Enacted By Corporate Kim Reynolds & Republican Legislature

tip of the hat to http://all-hat-no-cattle.blogspot.com

Editor’s Note: In some kind of karmic happenstance, as I chose to write about how our government at all levels has become basically beholden to corporations in Republican controlled legislatures, this comment from ProgressIowa fell into my inbox:

For Immediate Release: July 1, 2021

Contact: Ivy Beckenholdt, ivy@progressiowa.org

Iowans Speak Out Against New Laws Enacted By Corporate Kim Reynolds & Republican Legislature

Des Moines, Iowa — During the 2021 Iowa legislative session, Governor Kim Reynolds and the Republican majorities in the House and Senate delivered one policy disaster after another for Iowa families, many of which take effect as of today. Every significant piece of legislation passed and signed into law followed the same themes: selling out Iowans so corporations that fund Republican campaigns can rake in more profits, and limiting the ability of citizens to participate in the democratic process.

In response, Iowa leaders are standing together to hold our elected officials accountable, and to speak out on behalf of Iowa values:

“Republicans campaigned last cycle on standing up for all Iowans, yet they have governed only to help themselves and their corporate backers. The laws enacted this year are designed to do one thing and one thing only – keep those who have the power in power. And they are doing this on the backs of hard working men and women across the state. Iowans must stay vigilant and must be ready to fight back at the ballot box.”

– Danny Homan, President, AFSCME Council 61

“Iowans are good neighbors, value hard work, and want to look out for each other. Unfortunately, corporate Kim Reynolds and the Republicans running the legislature proved this year they have abandoned Iowa’s working families. Every significant policy decision they made was designed to fatten the bottom line of their funders, all at the expense of Iowa’s workers. We all deserve better than to be sold out for Corporate Kim’s donors.”

– Charlie Wishman, President, Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO

“There is simply no way to get around it. The 2021 Legislative Session was unnecessarily divisive and harmful to everyday Iowans.. Whether passed or simply introduced, legislation to take away human and civil rights, to diminish public schools that are open to all children, and to further divide Iowans into haves and have nots is not the Iowa way, or at least historically it has not been. Iowans believe strongly in our shared value of caring for our neighbors. The question remains if Republican leaders will stop and listen to Iowans who want them to redirect their energies to the common good, or if they will continue to pass harmful legislation in future legislative sessions.”

– Connie Ryan, Executive Director, Interfaith Alliance of Iowa and Action Fund

“This legislative session was an extremely difficult one for LGBTQ Iowans across the state. While all fifteen bills which targeted LGBTQ Iowans for explicit discrimination were defeated, many others which will have a disproportionate impact unfortunately passed. For all the talk about protecting freedom of expression this legislative session advanced restrictions on protesting, a ban on teaching about systemic racism, and an all out assault on voting rights. There is no more fundamental way of expressing yourself than telling government officials how you feel via protest or the ballot box. There is no more obvious intrusion into academic freedom than preventing the instruction of well established topics like systemic racism. The Iowa motto is “Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain”. Sadly this legislative session brought serious restrictions on both rights and liberties. We urge the Governor and the legislature to head back to the drawing board and work on bills that improve the lives of all Iowans and live up to the lofty goals expressed in our state motto.”

– Courtney Reyes, Executive Director, One Iowa

“The Iowa legislature is leading our state down a dangerous path. They are working hard to take away our right to vote, our right to peacefully assemble, and our right to safe, legal abortion. said. And here’s the thing: we know Iowans disagree with the politicians. Iowans were boxed out of the legislative process this year, and politicians ran away with their niche agenda. I am confident Iowans will beat back the abortion constitutional amendment at the ballot box, but many other laws will get signed into law without Iowans having a say.”

– Jamie Burch Elliott, Director of Public Affairs, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa

“Iowans want to be good neighbors, part of a community, and look out for each other. Corporate Kim Reynolds and the Republicans in control of the legislature know this, and work to divide us with fear and lies for their own political gain, and in the interest of their corporate donors. Iowans have had enough of the dishonest leadership coming from Terrace Hill and the Iowa capitol. We deserve and demand better from our elected officials.”

– Matt Sinovic, Executive Director, Progress Iowa

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Progress Iowa is a multi-issue progressive advocacy organization with a network of more than 75,000 progressives. Year-round, Progress Iowa advocates for a stronger middle class, first-class public education, and fairness for all Iowans under the law.

Comment:

Any criticism of Reynolds rolls right off her back. She cares only about what her donors say, not the citizens of Iowa. Her biggest crisis last year was keeping meat processing plants open even thigh workers were dying, because profits were more important than life. She also soft-pedaled responses to deaths in nursing homes. One of her main projects was to get and keep schools open despite the pandemic. 

Lives were far from the biggest consideration. Pretending there was no crisis during the election so her party could win was much more important. Just about the very opposite of what a real leader would do. Don’t forget she is also known as Covid Kim.

tip of the hat to http://all-hat-no-cattle.blogspot.com