminent domain. I will be working with the chairman in state government to find a better vehicle to protect the farmers- until a permanent solution can be made.
This past week we did the PBS bill that undoubtedly will change the way they do business. PBS for years has provided us with great entertainment that you cannot get anywhere else. Because of the bill, I am sure there will be a lawsuit —and I will hope that PBS wins so that we can continue to have wonderful, entertaining, and educational broadcasts in the future. Here’s a clip of my remarks about why people should’ve voted no on this bill. (Passed out along party lines)
https://youtu.be/W0EzB9N71_I
Visitors are present every week-this week I had time to chat with a few a bit longer than usually while waiting for debates.
Discovery Living provides services to adults with developmental disabilities. Medicaid funding is critical to the services they provide and the flat tax will also affects the services with fewer state revenue funds to be distributed in the HHS budget going forward. Discovery Living Executive Director, Bob Hebl visited today with Community Living Coordinator, Lauri Eimen Becker-not pictured, and intern Sara Becker.
This program is an important one to support. They serve over 150 dependent adults and do great work with them each and every day.
Discovery Living is now a constituent in senate district 37, and I look forward to serving them as their new state senator.
Meet Professor faucet. He hosts fifth graders at the Iowa Children’s Water Festival each year (around 2400 of them)—teaching them everything about water.
Professor faucet was here during Water day on the hill. There were many groups here to provide information about drinking water in various counties.
It’s official - I’ve turned in my nomination forms to run for Senate District 37.
Marion and Cedar Rapids homeschoolers were st the Capitol this week to visit. I’m always happy to meet with my homeschoolers— because I believe in school choice. I think it’s very important for parents to have options for their children’s education and an Iowa we are so lucky to have so many different choices for parents to make. As a public school teacher, I value all education-including school choice. However, school funding is a different topic, and that I believe in public dollars staying with public schools.
Thank you to Kimberly Holmberg from Marion homeschool for bringing Nate Holmberg, Kyle Danilson, Ollie Olander, Joseph Olander, Abigail Sisson, Kimberly Holmberg, and Keira Holmberg to the Capitol today. I hope their experience was a good one.
I received a handful letters from middle schoolers this past week, and it was a joy to read each and everyone of them. Our youth are so engaged and knowledgeable about what is happening around them- and I applaud their parents and schools for teaching them to think for themselves -regardless of their opinions and beliefs. I had a wide array of topics from unemployment benefits, to pheasant hunting-as well as a plethora of things in-between. I have written each one individually back and they should be receiving their notes soon.
League of Women Voters has their last forum this Saturday see their Facebook page for more information.
10:30-12 Main library.
Last week in the Gazette on Wednesday— and the Penny-you should have seen a flyer for all of the Linn county representatives and senators. This is a survey to gather information about our constituents thoughts on legislation. If you could please fill that out and send it in, or you can fill it out via the online link found directly below.
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Listening and Leading with Iowa Values
 The Iowa Legislature reached another milestone this week as it gets closer to adjournment for the year.
Lawmakers have heard from Iowans this session that they are exhausted and fed up with the status quo.
With about a month left in session, Democratic lawmakers remain committed to listening to Iowans and working hard to improve lives. That means putting aside politics, leading with Iowa values, and listening through our disagreements to do what’s best for Iowans.
Here are just a few priorities they’ll be working on as session nears adjournment:
- Growing Iowa’s workforce and addressing the child care crisis
- Putting more money in the pockets of working families
- Keeping public money in public schools
- Making sure no Iowan gets left behind
The 2022 Legislative Session is scheduled to end on April 19.
Same Pay for Same Work Benefits All Iowa Families
Fair pay for hard work should not be dependent on the sex or gender of the worker. The needs of working families, from the costs of healthcare, childcare, food, and shelter have changed, but the workplace has not.
This year, March 15th was Equal Pay Day, which symbolizes how far into the year women must work to earn what men earned in the previous year. Women on average, earn just 83 cents for every dollar earned by men. Iowa is 37th worst in state-by-state comparisons of the pay gap, with the average woman earning $11,000 less than men on average.
