Iowa watchdog group slams Ernst and Grassley for offering “false choice” between letting Iowa go bankrupt and giving corporations legal immunity from sick employees 

DES MOINES, IA — As the U.S. Department of Labor this morning reported that nearly 3 million Americans, including 16,735 Iowans, have filed new jobless claims in the last week, Iowans are calling for Senators Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley to ensure the state receives critical federal funding in the next coronavirus legislation that Congress considers.

The Heroes Act, released Tuesday in the U.S. House of Representatives, includes nearly $1 trillion in funding for state and local governments. However, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is refusing to ensure such funding, instead pushing to let states like Iowa “use the bankruptcy route,” unless corporations are exempted from being held responsible for getting their employees sick from unsafe workplaces.

Iowa Forward spokesperson Mazie Stilwell issued this statement in response to last week’s jobless claims:

“This coronavirus crisis has presented Senators Ernst and Grassley with countless opportunities to fight for Iowans in Washington. But instead, they both voted to restrict unemployment benefits and block paid leave — critical tools that serve as lifelines for Iowans struggling to get through this global pandemic. Further, we’re still waiting to hear whether or not our senators will ensure funding for our state and cities so they can avoid bankruptcy, and whether they will succumb to corporate CEOs’ pleas for immunity from sick employees. We need our senators to stand up for Iowans’ health and safety, not corporate executives and profits.”

BACKGROUND

McConnell called for state and local governments to explore the “bankruptcy route,” instead of receiving the federal aid that bipartisan mayors desperately need to avoid laying off police officers, firefighters, EMS workers, and teachers. Senators Ernst and Grassley refuse to take a position on this dangerous plan.

Now, McConnell is threatening to hold this aid to state and local governments hostage, and giving corporations a free pass to endanger workers is his ransom demand. His red line in the next congressional relief package is ensuring that corporations are able to abdicate their responsibility to their workers. McConnell has made it clear that without offering corporations complete immunity for dangerous behavior, they would not help state and local governments, who are currently bearing the economic brunt of this crisis.

Last month, Senators Ernst and Grassley voted to prevent an extra $600 in unemployment benefits from helping Iowans who have lost their jobs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Senators Ernst and Grassley voted to remove paid sick leave from a coronavirus relief bill on March 18, 2020.

Iowa Voices is an issue advocacy, education-focused organization that communicates with Iowans on key issues as they apply to Senator Joni Ernst and her voting record.