Governor Branstad takes one tiny tiptoe forward with the Anti-Bullying Proclamation but then takes ten big stomps backward.

FIRST, this week, Gov. Branstad proposed new rules (instead of legislation) allowing his administration to give $37 million dollars in tax exemptions to big corporations because we “have the money” all while vetoing $57 million for our Iowa school kids because he doesn’t believe we have the resources. We should put kids before corporations.

SECOND, Gov. Branstad also closed our two Mental Health Facilities without a good plan for the care of sick, dual diagnosed Iowans forced to move.

THIRD, he is also pushing his own privatization plan for Medicaid, which could start as soon as January, without legislative oversight and once again putting private corporation profits before the basic care needs of sick Iowans.

This is not good policymaking. There are three branches of government to maintain equal in power in Iowa. The hard work of sitting down to gather ideas from everyone, working through problems to form policy with solutions moving the state forward is hard work but worthy of this great state. Forcing policies through, vetoing at the last minute, and moving legislation by rule-making may be fast and dirty work for the short term, but Iowa overall is not better-off. I and others will continue to do what we can to move this state forward. We have to do better!

Domestic Violence Hotline Phone Number Changed

The following information is an excerpt from an Iowa Domestic press release: The Iowa Domestic Violence HelpLine (formerly the Iowa State Domestic Violence Hotline) has changed its phone number to:
1-800-770-1650.

The statewide HelpLine will have advocates available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to assist victims and survivors with the resources and shelter they need to escape an abusive situation. It is also available for friends, family or concerned citizens to call for assistance and guidance if they have witnessed or suspect intimate partner violence is happening to someone they know. For more info: www.survivorshelpline.org.

Governor’s Plan to Privatize Medicaid Moves Forward

There are big changes coming to Medicaid as we know it in Iowa because the Governor has decided to push Iowa to privatization.

The Governor moved on his own to make these changes and unfortunately the Iowa Legislature has no ability to stop or slow the process between the Governor and the federal government (CMS). The federal government is the only way to stop or slow down the Governor’s privatization plan at this point. My concerns include giving a private company (which has been plagued with problems handling health services in other states) the ability to collect administration fees that are much higher than our current state administered plan. That, coupled with smaller amounts of money appropriated for Medicaid, can only lead to reduction of critical healthcare services for Iowans.

To learn more or to voice objections to the privatization of Medicaid in Iowa consider attending a few public meetings listed in the link below. You have to be registered to attend meeting, so please check out https://dhs.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/IAHealthLink_Kick-Off_Meetings_Flyer.pdf. The “IA Health Link Kick-Off Meetings” will host two Linn County meetings:

Friday October 16, 2015 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Kirkwood Community College – Hotel Kirkwood Ballroom A & F (7725 Kirkwood Boulevard SW Cedar Rapids, IA)
Other meetings throughout the state can be found at the link.

Editor’s note: Iowa Senate democrats will be holding listening posts throughout the state on the Medicaid prioritization. A list of listening posts is here

Home Heating Assistance Available

Winter is coming soon. Iowans who are at least 60 years old or are disabled and meet certain income guidelines can apply for assistance for their home heating bills starting October 1. All other persons, with certain income restrictions can apply starting November 1.

Contact your local Community Action Agency (CAA) for more info: https://humanrights.iowa.gov/dcaa/where-apply or call 515-281-0859. This assistance called LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program) is limited to Iowans whose income is below $20,597 (single) or $27,878 (couple). This program goes until April 30, 2016 for those who are accepted. If a household qualifies for LIHEAP, they are automatically qualified for the weatherization federal program. This program uses federal funds to assist homeowners with winterizing and could include insulation or even a new furnace. For more info contact your local Community Action Agency (see website above).

Office of Bullying Prevention Created

The Governor has signed an executive order creating the Office of Bullying Prevention at UNI. The executive order assigns administrative functions under current law for the Office of Bullying Prevention, but also directs the Office to work with the Department of Education (DE) to address other bullying issues.

Those issues include:
• Resolving inconsistencies in the reporting of bullying incidents by schools.
• Developing guidelines on cyberbullying.
• Giving schools greater authority to address bullying incidents off school grounds.
• Ensuring access to training (available electronically or other means).
• Promoting an existing 24 hour hotline.
• Working with the DE to develop parental notification procedures.
• Creating a taskforce to look at the issue of allowing students previously subject to harassment or bullying to open enroll and participate immediately in varsity interscholastic sports.
• Promoting of a student mentoring program.

The Governor has indicated that his budget request will include funding for this newly created Office of Bullying Prevention. To read the actual proclamation check here.