First let me mention that Congressman Dave Loebsack will be holding open meetings over coffee at various spots across his district this morning. My apologies for not posting sooner, but my life has been quite hectic lately and the day simply snuck up on me. These coffee are a very good way to exchange thoughts with our congressman. He really is interested in what you are thinking. Here is his schedule for this round of coffees today:
| You’re Invited!
Congressman Dave Loebsack is pleased to invite you to join him for a cup of coffee and an opportunity to ask questions, voice concerns, share ideas, and discuss issues of importance. Dave hosts Coffee with your Congressman events in both Washington, D.C. when the House is in session, as well as throughout Iowa’s Second Congressional District. All Iowans visiting Washington, D.C. are invited to join him each week the House is in session. Any Iowan is also welcome to attend a Coffee with your Congressman event near you. A list of locations and times are below. There is no need to RSVP for events in Iowa. If you plan on being in Washington, please RSVP by filling out the form below or contact our office at 202-225-6576. We look forward to you joining us! Iowa Coffee with your Congressman Stops Saturday, March 9 Iowa City 9:15am Dodge Street Coffeehouse 2790 N. Dodge Street Newton Noon Uncle Nancy’s 114 N 2nd Ave W Knoxville 1:45pm The Coffee Connection 213 E Main Street #101 Oskaloosa 3:30pm Smokey Row 109 S Market Street |
Meet With Congresswoman Finkenauer: (also today)
03/09/2019 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM Conversation with US Rep. Finkenauer – Vinton
03/09/2019 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM Conversation with US Rep. Abby Finkenauer – Grinnell
Forums and Listening Posts
Next, a reminder that this was “funnel” week in Des Moines. This is the time where committees decide what bills will be worked on and what bills won’t. This would be a good time to attend a forum and find out what direction Iowa is heading. The following list is once more gleaned from infonetiowa.org www.infonetiowa.org/calendar/events/. When you find a forum you want to attend, click on the link for the specific address. Once again, major thanks to infonetiowa.org for this information.
03/09/2019 Event Time TBD Legislative Forum – Corning
03/09/2019 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Legislative Coffee – Creston
03/09/2019 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM Listening Post – Humboldt
03/09/2019 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM Eggs & Issues – Oskaloosa
03/09/2019 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Legislative Forum – Bondurant
03/09/2019 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Legislative Forum – Clinton
03/09/2019 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Legislative Forum – Wilton
03/09/2019 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Legislative Forum – Spencer
03/09/2019 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Town Hall – Merrill
03/09/2019 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Legislative Coffee – Council Bluffs
03/09/2019 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM Legislative Coffee – Waukee
03/09/2019 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Listening Post – West Des Moines
03/09/2019 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Legislative Forum – Denison
03/09/2019 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Town Hall – Remsen
03/09/2019 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Listening Post – Pocahontas
03/09/2019 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Legislative Forum – Okoboji
03/09/2019 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Legislative Forum – Des Moines
03/09/2019 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM Legislative Forum – Waterloo
03/11/2019 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM Coffee with Marti-Des Moines
03/15/2019 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Office Hours – Ankeny
03/15/2019 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Legislative Forum – Manchester
03/15/2019 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Legislative Forum – Hawarden
03/15/2019 12:00 PM – 1:00 AM Legislative Forum – Fort Madison
Issues:
Finally, below is a list of issues that the Iowa State Progressive Network sent out earlier in the week. This can be a guide for what will be discussed at the forums. Hopefully some of these issues did not survive funnel week:
Important Deadline This Week!
This week is the first deadline this session to winnow the number of bills that are still eligible to debate this year. In order to remain eligible, a bill must be approved by a committee in the House or Senate. That means there will be heavy subcommittee and committee work at the State Capitol all week long. There are a lot of bills to keep track of this week so check the full list of bills below to see what you can do to help. Here are just a few key bills we’re watching this year:
Vouchers Are Back Again
The Republican plan to create a new voucher scheme in Iowa is back again this year. If approved, it will divert hundreds of millions from public schools to home schools/private schools instead (SF 372). After years of underfunding by Republicans, our public schools can’t afford it. While the bill may be stalled right now in the Senate, we need to keep the pressure on to make sure it doesn’t make the deadline this week.