For women in minority communities, the gap is even worse. Equal pay “day” for black women doesn’t happen until September 21 and Latina women have to wait until December 8, almost a full two years to get equal pay for equal work.
Today, two out of three women are equal or sole breadwinners in their household. 40 percent of the households with women as the sole breadwinners have children at home. This gap in pay makes it harder for families to pay bills and live comfortably.
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 by 13 percent.
Mental Health Care Access Improvements Pass House
Several bills passed the Iowa House this week that will address much needed access to mental health care services.
Currently, 57 percent of Iowans are living in a mental health professional shortage, and many have to wait months before being able to access any services. Iowa is ranked 44th in the nation for the number of psychiatrists per capita. Several bills are moving through the legislative process that work to address much needed access to mental health care services.
The following bills have passed the Iowa House and are currently in the Iowa Senate to help address access mental health care:
- Expanding the psychiatric residency program at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics by funding 12 new residency positions (HF 2529)
- Expanding the mental health professional loan repayment program (HF 2549)
These bills are good first steps to addressing access and attracting professionals to our state, but they are not going to solve the problem entirely. Iowa needs to be a state where people want to live, and must be welcoming for all types of families. This includes quality education for children, parks, and affordable childcare. Solving the mental health crisis in Iowa must take a holistic approach.
Federal Food Assistance Benefits Increase Being Phased-Out
It has been a tough few years for all of us and some families are still trying to get back on their feet after the pandemic. During the height of the COVID-19, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits increased by $36.24 per person, per month (or $1.20 per day). Beginning in April, those benefits will return to pre-pandemic levels.
SNAP is designed to help feed families that too often come up short on money to pay for groceries. Before the pandemic, Iowa SNAP recipients received about $1.40 per person per meal. While it may seem like a small amount, it is often the difference between a child going to bed hungry or not.
Unfortunately, Republican lawmakers and lobbyists are continually working on bills this session that will leave some Iowa kids without food and health care. Instead of working to remove hurdles families face in accessing affordable child care, health care, and housing, they’re proposing to add more government regulations and requirements that make it harder for kids to get the food and health care they need.
Lawmakers should be working together to protect Iowa kids this session, not punishing those who need food or health care.
For more information on the change in benefits, and how to find additional resources, please visit: dhs.iowa.gov/COVID19/FoodSecurity.
More Investments Needed to Prevent Future Tragedies
Republican lawmakers in the Iowa House unveiled a budget proposal that significantly underfunds the Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Iowa Department of Corrections (DOC) again next year.
Last March, two employees at the Anamosa State Penitentiary were murdered on the job by two inmates. For the last several years, the Reynolds Administration and Republican leaders have disregarded several warning signs leading up to the Anamosa tragedy, including: rising violence, prison overcrowding, staff reductions, and continued budget cuts.
Currently, Iowa’s prison system is 17 percent over capacity while 10 percent of staff positions remain vacant. Since 2009, staff levels have dropped by 17 percent throughout the state’s correctional facilities while offender assaults on staff have increased. As of this month, the Department of Corrections has 203 vacant full-time Correction Officer and Senior Correction Officer positions. Additionally, 41 full-time nurse positions remain open in the Dept. of Corrections.
Over the last several years, the Governor and Republican lawmakers have also continuously underfunded the Iowa Department of Public Safety. Today, there are 27 State Trooper vacancies which means fewer public safety officials on the roads.
For next year, the state budget proposed by Republicans will include a small increase in funding to cover some rising costs, but does not address the current worker shortages at DOC or DPS.
More Iowa News
NEW CHANGES TO ATV and UTV ROAD USE: Iowans who ride ATVs and UTVs could soon see more roadways open for use. House File 2130 passed by the Iowa House would create a statewide policy that would allow ATVs and UTVs to be ridden on secondary county roads and some non-interstate primary roads. Currently, individual counties determine their policy for ATV and UTV use within their jurisdiction. The change in the law is supported by a large number of the ATV groups across the state, whListening and Leading with Iowa Values
The Iowa Legislature reached another milestone this week as it gets closer to adjournment for the year.
