News & Press Releases
[PRESS RELEASE] Iowa leads again on civil rights
Sunday, May 18th, 2008
State Senator Matt McCoy of Des Moines today welcomed the decision by the Iowa Supreme Court to bring marriage equality for gays and lesbians to Iowa:
"Today is a red letter day for the state of Iowa. All of Iowa’s citizens now have equal protection under the law. Thousands of Iowans who have worked hard, raised families, and paid taxes will now be afforded the opportunity to marry.
"As a life long Iowan, I know that fair minded people throughout our state support equality for all. I have never been more proud of all the Iowans who have worked continuously for the advancement of human rights for all.
“Iowa is ready to move on and will move on. Legislative leaders have made it clear that Iowa will not go backwards when it comes to civil rights.
“Today Iowa is sending a message to young people, both gay and straight. If you are looking for a great place to live, a place where people treat their neighbors with respect, come to Iowa to work, to invest and to raise a family.”
[NEWS] Collective bargaining overhaul dies in Iowa Senate
Monday, April 7th, 2008
An Iowa bill that limits public workers' collective bargaining rights and requires them to pay more for health care is over, at least for now.
The protests and debate led by pro-union demonstrators came to fruition when the bill was approved by the Republican controlled House on Friday.
The bill reached the Senate on Monday, where Democrats hold the majority. Senate Labor Committee chairman Wally Horn, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, reasoned that there weren't enough votes to bring it out of the committee. He declared the issue dead for the rest of the session.
Besides paying toward health care, the bill wouldn't allow workers to negotiate or vote on layoff procedures and would give arbitrators new options when state and union negotiators can't agree.
[PRESS RELEASE] Iowa Senate approves expansion of civil rights protections
Tuesday, March 24th, 2008
On Monday, Democrats and Republicans in the Iowa Senate worked together to approve a significant expansion of the civil rights of Iowans. Both Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal (D-Council Bluffs) and Senate Minority Leader Mary Lundby (R-Marion) were on the prevailing side as the Senate voted 32-17 to add sexual orientation and gender identity to Iowa’s Civil Rights Acts.
“Individuals should be judged by their job performance, not by their race or their religion or their age or their sexual orientation. It should be illegal for any Iowa worker to be fired because of their sexual orientation or because of what someone thinks their sexual orientation is,” Gronstal said. “We approved this legislation because we want every American to know they and their family are welcome to live in Iowa, to work in Iowa, and to help us build a more prosperous Iowa future.”
Senate File 427 would protect all Iowans, gay and straight Iowans from being discriminated on the basis of their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. Similar legislation has already been approved by 19 states and it is already the official policy of many major Iowa employers, including Pioneer Hi-Bred, Principal Financial, Wells Fargo, Rockwell Collins, Alliant Energy, and Iowa’s three public universities.
“Convincing a talented young person to come to Iowa or to stay in Iowa is more difficult when they can be discriminated against simply because of who they are,” said Gronstal. “Given Iowa’s history as a tolerant, welcoming place to live, one wonders why we’ve let 19 other states gain a competitive advantage on our employers. Treating everyone fairly is really a matter of Iowa common sense and Iowa common decency.”
The legislation now goes to the Iowa House. Governor Chet Culver has indicated he will sign the bill if it reaches his desk.
[NEWS] Recession hits Iowa: Falling state income
Thursday, February 28th, 2008
The national recession has hit the Iowa state budget. Dow Jones fell 35% in 2008, home sales have declined for six straight months, and retail sales have declined for four straight months.
- 45 states are in or headed towards a deficit.
- National unemployment reached a 16-year high in November.
- Iowa was hit twice: national recession and natural disasters.
- Iowa state income will be less in 2010 than in both 2008 and 2009.
- The nose dive in state income has created a gap between state spending and state income.
- Iowa law mandates a balanced budget and cuts in spending must be made.
- If state income keeps falling sharply, more cuts in spending will be required.
We will continue to stand up for Iowa families. We’ll work to maintain fiscal responsibility, eliminate wasteful or ineffective programs and not raise taxes to balance the budget. We will fight to maintain progress in key areas such as:
- Ensuring we have the best teachers in Iowa classrooms
- Expanding access to affordable health care
- Creating good-paying jobs
- Improving public safety in our neighborhoods and communities