Protect A Women’s Right to Make Her Own Decisions
After the Iowa Supreme Court ruled the GOP bill that bans abortion in all cases was unconstitutional (as everyone knew it was), the GOP is back with a idea this year (HJR 5) to amend our constitution with a total ban on abortion, even in cases of rape or incest. The proprosed bill would take away a woman’s right to make decisions that are best made by a woman, her family, and her doctor.
Eliminate Gun Permits + Guns in Schools & Churches
While Republicans lawmakers have already kept a bill alive that eliminates background checks for guns, two other bills under consideration this year would eliminate all permits to carry concealed weapons (HF 118), allow guns on school grounds (HF 118), and allow conealed weapons in places of worship (HF 51).
Bill Watch
Below is a list of bills we’re tracking this session that may be of interest to you. As session continues, we’ll be updating this list for you to keep you up to speed on the legislative process and take action.
| Democratic Bills: Improving Life for Everyday Iowans | |||
| Bill # | Bill Description | Current Status | Take Action |
| HF 135/SF 156 | Fixing Medicaid Privatization | House/Senate Human Resources | |
| HF 383 | Investing in public schools beyond rate of inflation | House Education Committee (GOP passed another record low investment in public schools) | |
| HF 147/SF 176 | Restoring the rights of Iowa workers | House/Senate Labor | |
| SF 107 | Protect the wages earned by employees | Senate Labor | |
| HF 109/SF 117 | Reasonable accomodations for prenancy/child birth | House/Senate Labor | |
| SF 72 | Affordable housing/revitalizing old homes | Senate State Government | |
| HF 91/SF 247 | Raise Minimum Wage | House/Senate Labor | |
| SF 104/HF 221 | Expand Medical cannabis use | House Public Safety | |
| HF 129 | End GOP voter suppression/voter ID law | House State Government | |
| HF 501 | Help working families with high cost of child care | House Human Resources | |
| Bad Ideas from GOP Lawmakers | |||
| Bill # | Bill Description | Current Status | Take Action |
| SJR 9/HJR 5 | Constitutional Amendment banning abortion in all cases | Senate State Government/House Judiciary | Contact your lawmaker |
| SF 237/HF 503 | Politicize judicial branch by allowing GOP to appoint all judges | Senate Floor/House Floor | Contact your lawmaker |
| HJR 13 | Eliminates Background Checks; allows guns on college campuses, state fairgrounds, school buses | House Floor | |
| HF 257 | Eliminate education funding to Planned Parenthood | House Human Resources Committee | |
| SF 27 | Prohibits tenure at state universities/community colleges | Senate Education | |
| SF 240 | Religious exemptions, license to discriminate (similar to North Carolina) | Senate Local Government | |
| SF 28 | Vouchers + eliminate Iowa Dept. of Education & Iowa Public TV | Senate Education | |
| SF 372 | Vouchers for private schools/home schools | Senate Education | |
| HF 259 | Allows concealed weapons in weapon free zones, courthouses, and public/private workplaces | House Floor | |
| HF 542 | Prohibits state dollars from aquiring public land for parks, bike trails, hunting, fishing, or other recreation | House Natural Resources | |
| HF 51 | Allows concealed weapons in places of worship | House Public Safety | |
| SF 259 | Personhood; bans abortion in all cases | Senate Judiciary Comittee | |
| HF 160 | Expands & reduces requirements for Charter Schools | House Education | |
| HF 448 | Loosens requirements on immunizations | House Human Resources | |
| HF 249 | Legalize the date rape druge and other hallucinogenic drugs like LSD | House Public Safety | |
| HF 248 | Legalize mushrooms and other psychedelic drugs | House Public Safety | |
| HF 118 | Eliminates permits to carry concealed guns; allows guns on school grounds | House Public Safety | |
| HF 62 | Reinstates the death penalty | House Judiciary Committee | |
| HF 194 | Requires Iowa kids to read a Russian book before graduating high school | House Education Committee | |
| HF 187 | Prohibits fluoride in drinking water | House Environmental Protection | |
| HF 172 | Repeal the state inheritance tax | House Ways & Means | |
| SSB 1149 | One week waiting period for unemployment | Senate Labor & Business Relations | |
| DONE | |||
| HF 306/SF 172 | Low funding for public schools | Passed House and Senate; Signed by Governor |
