Keeping Iowa a great place for seniors
Iowa is among America’s top ten Best Places to Retire, according to Bankrate. There are many good reasons for seniors to choose Iowa as their home. Topping the list are Iowa’s relatively low cost of...
View Article2015 Iowa Senate Democratic chairs and members
Democratic Members of the Iowa Senate’s Standing Committees Effective January 12, 2015 Agriculture 13 members Seng –Chair Ragan –Vice Chair Bowman Brase Hart Kinney Sodders Taylor Appropriations 21...
View ArticleSign up for health insurance through Feb. 15
If you’re looking for health insurance, you can enroll through the Healthcare Marketplace until February 15. Sign up online at www.healthcare.gov, through the call center at 1-800-318-2596 or in...
View Article2015 Session Focus: Bipartisan work will move Iowa forward
The Democratic leaders of the Iowa Legislature toured the state on Monday to discuss their goals for the 2015 legislative session which begins on January 12th in Des Moines. “Right now in Iowa,...
View ArticleImproving access to quality healthcare services
Becoming the healthiest state in the country isn’t just about eating nutritious foods and making time for exercise. Iowans also deserve access to affordable health insurance and good healthcare...
View ArticleAging population needs access to dementia care
Iowa, like the rest of the nation, is aging. As of 2010, Iowa ranked seventh in the nation — behind such states as Florida — for the percentage of our state’s population that is 60 or older. Iowa ranks...
View ArticleImproving detection of breast cancer
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the United States (behind skin cancer) and is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, exceeded only by lung cancer....
View ArticleAccess to mental health services must be maintained
We are committed to continuous improvement of Iowa’s modernized mental health system. That’s why we were surprised when Governor Branstad announced plans to close Mental Health Institutes (MHI) in...
View ArticleBipartisan senate supports access to mental health services
The state of Iowa needs to do more — not less — to ensure that all Iowans have access to mental health services. Iowa law currently requires the state to maintain and operate four mental health...
View ArticleSick Iowans seek legalization of medical cannabis
Last year, the Iowa Legislature approved Iowa’s first medical cannabis program. Unfortunately, the law’s shortcomings have prevented any Iowa family from being helped. Senate Study Bill 1243 would...
View ArticleNursing care for hard-to-place Iowans
Iowa’s long-term care services receive high praise for quality and affordability. In fact, Iowa’s long-term care services are ranked 13th best in the nation in the AARP’s most recent Long-Term Care...
View ArticleGovernor’s plan may endanger vulnerable Iowans
n January, Governor Branstad surprised Iowans by proposing to privatize almost all of Iowa’s Medicaid system. Medicaid provides free or low-cost health coverage to just over a half million Iowans. They...
View ArticleSafe, secure medical cannabis for suffering Iowans
Iowa took a first step last year to help those with epilepsy legally use cannabis oil, which has been shown to dramatically reduce seizures and other complications. A legislative committee studied our...
View ArticleIowans speak out on need for Mental Health Institutes
The Senate’s Government Oversight Committee heard testimony this week from patients and former employees of the state-run Mental Health Institutes (MHIs) that have been targeted for closure by Governor...
View ArticleHealth care for vulnerable Iowans in jeopardy
In January, Governor Branstad surprised Iowans by proposing to privatize almost all of Iowa’s Medicaid system. Medicaid provides free or low-cost health coverage to just over a half million Iowans who...
View ArticleSenate’s budget protects vulnerable Iowans
The Senate approved the Health & Human Services (HHS) Budget this week. SF 505 is one of the state’s largest budgets, with funding for the departments of Human Services, Public Health, Aging,...
View ArticleBipartisan priorities deserve a vote in the house
As we near the end of the 2015 session, there are many bipartisan issues that have been overlooked in the Iowa House. This includes initiatives to make our communities safer, improve health care and...
View Article2015 Session Highlights
Download a PDF of our 2015 highlights. This year, Senate Democrats fought to provide greater economic security for Iowa families by standing up for workers and investing in skills training, job...
View ArticleMore help for vulnerable Iowans
The recently completed 2015 session required compromise on important efforts to grow Iowa’s middle class, but this year also saw bipartisan successes. In particular, we approved many initiatives to...
View ArticleMissed opportunities will get another chance in 2016
The 2015 session was the first year of the 86th General Assembly. Bills approved this year by only one chamber are still eligible for debate next year. That’s good news since the Senate approved...
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