Under the Golden Dome

By: 
Carrie Koelker
Iowa State Senator, 29th Dist.

In the Senate

     Governor Reynolds has signed the education funding increase we passed. Setting this increase early in session is important so local school districts can start working on their budgets and know how much money the state will send to them next year. Education has seen an increase in funding since Republicans have been in the majority, despite what you may be hearing.

     The Senate has also been discussing a few interesting bills important to many Iowans. One of these bills focuses on childcare. This specific bill allows a person or program providing childcare in someone’s home for five or fewer children. It also would allow six or fewer children if at least one of the children is school-aged. Currently, a childcare home providing childcare to more than five children must register as a child development home. Finding affordable childcare in Iowa, especially in rural areas, has been difficult. This legislation is one step we can take to help families looking for childcare in their area and provide more options to working Iowans. This has been a priority for me, as many constituents have brought this to my attention. This issue impacts rural Iowa and our workforce.

     The Senate Education committee moved Senate Study Bill 1205, protecting freedom of speech and other First Amendment rights at Iowa’s state universities and public schools. The bill does a number of things including ensuring those university and public-school employees understand freedom of speech and freedom of expression. Over the years, issues have repeatedly popped up concerning the freedom of speech on campuses and a lack of diverse opinions in universities. Colleges and universities are supposed to be places learn and hear all points of view, and it is clear that isn’t always happening. This bill ensures our most important constitutional freedoms are protected for both K-12 and higher education institutions. Academic freedom is a vital part of Iowa’s education system and this bill goes a long way to protect it. Many students within the district have brought this to my attention. This should never impact the comfort level of a student’s education.

Improving the Administration and Security of Iowa’s Elections

     The Senate debated the Election Bill, making a number of improvements to Iowa’s election law to make it clearer, stronger, and more secure for election officials across the state. Over the years, improvements to election law in Iowa like requiring a voter ID to vote and request an absentee ballot. Each time a bill comes before the Senate, opponents throw wild accusations claiming the new laws will suppress voters or make it harder to vote in Iowa and that was continued into this change. We are not trying to deceive Iowans, again the throwing of accusations this legislation would suppress voters. In every election since these reforms began, Iowa has had record voter turnout. In 2018 Iowa had record voter turnout for a non-presidential year, and again in 2020 more Iowans voted than in any previous election, even amid a public health emergency. The claims of voter suppression are simply and obviously not true. If people want to vote, they will be able to vote – a privilege many fought hard for.

     We have wonderful county auditors that work extremely hard. They enforce the rules that are set forth by state law. This bill strengthens Iowa’s elections after the vulnerabilities found after this last election cycle and standardize election law across the state and across every county. It changes the signature requirements of candidates seeking state and federal office to a uniform benchmark, brings our state more in line with the national average for early voting days and return deadlines, and standardizes the times polls close in Iowa instead of it varying for different elections. Iowans will have three weeks to vote in an election, which provides time for informed voting and reduces voter remorse.

     We heard from many county auditors with concerns about one section of the bill that adds new penalties for auditors who refuse to follow the law. This legislation will not punish auditors who simply make mistakes. This legislation will only punish those auditors who openly defy the election law as written by the Iowa Legislature. Auditors found to be intentionally violating state law are subject a fine up to $10,000 from the Secretary of State and the county attorney will be notified to investigate possible election misconduct.

     This legislation does not inhibit any voter from requesting and voting by absentee ballot. Iowans will still have all avenues to request an absentee ballot as they did in previous elections. Request forms can be found on the Secretary of State’s website, at the county auditor’s office, or even by mail if a campaign, organization, or political party decides to send them out or if a voter requests one from their auditor.

     This continues the legislature’s work in bringing more integrity to elections in Iowa, ensuring it will always be easy for Iowans to vote, but hard to cheat. There is lots of misinformation out there, so that is why it’s important to understand and why I went into so much detail.

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