Iowa House Democrats Newsroom
House Minority Leader Calls on Speaker to Remove Rep. Fisher from Committee Chair Post
In a letter sent to House Republican Leaders, Iowa House Minority Leader Todd Prichard has called on Speaker Pat Grassley to remove State Rep. Dean Fisher of Tama County from his role as Chair of the House Environmental Protection Committee and be stripped of his committee assignments. Prichard’s insistence follows a series of false and threatening [...]
Build Back Iowa
The 2021 Legislative Session must stay focused on long-term pandemic recovery efforts to get Iowa’s economy rolling again. Our Build Back Iowa plan will provide relief and help families, small businesses, students, and our dedicated health care workers recover. House Democrats are ready to work together to get the pandemic under control and provide the balanced, [...]
House Democrats Propose Rule Changes for Enhanced Transparency, Safety During Session
Democratic lawmakers today proposed changes to House rules to make the Iowa legislature safer and more transparent to the general public. “There’s no need to put the public, lawmakers, or employees at higher risk because House Republican leadership chooses to ignore public health guidelines. Everyone in the Capitol should be wearing a mask, just as every [...]
Des Moines State Rep. Ruth Ann Gaines Honored with Hoover Presidential Foundation Uncommon Public Service Award
Today, in the Iowa House Representatives, State Rep. Ruth Ann Gaines (D-Polk) was awarded the Uncommon Public Service Award by the Herbert Hoover Presidential Foundation for her service to the people of Iowa that has gone above and beyond legislative responsibilities. “I am proud to receive this award from the Hoover Presidential Foundation. I hope the [...]
Opening Day Remarks by House Democratic Leader Todd Prichard
Good morning, Mr. Speaker and ladies and gentlemen of the Iowa House. I want to give a special welcome to the new legislators and their families. I hope you find your time here rewarding as you serve the people of Iowa. Congratulations on your election. We are living in tumultuous times and the pandemic has added [...]
Daily Coronavirus Update- December 17, 2020
This week the Governor also announced she is loosening COVID-19 mitigation efforts including; raising indoor gathering restrictions from 10 to 15 people, allowing bars and restaurants to stay open past 10pm, and lifting the cap on the number of spectators per participant at high school sporting events so long as everyone is in the same household. [...]
Iowa House Democrats Announce Committee Assignments for 2021
Today, House Democratic Leader Todd Prichard announced committee assignments for 2021 Legislative Session. Below are the assignments by committee: https://iowahouse.org/pdf/2021CommitteeAssignments-byCommittee.pdf Below are the assignments by ,mem Ako Abdul-Samad International Relations-RM, Environmental Protection, Ethics, Local Government, Public Safety, Administration and Regulation Budget Marti Anderson Justice Systems Budget-RM, Environmental Protection, Human Resources, Public Safety Liz Bennett Economic [...]
Statement from Rep. Chris Hall, Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, on REC Meeting
Statement from Rep. Chris Hall, Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, on REC Meeting “Factors below the surface tell us more about Iowa’s economy than the REC’s status quo revenue projections. Iowa has regained just half of the jobs lost due to COVID, and some individuals have dropped out of the workforce for reasons like [...]
Lawmaker: Horrific Allegations in Tyson Wrongful Death Lawsuit Require Reynolds To Stop Hiding Her Role During the Crisis
Waterloo, Iowa -- In light of the wrongful death lawsuit filed against Tyson Foods this week, State Rep. Ras Smith of Waterloo called on Governor Kim Reynolds to stop hiding the role her administration played during the COVID crisis at Tyson last spring. “I’m outraged by allegations in the Tyson lawsuit filed this week, but not [...]
Prichard, Konfrst Elected to Lead Iowa House Democrats
Des Moines, Iowa – Today, State Representative Todd Prichard of Charles City was elected to serve another term as leader of the Iowa House Democrats. Rep. Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights was elected as the Democratic Whip and four other lawmakers were elected as Assistant Democratic Leaders. “House Democrats are resolved in bringing people together and [...]
New Iowa COVID Mitigation Public Health Proclamation
This new proclamation is effective at 12:01 a.m. on November 11, 2020, and continues until 11:59 p.m. on November 30, 2020. Gathering Restrictions: Social, community, recreational, or leisure If more than 10 people: ○ 6 feet distancing between groups ○ Groups limited to 8 people, with the exception of households larger than 8 ○ Take other [...]
Statement from House Democratic Leader Todd Prichard on Iowa COVID Crisis
“Governor Reynolds’ COVID-19 response is too little and too late. After ignoring the pandemic and public health guidelines for a month while campaigning, Governor Reynolds has put the State of Iowa in a crisis today. COVID-19 is overwhelming our health care system and the community spread is the worst it’s ever been. Iowa’s positivity rates have [...]
Statement from House Democratic Leader Todd Prichard on Iowa COVID Crisis
“Governor Reynolds’ COVID-19 response is too little and too late. After ignoring the pandemic and public health guidelines for a month while campaigning, Governor Reynolds has put the State of Iowa in a crisis today. COVID-19 is overwhelming our health care system and the community spread is the worst it’s ever been. Iowa’s positivity rates have [...]
Weekly Coronavirus Update, October 30 – November 5
Iowa saw a record of 18,696 Iowans infected with COVID-19 from October 30 - November 5. A total of 144,142 Iowans have tested positive for COVID-19 since March. Unfortunately, there were 110 more deaths this week. So far, 1,815 Iowans have lost their lives to COVID-19. Iowa hospitals continue to see a surge in COVID [...]
Weekly Coronavirus Update, October 23 – October 29
Another 10,939 Iowans were infected with COVID-19 in the past seven days. Iowa has confirmed 32,000 cases of COVID since the beginning of October. Unfortunately, there were 97 more deaths this week. Iowa has seen 349 COVID deaths since just the beginning of October. Iowa hospitals have also seen a surge in COVID cases reaching [...]
Weekly Coronavirus Update, October 16 – October 22
Another 7,752 Iowans were infected with COVID-19 in the past seven days. A total of 110,974 have contracted the virus in Iowa since March. Unfortunately, there were 89 more deaths this week. Iowa has seen a 16% two-week increase in deaths. Iowa hospitals are seeing a surge in cases as well, with 530 Iowans currently [...]
Weekly Coronavirus Update, October 9 – October 15
There were another 7,511 Iowans that tested positive for COVID-19 in the past seven days. Iowa now has a total of 104,552 who have contracted the virus. Unfortunately, there were another 88 more deaths this week. Since March, 1,521 Iowans have died from COVID-19. Sadly, Iowa has now set a new record of 482 hospitalizations due [...]
Weekly Coronavirus Update, October 1 – October 8
There were another 6,245 Iowans that tested positive for COVID-19 in the past seven days. Iowa now has a total of 95,857 who have contracted the virus. Unfortunately, there were another 61 more deaths this week. Since March,1,419 Iowans have died from COVID-19. Sadly, Iowa has now set a new record of 449 hospitalizations due [...]
Clinton County Residents Now Eligible Disaster Unemployment Assistance
Individuals in Clinton County impacted by the August derecho are now eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). Any Clinton County resident who lost their job due to the Derecho can now apply for the assistance including self-employed business owners and farmers. Iowa Workforce Development is now accepting applications for DUA from Clinton County individuals whose employment [...]
Weekly Coronavirus Update, September 25 – October 1
Another 6,265 Iowans tested positive for COVID-19 in the past seven days. Iowa now has a total of 89,612 who have contracted the virus. There were 59 more deaths this week and sadly, there have been 1,358 Iowans who have died from COVID-19. For the first time since May 13, Iowa Department of Public Health [...]