Senator Ragan legislative update: “Diverting taxpayer dollars to private education is not responsible”

The following is a legislative update from State Senator Amanda Ragan, representing Iowa Senate District 27 which includes portions of Cerro Gordo, Mitchell and Worth counties, as well as Rock Grove and Rockford townships in Floyd County:

SATURDAY: MASON CITY LISTENING POST

State Rep. Sharon Steckman and I will hold a legislative listening post this Saturday, April 2. The meeting will take place from 10 AM to 11:30 AM in the Mason City Room at the Mason City Public Library, 225 2nd St. SE. We’ll provide an update on the 2022 legislative session, and take your questions on issues under consideration at the Statehouse.

LET’S LEAD ON PUBLIC EDUCATION AGAIN

Iowans share the goal of having great local schools. We need to invest in them so Iowa again becomes known as the place to find people who work smart and where hard work is respected. Unfortunately, many legislators vote time and again against essential funding for those same schools. In fact, this year’s school funding is so meager, 81 school districts won’t get a dollar more that they got last year.

That’s bad news for the many Iowa businesses that can’t find the workers they need. Iowa’s schools have traditionally made our state a place where people want to live, work and raise a family. They attracted businesses and entrepreneurs because they turned out skilled workers and innovators. Now we risk losing their investments to other states.

Statehouse politicians also want to take funding from our local schools and divert it to a private school voucher program—a scheme that’s becoming increasingly unpopular with Iowa taxpayers the more they learn about it.

Diverting taxpayer dollars to private education is not responsible:

· There’s no oversight or transparency – Good stewardship of tax dollars means setting expectations for how the money is spent, but this bill includes none of the oversight or transparency requirements for private schools that public schools provide for student achievement, testing, curriculum and so much more.

· Private schools pick their students – Public schools serve all students. Shouldn’t we also expect every school that receives a taxpayer funded voucher to automatically enroll any student that wishes to attend, regardless of disability, English-language ability, income or minority status?

· Rural students and communities will be hurt – Most of the rural school districts in Iowa do not have a private K12 option anywhere close to them. According to the National Rural Education Association, diverting taxpayer dollars to vouchers cuts resources for rural public schools. SF 2369 amounts to a “School Closure Act” for rural Iowa that will exacerbate our state’s workforce crisis.

Instead of siphoning off critical funding, let’s invest in our public schools and in all students by:

· Reducing class sizes and making preschool a real option for all parents.

· Recruiting and keeping more great teachers in our classrooms, by treating them with respect, and paying them what they’re worth.

· Expanding STEM and technical education options that prepare students for immediate job openings upon graduation.

BIPARTISAN BILLS HEAD TO GOVERNOR

Boosting economy with increased hemp production

The Senate unanimously voted to increase hemp production in Iowa. HF 2380 increases the cap on the number of hemp acres a farmer can plant from 40 to 320. This will help them keep up with the growing demand for hemp-based products made from seeds, grain and fiber. In conjunction with anticipated changes to the 2023 federal Farm Bill that will remove hurdles to growing hemp, this legislation can provide more opportunities for Iowa farmers and our rural economy.

Safer schools through radon testing

The Legislature approved HF 2412, which ensures radon testing and remediation in Iowa schools. Radon is an odorless, colorless, deadly gas that is present at higher levels in Iowa than any other state. The late Gail Orcutt was an Iowa school teacher and who died of radon-induced lung cancer. She worked for years to get this legislation passed. It will allow school districts to use infrastructure funding to test for and reduce dangerous levels of radon. In addition, all new school buildings will use radon-resistant construction techniques.

HF 2412 is the “Gail Orcutt School Radon Safety Act,” the bill is named for an Iowa teacher who was exposed to radon while working on the lower level of a school building. Gail became a strong advocate for radon testing and mitigation. Unfortunately, she died in 2020 from radon-induced lung cancer. I had the chance to speak with her many times over the years and am glad we can honor her legacy.

Strengthening the Veterans Trust Fund

Under HF 2501, the State Treasurer — in consultation with the Iowa Commission of Veterans Affairs and the Iowa Public Retirement Systems Committee — will pool money from the Veterans Trust Fund with other state funds to get a better return from the investment market. Earnings will be credited back to the trust fund and to support Iowa veterans.

BOTTLE BILL CHANGES COULD KILL POPULAR RECYCLING PROGRAM

Iowa’s Bottle Bill enjoys overwhelming public support. In fact, most Iowans want to expand it because it helps keep litter out of our streets, waterways and natural areas. Iowa voters want to make our state’s bottle deposit program better by including more types of beverage containers, adding redemption locations, and increasing the handling fee stores and redemption centers earn to cover their costs.

Legislation that passed the Senate this week could mean the death of the Bottle Bill. SF 2378 will eliminate opportunities for Iowans to return their bottles and cans for the five-cent deposit.

The biggest problem with the bill is that it allows all retailers to refuse to accept returnable containers—and there is no requirement that another redemption facility be nearby or convenient for local consumers who’ve paid the deposit on their cans and bottles, as required under Iowa law.

Currently, all retailers are supposed to collect returnable containers unless they have designated an approved redemption center. Iowans have been loud and clear about their frustration when they can’t find a nearby redemption center or a grocery retailer to accept the very containers they sell.

SF 2378 is now under consideration in the Iowa House.

Sen. Janet Peterson was the senator who received the Herbert Hoover Presidential Uncommon Public Service Award this week. This award was created by the Hoover Presidential Foundation to honor those public servants who demonstrate uncommon service to the people of Iowa above and beyond their legislative responsibilities. The awards are presented during the last week of March in the state House and Senate chambers.

NEW ONE-STOP COVID WEBSITE

COVID.gov is a new one-stop website to help Americans locate vaccines, tests, treatments and masks, as well as the latest updates on COVID-19 in their area.

Over the past 14 months, the country has set up more than 90,000 vaccination sites, made more than 400 million high-quality masks available for free, sent free tests to peoples’ homes, and established new test-to-treat sites where you can get tested and receive life-saving antivirals all in one place. Now, with a click of a button, people can access all of these tools and the latest data.