Lawmakers have heard from Iowans this session that they are exhausted and fed up with the status quo.
With about a month left in session, Democratic lawmakers remain committed to listening to Iowans and working hard to improve lives. That means putting aside politics, leading with Iowa values, and listening through our disagreements to do what’s best for Iowans.
Here are just a few priorities they’ll be working on as session nears adjournment:
- Growing Iowa’s workforce and addressing the child care crisis
- Putting more money in the pockets of working families
- Keeping public money in public schools
- Making sure no Iowan gets left behind
The 2022 Legislative Session is scheduled to end on April 19.
Same Pay for Same Work Benefits All Iowa Families
Fair pay for hard work should not be dependent on the sex or gender of the worker. The needs of working families, from the costs of healthcare, childcare, food, and shelter have changed, but the workplace has not.
This year, March 15th was Equal Pay Day, which symbolizes how far into the year women must work to earn what men earned in the previous year. Women on average, earn just 83 cents for every dollar earned by men. Iowa is 37th worst in state-by-state comparisons of the pay gap, with the average woman earning $11,000 less than men on average.
For women in minority communities, the gap is even worse. Equal pay “day” for black women doesn’t happen until September 21 and Latina women have to wait until December 8, almost a full two years to get equal pay for equal work.
Today, two out of three women are equal or sole breadwinners in their household. 40 percent of the households with women as the sole breadwinners have children at home. This gap in pay makes it harder for families to pay bills and live comfortably.
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 by 13 percent.
Mental Health Care Access Improvements Pass House
Several bills passed the Iowa House this week that will address much needed access to mental health care services.
Currently, 57 percent of Iowans are living in a mental health professional shortage, and many have to wait months before being able to access any services. Iowa is ranked 44th in the nation for the number of psychiatrists per capita. Several bills are moving through the legislative process that work to address much needed access to mental health care services.
The following bills have passed the Iowa House and are currently in the Iowa Senate to help address access mental health care:
- Expanding the psychiatric residency program at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics by funding 12 new residency positions (HF 2529)
- Expanding the mental health professional loan repayment program (HF 2549)
These bills are good first steps to addressing access and attracting professionals to our state, but they are not going to solve the problem entirely. Iowa needs to be a state where people want to live, and must be welcoming for all types of families. This includes quality education for children, parks, and affordable childcare. Solving the mental health crisis in Iowa must take a holistic approach.
Federal Food Assistance Benefits Increase Being Phased-Out
It has been a tough few years for all of us and some families are still trying to get back on their feet after the pandemic. During the height of the COVID-19, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits increased by $36.24 per person, per month (or $1.20 per day). Beginning in April, those benefits will return to pre-pandemic levels.
SNAP is designed to help feed families that too often come up short on money to pay for groceries. Before the pandemic, Iowa SNAP recipients received about $1.40 per person per meal. While it may seem like a small amount, it is often the difference between a child going to bed hungry or not.
Unfortunately, Republican lawmakers and lobbyists are continually working on bills this session that will leave some Iowa kids without food and health care. Instead of working to remove hurdles families face in accessing affordable child care, health care, and housing, they’re proposing to add more government regulations and requirements that make it harder for kids to get the food and health care they need.
Lawmakers should be working together to protect Iowa kids this session, not punishing those who need food or health care.
For more information on the change in benefits, and how to find additional resources, please visit: dhs.iowa.gov/COVID19/FoodSecurity.
More Investments Needed to Prevent Future Tragedies
Republican lawmakers in the Iowa House unveiled a budget proposal that significantly underfunds the Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Iowa Department of Corrections (DOC) again next year.
Last March, two employees at the Anamosa State Penitentiary were murdered on the job by two inmates. For the last several years, the Reynolds Administration and Republican leaders have disregarded several warning signs leading up to the Anamosa tragedy, including: rising violence, prison overcrowding, staff reductions, and continued budget cuts.
Currently, Iowa’s prison system is 17 percent over capacity while 10 percent of staff positions remain vacant. Since 2009, staff levels have dropped by 17 percent throughout the state’s correctional facilities while offender assaults on staff have increased. As of this month, the Department of Corrections has 203 vacant full-time Correction Officer and Senior Correction Officer positions. Additionally, 41 full-time nurse positions remain open in the Dept. of Corrections.
