Iowa House Democrats Newsroom
Now Hiring Communications Interns for 2020 Session
Communications Internship Democratic Caucus – Iowa House of Representatives Description: Interns will work directly with Democratic members of the Iowa House of Representatives at the State Capitol in Des Moines during the legislative session. See full brochure here! They will assist the communications director and deputy director in a variety of activities including: -Press release production [...]
Statement from Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen and House Democratic Leader Todd Prichard:
Statement from Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen and House Democratic Leader Todd Prichard: “It was a privilege to know and work with Justice Cady. He was a strong advocate for fair, impartial courts and a great leader for civil and human rights in our state. We’re saddened by the news of his passing and heartbroken for [...]
2020 Session Must Fix Iowa’s “worst in the nation” Medical Cannabis Program
2020 Session Must Fix Iowa’s “worst in the nation” Medical Cannabis Program (Des Moines) Improved health care for tens of thousands of Iowans depends on passing major reforms of Iowa’s medical cannabis program during the 2020 session according to two legislative leaders on this issue. At a statehouse news conference today, Senator Joe Bolkcom of Iowa [...]
Gaskill Announces Re-Election to the Iowa House
State Representative Mary Gaskill announced today she will seek re-election to the Iowa House in District 81, which includes Ottumwa, Agency, Eldon, and the townships of Center, Competine, Dahlonega, Green, Keokuk, Pleasant, and Washington. “It’s a great honor to serve in the Iowa House and I’ll keep working hard to improve the lives of families in [...]
Statement From House Democrats on Tax Credit Review Committee
Rep. Dave Jacoby, Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Committee “The legislature needs to do a serious review of Iowa’s corporate tax credit giveaways, especially those costing the state the most money. Iowans deserve to know how their taxpayer dollars are being spent and a full review must be completed before any new tax [...]
House Democrats Elect Rep. Jennifer Konfrst as Assistant Leader
Rep. Jennifer Konfrst (D-Windsor Heights) was elected by her colleagues today to serve as Assistant Leader. The first-term legislator who belongs to the most diverse cohort of incoming freshmen in state history, Rep. Konfrst will serve alongside House Democratic Leader Todd Prichard (D-Charles City) and three other democratic assistant leaders in coordinating House floor debate and [...]
Statement from Rep. Chris Hall on REC Budget Estimates
STATEMENT FROM REP. CHRIS HALL (RANKING MEMBER OF APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE) ON REC BUDGET ESTIMATES "Today’s news from our budget experts confirms what Iowans already know: low wages aren’t keeping up with rising costs to support their family. Biofuels plants have closed and lower demand for crops have caused job losses for Iowans. We know the reckless [...]
Rep. John Forbes Appointed as Ranking Member of Health and Human Services Budget
House Democratic Leader Todd Prichard announced today the appointment of State Representative John Forbes of Urbandale as the Ranking Member on the Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee. Representative Forbes will be replacing former Representative Lisa Heddens, who resigned earlier this summer. “I look forward to this new leadership role and working with my colleagues across [...]
New Ames Representative Ross Wilburn Sworn in to Iowa House
Ross Wilburn of Ames was officially sworn in to the Iowa House of Representatives by fellow Ames State Representative Beth Wessel-Kroeschell on Friday afternoon in a special ceremony at the State Capitol. “I’m honored and humbled to be the next State Representative from Story County. I’ve spent the last two months knocking doors and listening to [...]
Statement from House Democrats on New Director of Department of Human Services
STATEMENT FROM HOUSE DEMOCRATS ON NEW DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES Rep. Ruth Ann Gaines, Ranking Member of House Oversight Committee “The biggest job for Governor Reynolds and the newly appointed Department of Human Resources (DHS) director, Kelly Kennedy Garcia, will be fixing the turmoil that Iowans continue to face in our healthcare system, [...]
