The following is a legislative update from State Senator Amanda Ragan, representing Franklin, Butler and Cerro Gordo counties:
Iowans have been through a lot over the last year, particularly with the pandemic. It’s not over yet, but it is time for the Legislature to do all it can to help Iowa build back better, bigger and stronger than ever.
My focus this session is on a four-part plan to help Iowa rebound from the ravages of the last year. Senate Democrats’ COVID Recovery Plan aims to:
1. Defeat COVID-19 by rolling out vaccines to all Iowans as efficiently as possible. Our country has surpassed 400,000 deaths and is expected to hit the 500,000-fatality mark in February. With no time to waste, we should use some of the state’s budget surplus to get emergency funding to county health departments to speed up distribution of COVID-19 vaccinations and contact tracing.
2. Help hurting Iowans. The pandemic has sickened Iowa workers and shuttered businesses throughout the state. The good news is that we have ample resources to:
* Support struggling small businesses with direct grants and forgivable loans.
* Help cities, counties and school districts bounce back from a tough year.
* Assist food banks that are serving an increasing number of Iowans in need.
* Exempt federal unemployment payments from state taxes.
3. Build back better by focusing on critical needs. This includes:
* Developing an Essential Workers Bill of Rights that guarantees better pay and stronger workplace protections.
* Keeping local small businesses that are part of the very fabric of our communities.
* Expanding access to affordable child care throughout the state.
* Investing in high-speed Internet that will make every corner of Iowa a great place to live, learn and work.
4. Ensure accountability. An independent, blue-ribbon COVID Commission with representatives from all sectors of our economy should be given broad subpoena and investigative powers. Iowans deserve to know where their hard-earned tax dollars are going as we recover from this pandemic. The knowledge we gain will help us better prepare for future emergencies.
Senate Democrats are currently putting together the bills that will help achieve the goals of this four-part plan. I’ll be doing my part through my work on the Agriculture, Appropriations, Human Resources, Rules & Administration and Veterans Affairs committees, and on the Health & Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee.
What do you think of our four-part COVID Recovery Plan? I look forward to sharing its development and progress with you throughout the year, and I welcome your input to help us build back better in Iowa.
Probably putting people on the committee who know something about covid rather than putting people on simply because they will parrot covid Kim’s agenda.
“Blue ribbon” would indicate that they had won some sort of award as a COVID committee. I didn’t know we were giving out awards for such things.
Billy, many words have more than one meaning. When you get to 8th grade, you will find that out.
blue rib·bon
/ˈˌblo͞o ˈˌribən/
noun noun: blue riband; plural noun: blue ribands; noun: blue ribbon; plural noun: blue ribbons
a badge made of blue ribbon and given as first prize to the winner of a competition. (in the UK) a badge worn by members of the Order of the Garter.
adjectiveNorth American
adjective: blue-ribbon
1. of the highest quality; first-class.
“blue-ribbon service”
2. (of a jury or committee) carefully or specially selected.
“the SEC’s blue-ribbon committee on auditor independence”
Anonymous, you are correct, some words do have more than one meaning, that is what is known as a homonym.. So tell me, who is going to select the members of this blue ribbon commission? Why would we spend more hard earned taxpayer dollars to investigate where are tax dollars are going? Seems to be a tremendous waste of time and resources. By the way, did you not learn about homonyms until 8th grade? Looks like the education system really is broken.
Oh, I learned about homonyms earlier than 8th grade. I thought maybe in your special classes, they waited until then to teach you those skills. Our education system isn’t broken, but many of those who enter into it, are broken. If they had parents who valued education, then perhaps we would have fewer idjuts.
By the way, Billy, Ms Ragan didn’t mention anywhere paying the members of that panel. Oftentimes,there are good, capable and knowledgable citizens in this country who are willing to give their time and energy to endeavors that they don’t directly benefit from.
Anonymous, I’m well aware that often people will give of themselves without expecting compensation, that we can agree on. That doesn’t mean that such an investigation would not cost anything. You seem insecure about your own education as you like to call mine into question. By the way, the education system is broken, allowing students to test repeatedly until a passing grade is achieved is not indicative of a stellar education system.
I am pretty certain my education is equal to or better than yours. You seem to like to argue about the educational system. How much experience do you have in the system? “…allowing students to test repeatedly until a passing grade is achieved…” is part of the educational process but students can re-test only after they have met certain requirements. It isn’t just ‘keep taking it until you pass’. If a student can’t pass after repeated attempts, then special actions will take place such as testing for learning disabilities, or placement in programs to help the student gain the skills necessary to pass the course’s requirements. Too often the student’s parents are the ones who object to the extensive testing of their son or daughter and they resort to blaming the school system for their child’s inability to learn.
I don’t enjoy Reading anything by Amanda the panda.
We don’t enjoy reading anything by Billy the silly boy.
Okay Amanda.
OK, Gabe.
or OK, Babs!