Over the last several years, the Governor and Republican lawmakers have also continuously underfunded the Iowa Department of Public Safety. Today, there are 27 State Trooper vacancies which means fewer public safety officials on the roads.
For next year, the state budget proposed by Republicans will include a small increase in funding to cover some rising costs, but does not address the current worker shortages at DOC or DPS.
More Iowa News
NEW CHANGES TO ATV and UTV ROAD USE: Iowans who ride ATVs and UTVs could soon see more roadways open for use. House File 2130 passed by the Iowa House would create a statewide policy that would allow ATVs and UTVs to be ridden on secondary county roads and some non-interstate primary roads. Currently, individual counties determine their policy for ATV and UTV use within their jurisdiction. The change in the law is supported by a large number of the ATV groups across the state, who argue the restriction on certain roads is bad for the economy and sometimes inconvenient. Those who oppose the change worry that having ATVs and UTVs that were not built for normal road conditions and traveling at low speeds could create a danger for drivers. There would be some regulations on the riders of the ATVs and UTVs, such as a requirement to carry liability insurance as well having their headlights on at all times. The legislation now heads to the Iowa Senate for consideration.
RESERVE YOUR CAMPING SPOT FOR MEMORIAL DAY: It’s time to start thinking about reserving your camping spots for Memorial Day camping at Iowa’s state parks. Campers can start making reservations online starting March 1. Reservations for campsites can be made up to three months in advance. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has implemented dynamic pricing for campsites. To find a list of state parks and reservations available, check out iowadnr.gov/Places-to-Go.
 PUSH FOR MORE YOUTH HUNTING: To encourage more youth to foster a relationship with our natural resources, the Iowa House passed a proposal that would allow a resident of Iowa who is under the age of 16 to accompany an adult (with an applicable license) while trapping, hunting, and fur harvest without being licensed. However, the minor would not be able to participate in the hunting or trapping, and cannot carry a firearm. Allowing minors to accompany an adult would be a great opportunity for them to learn how to do these activities safely. Currently for youth under the age of 16 to participate they need an applicable license. HF 2209 goes to the Senate for consideration.
MAKING IOWA ROADS SAFER: This week the House approved a proposal to increase the fine for not stopping at railroad crossings when the warning lights are flashing or the stop arms are down. The bill, HF 2537, increases fines from $260 to $520. In lieu of paying the fine, violators can take a driver improvement program offered by the Department of Transportation within 90 days of the violation. In an effort to reduce roadside fatalities, all drivers must move over or slow down for any vehicle stopped on the side of the road with flashing lights, including passenger cars with hazard lights flashing. The fine for not moving over is $100 plus court fees. Help make Iowa’s roads safer by slowing down in construction zones, following posted speed limits, and eliminate distracted driving.court fees. Help make Iowa’s roads safer by slowing down in construction zones, following posted speed limits, and eliminate distracted driving.
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I am honored to represent all of you in house district 68 for this last session as well as those of you in my future senate district 37.
I thank you for your support as your State Representative, and I look forward to your continued support as I work to become your new State Senator after the current session.
I understand there are some who have a different opinion about the legislation and choices made on the floor, but I hope to keep communication lines open for all to continue to share their concerns with me.
It is my plan, as always, to work with everyone in the state house to better my district and the state. I look forward to bipartisan efforts that I know we will have to move Iowa forward.
Please follow my Facebook page for updates on what’s happening around the district. I will do my best to kept events listed there over the coming months.
Go to the link below and like my legislative page to keep up to date:
https://m.facebook.com/DonahueForIA/
As your representative, I am available throughout the year for questions, concerns, and suggestions. Please contact me if you have any concerns, questions, or comments:
https://m.facebook.com/DonahueForIA/
Molly.Donahue@legis.iowa.gov
It is truly an honor to serve you and I am looking forward to what the future brings as I run for senate in SD37 in 2022.
Warmest regards,
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