House Republican Newsletter

Governor Recommends Schools Stay Closed

     On Thursday, April 2, Gov. Reynolds recommended that Iowa schools remain closed until at least April 30.

     Prior to suspending session, the Legislature waived missed school days up to April 13. Because the situation was continuing to evolve, the Legislature also gave the Governor the authority to waive additional missed school days. She can do this on a statewide or district-by-district basis.

     Parents can find several tools and resources to help their kids continue learning on the Iowa Department of Education’s website. https://educateiowa.gov/pk-12/resources-support-learning-during-covid-19.

Legislative Session Will Remain Suspended

     Following the Governor’s recommendation that schools remain closed, leaders in the House and Senate announced that the suspension of the legislative session would also be extended until at least April 30. The Legislative Council, which I was appointed to, will meet soon to formally extend the suspension.

No “Shelter-In-Place” Order Needed at This Time

     While some are calling for a shelter-in-place, Gov. Reynolds says she is looking at the data and following the advice of public health experts who say that such a measure is not necessary at this time. Gov. Reynolds has stated that her decision could change depending on what new data shows.

     Gov. Reynolds has already taken significant action to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 such as closing non-essential businesses, suspending non-essential surgeries, and encouraging Iowans to stay at home and practice social distancing.

     While many states have issued formal “shelter-in-place” orders, they often don’t do much more than what’s already being done in Iowa. In fact, some of the actions that Gov. Reynolds has taken are often times stronger than what other states have done, even though they have a formal order in place. I have been looking at the differences between Shelter in Place orders in the states around us and what Gov. Reynolds has put in place here in the state.

     What I am finding is that there isn’t a whole lot of difference. Minnesota has a Shelter in Place but over 70 percent of their businesses are considered essential services. That percentage is close to where we are here in Iowa also. I do believe people should be doing a better job at following the rules Iowa has put in place, such as keeping a 6-foot distance, and gathering in groups less than 10. Staying away from public places such as parks or playgrounds maybe should be considered also.

     I would hope Iowans would grasp the severity of the situation we are in and do the right thing by keeping their distances, washing their hands often, covering their mouths when coughing or as suggested to wear a mask when out in public, isolate when you are sick and stay at home as much as possible. I do have faith in Gov. Reynolds that she is looking at the data and getting good advice from the Iowa Public Health. 

     Some of the additional reasons against a shelter-in-place order in Iowa include:

     • Iowa’s population density is much smaller than most states (The New York City metro area’s population density is nearly one hundred times larger than Iowa’s.)

     • Iowa does not utilize mass public transit which often spreads disease

     • Iowa does not have large apartment buildings where thousands of people live

     • A shelter-in-place order would strain local law enforcement resources