Ross Wilburn Wins Special Election in Story County
Ross Wilburn of Ames won election to the Iowa House of Representatives on Tuesday night in Story County. The special election was called after former State Representative Lisa Heddens of Ames resigned to take a seat on the Story County Board of Supervisors in June. “I’m honored and humbled to be the next State Representative from [...]
High School Students Encouraged to Serve as Iowa Legislative Pages
The Iowa Legislature is looking for high school students to learn more about the legislative process by applying to serve as a Legislative Page in the Iowa House of Representatives for the 2020 legislative session. Legislative Pages provide invaluable assistance to representatives and staff by running errands, delivering messages, and distributing bills and amendments. Pages will [...]
House Democrats Call for Immediate Oversight Hearing on Foxhoven Illegal Action Claims
HOUSE DEMOCRATS CALL FOR IMMEDIATE OVERSIGHT HEARINGS ON FOXHOVEN ILLEGAL ACTION CLAIMS Des Moines, IA -- State Representative Ruth Ann Gaines, Ranking Member of the House Oversight Committee submitted a formal letter to the House Oversight Committee today to open an investigation into the forced resignation of former Department of Human Services Director Jerry Foxhoven and [...]
House Democrats Call for Immediate Oversight Hearing on Foxhoven Illegal Action Claim
Des Moines, IA -- State Representative Ruth Ann Gaines, Ranking Member of the House Oversight Committee submitted a formal letter to the House Oversight Committee to open an investigation into the forced resignation of former Department of Human Services Director Jerry Foxhoven and questions of illegal action. “It's the constitutional duty of the Iowa Legislature to [...]
Next Steps in the Fight for Iowa Medical Cannabis Reforms
Legislative advocates for reforming Iowa’s “worst in the nation” medical cannabis program say they will keep fighting for reforms overwhelmingly vetoed by Governor Reynolds. “Representative Forbes and I called on our colleagues to join us in calling for a special session to overturn Governor Reynold misguided veto of modest improvements to Iowa medical cannabis program,” said [...]
Ross Wilburn Wins Democratic Nomination for Special Election in Ames
Ross Wilburn was selected by local Democrats today to be the Democratic nominee for State Representative in the special election set for Tuesday, August 6 in Story County. The special election was called after former State Representative Lisa Heddens of Ames resigned to take a seat on the Story County Board of Supervisors. “I’m honored to [...]
New Laws Starting July 1
A host of new laws will take effect on July 1, the start of the state’s new fiscal year. A number of bi-partisan bills were passed during the 2019 Legislative Session designed to protect Iowans. In an effort to curb the abuse of opioids in Iowa, a new law will make it easier for those seeking [...]
Statement from House Democratic Leader Todd Prichard on Rep. Andy McKean Joining Iowa House Democratic Caucus
STATEMENT FROM HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADER TODD PRICHARD ON REP. ANDY MCKEAN JOINING IOWA HOUSE DEMOCRATS "We are thrilled to welcome Rep. McKean to the Iowa House Democratic Caucus today. Rep. McKean has a long history of bi-partisanship and understands the value of working together to get things done in the Legislature. Rep. McKean has always kept [...]
2019 Weekly Bill Tracking, Thurs. April 4 – Wed. April 10
WEEKLY BILL TRACKING Thurs. April 4 – Wed. April 10, 2019 HOUSE DEMOCRATIC RESEARCH STAFF Appropriations HF 674 Automated Traffic Enforcement. Establishes traffic camera regulation for local cities and law enforcement (passed House Appropriations 15-9) to House Calendar. HF 756 Federal Block Grants. Allocates Federal block grant appropriations to various State Agencies. (Passed the House 96-0) to [...]
Second Funnel 2019: List of Eligible Bills
On Friday, March 8, the Legislature hit the second self-imposed deadline to narrow the number of bills still eligible for debate, called the “funnel”. While there are a few exceptions for tax and budget bills, any bill that has not cleared a House or Senate Committee is dead for the year. Click to see the full [...]