We’re just starting Week 3 of the Iowa Legislature. At the bottom of this message, you’ll find the list of bills we are watching this year and where they stand right now in the legislative process. Here’s quick update on a few key issues we’re working on this week.

Medicaid Privatization

We all know privatization has been a disaster since day 1 and it keeps getting worse. In an investigative report out last week from the Des Moines Register , we learned hundreds of sick and elderly Iowans are stuck in a maze of appeals because the for-profit companies trying to deny their care. As mentioned above, we also learned Gov. Reynolds wants to cut another $10 million from Medicaid while thousands of Iowans still can’t get the care they deserve.

We’re going to fight this session to end privatization and put Iowans back in charge. But we can’t do it without your help. Please sign the petition to end Medicaid privatization and use social media or an email to ask your friends and family to sign it as well. We’ll be using the hashtag #MedicaidMess on social media.

GOP’s Budget Deficit & Reynolds’ Illegal Transfer

The first order of business this session is fix the GOP’s budget mess. Gov. Reynolds has outlined her plan to make $27 million in mid-year budget cuts and also pushing off her budget problems to the next fiscal year. If approved, the cuts will raise tuition for Iowa students again and cut another $10 million from Medicaid, which is already a mess. You can find the full list of Reynolds’ budget cuts here.

Over the last few years, the GOP has mismanaged the state budget and turned a $900 million into a $259 million deficit. We don’t believe Iowans should have to pay for the GOP budget mess with higher tuition, fewer opportunities for our kids, or higher property taxes. Democrats will work this session to restore fiscal discipline, hold the GOP accountable, and balance the state budget.