The 2017 session wrapped up on Saturday, April 22. It was a hard year for working families and vulnerable Iowans. I have great concerns about some of the proposals that will drive down wages, cut health care and degrade our quality of life.
Iowa’s economy has slowed, the state budget is in the red, and it’s becoming harder to attract the top-notch workers that every Iowa community and business wants. Working families are the backbone of our communities and way of life.
We must change course and make working families, communities and small businesses a priority again by:
· Investing in K-12 schools and preventing more school closures, especially in small towns and rural areas
· Keeping down the cost of college and job training
· Making health care accessible to all Iowans
· Paying fair, living wages to all workers
· Re-examining tax breaks for big, out-of-state corporations
I am proud that the Legislature took some small steps to meet specific needs that many Iowans and communities face every day, but there is so much more we can do. Rest assured, I’ll continue to be your voice and to fight for you when government loses sight of Iowans’ priorities.
To find out more about the how the 2017 session will impact Iowans, go to http://www.senate.iowa.gov/democrats.
Please contact me throughout this interim if you have concerns or ideas to share. The Legislature will reconvene in January 2018, but I work for you all year long. I will send out periodic newsletters, so watch your inbox, and follow me on Facebook @StateSenatorAmandaRagan for my latest updates.
Ragan has a big fat target on her big fat butt, she will loose next year, Minert will beat her bad. Stevie will get vote’s from people that has vote for her in the past, not now. Been in to long, time for some body new thats not a hack like her.
It is evident you haven’t benefited from public education. What do you think Mineart will do for you?
The best thing Iowa could do to the school system financially and educationally would be to start consolidating school districts which would stop the bleeding of much needed financial dollars from infrastructure and maintenance of buildings to the actual classroom. It would also allow for a broader staff of teachers allowing for more subjects to be accessible to the students. also it is time to shrink the dollars spent on administration and divert this money to equipment and a larger more diverse staff of instructors.
I think you’re generally right, but we do need to look below the surface a bit. The school(s) are all that’s keeping some of these small towns going. It’s literally their identity. In many cases, once the school goes, so does the rest of the community.
So. it’s only because of a lack of state funding, that’s why schools close? It’s not due to a lack of enrollment or declining populations in some school districts? Hmmm.
And yes, contact Ragan throughout the interim if you have concerns or ideas to share with her. Just don’t expect a response if she disagrees with your point of view.
All workers means her teachers union and the other union backers of this spendthrift party.
What a bunch of BS. Our K-12 school system needs revamped which will reverse the trend of pouring more money into a negative return on our investment. It starts with accepting the fact that our education format isn’t working. Test scores show this. You can nearly obtain a 4 year degree over the internet and these job protecting educators won’t do the right thing and incorporate our electronic educating systems. You can’t even get your educators to hold students responsible and make them SHOW UP FOR CLASS! Employers love you for that, NOT! Get your head out Amanda. You don’t see a rocket parked outside the school windows.
How involved were you in your children’s education?