The following is a legislative update from Democratic Rep. Sharon Steckman, representing District 59 – the eastern half of Cerro Gordo county – in the Iowa Legislature:
Even though I will continue to serve my constituents until December 31st , 2024, I am in the process of winding down my career at the Statehouse during these last days of the session. Last Wednesday, I gave my retirement speech and would like to share some of my reflections.
I began my sixteen-year service in January of 2009; my party was in the majority and I felt immediately the responsibility of helping to steer legislation through the House…especially as it concerned public schools. Little did I know that those two years would be the only time my caucus would be in the majority. However, that did not mean that I would lessen my ongoing fight to support what I felt was best for making sure our kids received a top-quality education.
For most of my career, I have also served on the Environmental Protection and the Natural Resources Committees, fighting to make sure that we take care of the land that we inherited…not always successfully.
Early on, one of the things that I enjoyed doing during debates was creating laminated posters that showed graphs illustrating the decline in public school funding as it related to the increase in business tax credits and other such statistics. (I am a visual learner and I felt this was an excellent way to make a point.) However, it did not sit well with the Speaker at the time and a new rule was introduced that banned visual aids during debate. (No rule forbids having visual aids during a retirement speech, so I held up a few.)
I spent time during my speech thanking the many people I have worked with – in particular the caucus staff who spend countless hours doing research on the many issues that come before us; the caucus leadership (which is all female this year, led by Rep. Jennifer Konfrst, who has done an amazing job); the Pages, Wayne – the Sargeant-at -Arms – and his group of Doorkeepers (which now include two women) and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Last, but certainly not least, my wonderful clerk, Bev, who has been with me my entire time here at the Capitol. My first smart decision after my election was hiring her. Bev’s help has been invaluable!
My biggest appreciation is for my constituents in North Iowa, who have allowed me to represent them at the Statehouse for eight terms. I will miss door-knocking which allowed me to meet you personally on your doorsteps in order to hear what concerns were topmost in your minds. I also loved hearing from you by email, seeing you when you visited the Capitol, taking pictures of your families along the parade routes and occasionally being able to help you with a problem by putting you in touch with someone who could help.
I have thoroughly enjoyed representing District 59! THANK YOU!
Our Responsibility to Feed Iowa Kids
In Iowa, we take our responsibility to protect and support kids seriously. It is simply the right thing to do.
At the end of last year, Governor Kim Reynolds announced her decision not to participate in the food assistance program to feed low-income children during the summer.
Even after a public outcry and other Republican governors joined the program, the Governor doubled down on her decision to reject the $29 million in federal funds to expand assistance to feed kids in the summer.
Instead of ensuring every child in need receives $40 monthly for food provided by federally funded SNAP-EBT, the Governor announced a new $900,000 competitive grant program that will feed fewer kids and force local communities to compete against each other to get funding to feed kids.
House Democrats have asked Governor Reynolds to re-evaluate this decision, advocating for the immediate adoption of the Federal Summer EBT Program to ensure that no child in Iowa goes hungry this summer.
Putting Working Families First
When the session began, Iowa House Democrats laid out a plan to put working families ahead of large corporations. Too many Iowans still struggle to make ends meet today and their wages aren’t keeping up with the rising costs of healthcare, food, childcare, and utility bills.
Iowans wonder how more than $8 billion of their tax dollars will be spent as we close the session. Right now, the Governor and GOP leaders in the House and Senate are too busy focusing on culture wars and playing politics with Iowans’ lives than creating a balanced budget that works for all Iowans.
Over the last decade, special interests and the wealthy have received billions in tax breaks from the Governor while everyday Iowans received pennies. The last income tax bill passed left out 500,000 Iowans who also have bills to pay and families to feed. Another tax change pushed through last year has city and county officials furious this year because it slashes scarce resources for local police, fire, and parks.
As the budget process moves forward, House Democrats are committed to ensuring working Iowans are put first. We should take action to help lower costs and raise wages. Here are four things we proposed this session that Republicans still have time to consider:
- Raising the minimum wage
- Freeze tuition at Iowa’s public universities
- Lower costs of prescription drugs for Iowans
- Prevent employers from refusing to pay promised wages
- Expand Iowa’s sales tax-free holiday to two weeks
- Clear the waiting list for services for Iowans with disabilities
- Offer affordable childcare for childcare workers
As the end of the session draws near, Iowa Democrats will be watching closely for big tax or budget changes that make life even more difficult for the Iowans struggling to make ends meet.