Iowans deserve a government that works for them

   Last year, Governor Kim Reynolds gave $1 million of taxpayer money to an out-of-state consulting firm to develop a plan to consolidate Iowa’s state government.

   When the 1,600-page bill, Senate File 514, was introduced earlier this session, it was clear GOP leaders did not listen to any Iowans about how to make state government work better for them.

   The Governor is calling this a “realignment,” but in reality, this bill is all about politics and consolidating her own power. Here are just a few examples:

   • Gives the Governor control over currently independent offices and agencies, and provides her more power to appoint friends who are not required to have experience or expertise.

   • Allows the Governor to set up sweetheart salary deals for her cabinet-level directors, while at the same time eliminating certain workplace and retirement protections for other employees.

   • Gives the Iowa Attorney General expanded powers to pursue political lawsuits over the top of local county attorneys.

   Iowans deserve a government that works for them, and not special interests.

Department of Education director has been a proponent of vouchers

   After the current Department of Education Director Lebo resigned amidst a personnel decision lawsuit, the Governor has appointed Chad Aldis to be the new head of the department. Most recently Aldis was vice president for Ohio policy at the Fordham Institute, a conservative education policy group. In Ohio, he worked and advocated for charter schools, and he served as the executive director of School Choice Ohio. Aldis has a law degree from Florida State, and is a native Iowan from Clinton.

School Employee Training for Seizures Passes the House

   Under a new law, school employees will now be trained on a lifesaving course of action if a student is having a seizure.

   House File 608 allows for a “Seizure Action Plan” that will be a written set of instructions to direct caregivers and staff actions to intervene in the event of a seizure emergency. All Iowa schools will now provide training to every school personnel on how to recognize the signs and symptoms of seizures, and the appropriate steps for seizure first aid.

   Advocates, including those supporting students with epilepsy, have been trying to get such a bill passed for five years. Prior to school personnel administering a seizure rescue medication, the school is required to obtain from the student’s parent or guardian, a signed and dated authorization for the school registered nurse to administer medications.

   The bill now heads to the Senate for debate.