The Iowa Workforce Development released its latest jobs report for the month of December. IWD reports Iowa only added 5,200 jobs last month.
Iowa’s workforce crisis is significantly worse than national labor shortages. Under the failed leadership of Governor Kim Reynolds, fewer Iowans are working now than when she was first elected ten years ago. And Oxfam America ranks Iowa as one of the worst states to work in the country, with wage and labor policies that harm working families.
(more…)Iowans will join together to declare the ‘People’s Condition of the State’ at events in the coming days, in advance of the state’s legislative session.
Working families, small business owners, and local elected officials will speak at events in seven locations to stand up for what Iowans need to take care of our communities, and to stand together in opposition to the corporate greed being prioritized by Governor Reynolds and the Republican-led legislature.
(more…)Two Iowans who have made an impact in their communities were recognized today by Progress Iowa, the statewide progressive advocacy group.
Progress Iowa is proud to announce that Congresswoman Cindy Axne is the 2021 recipient of the Harkin Hero award for her dedication and advocacy for all Iowans.
(more…)Rep. Lindsay James: Parents should have the freedom to take care of their children without the fear of going broke
A new research report details the thousands of dollars that parents in Iowa would save if the Biden administration’s Build Back Better proposal becomes law. The report, released by the national think tank Third Way, calculates the benefits of the child tax credit, child care cost caps, health insurance cost caps, as well as expanding Medicaid, which has already occurred in Iowa.
(more…)Citing her ‘fowl’ record of mismanagement and policy failures, Progress Iowa today declared Governor Kim Reynolds as the ‘Turkey of the Year’ in advance of the Thanksgiving holiday.
According to the advocacy organization, key ingredients for her failure have been the misuse of COVID-19 funds intended to help Iowa families, using the highest office in the state to stoke divisions instead of uniting us, and her relentless attacks against workers.
(more…)Progress Iowa Executive Director Matt Sinovic issued the following statement after today’s historic vote in the U.S. House passing the Build Back Better Act, with Rep. Cindy Axne voting in favor and Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Ashley Hinson, and Randy Feenstra voting in opposition:
(more…)Today, Iowa veterans Dan Callahan and Laura Hubka issued statements urging Iowa’s federal delegation to support veterans by passing the Build Back Better plan. This legislation is expected to invest in the infrastructure of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ medical facilities and in health care jobs for the department, according to the House Committee on the Budget.
(more…)Progress Iowa executive director Matt Sinovic issued the following statement responding the announcement by Representative Miller-Meeks to change congressional districts:
(more…)“This is a democracy, not a deli. You don’t get to taste test voters and send back the ones you don’t like.”
“Rep. Miller-Meeks just tucked her tail and ran, rather than campaign with her poor record with voters that didn’t suit her taste. When Miller-Meeks announced her move today, she made it clear that she’s trying to pick and choose her voters. But that’s not how democracy works. We get to pick our elected officials, not the other way around.”
“It’s not a surprise that Miller-Meeks is terrified of her own record. Having been in office for less than a year, she has abandoned Iowa families, workers, and our communities. She voted against investments in our infrastructure, the expanded child tax credit, and apprenticeship programs for workers. Miller-Meeks has shown Iowans her true colors. It’s no wonder she felt the need to tuck tail and run for cover from what she’s done.”
Progress Iowa executive director Matt Sinovic issued the following statement calling on Iowa’s federal delegation to support the Build Back Better framework announced today:
“Iowa families and future generations need significant investments to fight climate change, improved access to childcare and early education to thrive. The Build Back Better plan announced today will help make those investments a reality, and Iowans need every member of our federal delegation to support it.”
“This plan is the largest expansion of public education in a century, will provide health coverage for millions of Americans, it makes the largest investment ever in fighting the climate crisis, it invests in our immigration system to make it more humane, and it provides real relief and support for working families including housing, school lunches, and higher education. It achieves all of this by tipping the scales back in favor of working families, making sure billionaires and corporations pay what they owe in taxes.”
“Every Iowan should be grateful to Cindy Axne for her support of the Build Back Better agenda, and it is long past time that Senators Grassley, Ernst, and the rest of Iowa’s delegation follow Axne’s lead and put their constituents first. Iowans deserve the opportunity for a better future, but this won’t be possible without the meaningful investments in our neighbors, friends, family, and fellow community members laid out in the plan announced today.”
Progress Iowa executive director Matt Sinovic issued the following statement in response to the Legislative Services Agency submitting their first redistricting map to Iowa’s legislature:
(more…)“Iowa has long been a model for the nation with our non-partisan redistricting, and we hope this continues as the legislature will soon review the first map from the Legislative Services Agency. Iowans believe that we along with our friends, family, and neighbors pick our leaders. That’s why it’s crucial that the Republican controlled legislature respect their constituents, resist political gerrymandering, and adopt the maps prepared by the LSA to ensure Iowa’s districts are fair and non-discriminatory.“
“Iowans are watching their leaders, and expect the politicians in control of the legislature to continue with the transparent redistricting process, despite voter suppression becoming a trend as of late. Our communities deserve to remain whole, Iowans deserve to be listened to, and we expect our leaders to be chosen by Iowans, not politicians.“
In columns, news stories, media, and events across the state, Iowans are urging Representative Ashley Hinson to stop hiding from constituents and her record.
Constituents of U.S. Congresswoman Ashley Hinson held public town hall meetings this week in Dubuque and Cedar Rapids with empty chairs for the Congresswoman, after she rejected their invitation to participate in two different open discussions with Iowans. Following the empty chair town hall on Tuesday, August 31 at Greene Square Park in Cedar Rapids, constituents visited Rep. Hinson’s office and questioned her staff on the absence in Linn County. Video of this encounter can be found here.
(more…)Progress Iowa released legislative report cards today, to provide an update for Iowans regarding their elected officials and their progress. Unfortunately, Rep. Hinson, Miller-Meeks, and Feenstra failed Iowans on a wide array of issues important to our community.
(more…)