Grab your chocolate covered cotton balls and share a sweet treat with your friends to celebrate a day of pranks and fun.

What’s not so fun? Republican lawmakers selling out hardworking Iowans so their large corporate donors can grow their bottom lines.

Let’s dive in to our top headline:

1. 1. HINSON VOTES AGAINST INSULIN CAP: American families are struggling under the weight of rising costs and middle class wages that just aren’t keeping pace. But for years the wealthy and corporations have been getting richer while working people get the short end of the stick.
      
      Yesterday, Democrats in the United States House of Representatives voted to expand safe, affordable access to healthcare by passing HR6833, the Affordable Insulin Act, in an effort to cap monthly insulin costs at $35. Congresswoman Ashley Hinson voted “NO” on this life-saving bill. In a video address before the vote, Hinson tried to explain her opposition while promoting a bill that puts insurers over patients. This failure to cloak her intentions simply proves two things: she has no idea what working families in Iowa  pay for insulin, and she is more than willing to prioritize corporate interests over Iowans facing the rising costs of lifesaving drugs like insulin.
      
      In 2017, Rep. Hinson voted for an Iowa House bill that made large cuts to workers compensation benefits, a bill one Democratic senator called the “wish list of corporations and insurance companies.” Seven insurance groups lobbied for the bill days before it passed. And from 2019 to 2021, Rep. Hinson and her husband made up to $1 million in dividends from assets in the insurance industry. 
      
      Rep. Hinson faces a choice: are you beholden to the wealthy and corporate elite or are you fighting for everyday working Americans — the people who elected you? Share the message below to tell Ashley Hinson that she should be fighting for the Iowans who elected her.
      
      Click to tweet: @RepAshleyHinson has sold out Iowa workers time and time again. We need leaders in Washington who will work for Iowa families, not just her wealthy donors #UnrigOurEconomy #Iowa unrigoureconomyiowa.com
      
      After you share that message, check out some of the other top stories we’re watching today:
      
      
   2. TRANS VISIBILITY DAY WALKOUT: Yesterday, dozens of students from Waterloo West High School walked out of class in honor of Trans Day of Visibility to protest the trans-athlete ban that was passed by Republicans and signed by Governor Reynolds. These students showed their support and spoke of their personal experiences. You can read more about the transgender athlete ban and the Day of Visibility at this article on Potluck: Transgender Day of Visibility Clouded.
   3. IOWA WATER QUALITY ISSUES ONGOING: Water quality issues are nothing new to Iowa, but a new DNR report shows that many of Iowa’s natural drinking water supplies are contaminated with “forever chemicals.” These chemicals can cause sickness and other issues if humans are exposed to a high enough level. We need to do more to protect our waterways. You can find out more about how we can fight to protect our water quality here with Francis Thick, PhD, a soil scientist and farmer who writes on soil and water quality in Iowa. You can read his article here: Soil and Water Quality in Iowa in Jeopardy.
   4. ABORTION IS HEALTHCARE: Yesterday, an Iowa Senate Committee voted to advance a bill that would provide a million dollars in state funding to “crisis pregnancy centers.” But thanks to Planned Parenthood, we know that crisis pregnancy centers prey on women who are in a difficult place and manipulate them into keeping their unwanted pregnancies. This vote is another attack from Iowa Republicans against a person’s right to choose what to do with their own body and pregnancy. If Republicans truly valued life, they would get to work solving public health crises like rising maternal mortality rates and alarming increases in sexually transmitted diseases across the state.
   5. TELL GRASSLEY TO VOTE “YES” ON KBJ: And next week, we are joining advocates from around the state to visit Sen. Grassley’s office on Tuesday April 5, and Wednesday, April 6, throughout each day to show our support and excitement for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, while we await the full Senate vote to approve her as the newest U.S. Supreme Court Justice. We will be demanding that Grassley and Ernst vote YES to #ConfirmJudgeJackson and hold our legislators accountable during this historic moment. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is one of the most qualified nominees in history. We must act and show our support by showing up at the office for her and bringing more attention to this historic moment.

Want to hear more from our team? You can go to our online news blog, Potluck, to hear from Iowans and leaders around the state. Want to help progressive messaging and policy in the state of Iowa? Sign up at ProgressIowa.org to volunteer, donate, and hear more from our team!

Thanks for reading, and we’ll get back with you tomorrow for another Hive Five!

– The Progress Iowa Team

Progress Iowa | P.O. Box 548 | Des Moines, IA 50302