Local and national organizations released the annual Iowa LGBTQ Media Guide today, to provide accurate information and encourage appropriate representation of the LGBTQ community in the media. One Iowa, Iowa Safe Schools, Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, GLAAD, and Progress Iowa jointly released the guide, which can be viewed by clicking here.
(more…)Two recent reports show a sputtering Iowa economy after years of attacks on working families under Republican leadership.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that Iowa lost jobs again in April, as our economic recovery from the pandemic continues to fall behind other states. And Moneywise rated Iowa as one of the worst states when considering residents fleeing the state. The two reports come after five years of Republican control in state government that has seen the stripping away of worker’s rights, underfunding of education, and a partisan, ideological approach to health care and social policy.
(more…)Progress Iowa is demanding that public records be released to uncover the extent to which right wing organizations and corporations influenced Iowa’s legislative process this year.
We made our requests earlier today, following claims made last week by Heritage Action, an out of state, conservative group, that they “worked quietly” with the Iowa state legislature to pass a voter suppression law earlier this year.
(more…)The Republican controlled Legislature adjourned for the session just before midnight last night, after a final 48 hours of horror, passing legislation to end the session with a complete regard to the health and wellbeing of Iowans. In response, organization leaders, elected officials, and advocates are speaking out against the reckless decision making, highlighting that Iowans will have to pay the price.
(more…)Progress Iowa executive director Matt Sinovic issued the following statement in response to the Iowa Senate passing House File 813, the expansion of charter schools:
(more…)“Iowa families want their children to receive the best education possible. Allowing shadowy, out of state charter schools run rampant and profit from Iowa tax dollars undermines our public schools and chips away at the foundation of what makes our state great.”
The votes have been cast and the bracket has been set. This year’s Iowa ‘Extreme 16’ listing the most extreme legislative proposals introduced during the 2021 session is published here. The voter suppression bill dominated the competition as the worst bill, taking the top seed in a field with stiff competition to round out the ‘Extreme 16’ bracket.
(more…)At a Judiciary Committee meeting yesterday, Senator Grassley read a prepared opening statement comparing Black Lives Matter demonstrations to the mass shootings that have occurred in the past week. You can watch Senator Grassley’s statement by clicking here.
(more…)Eleven years ago today, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law, ensuring a better quality of life for Iowans. The uninsured rate has been cut in half, insurers can no longer deny, drop, or limit your care because of a pre-existing condition, out-of-pocket spending has dropped by double digits, millions of people benefit from tax credits to pay for coverage or no-cost preventive care, women can no longer be charged more than men, and millions of young adults can stay on their parents’ plan until age 26.
(more…)More than three dozen elected officials, community and grassroots organizations, labor unions, and more have joined an ongoing effort to memorialize Iowans who have lost their lives to COVID-19. Together, this coalition will recognize the more than 5,600 victims with a virtual wall on IowaCovidMemorial.org and memorial events surrounding the one year anniversary of the first Iowa COVID-19 death on March 24, 2021.
(more…)In response to thousands of Trump supporters attacking the United States Capitol, Matt Sinovic, executive director of Progress Iowa, issued the following statement:
“Today’s riot at the U.S. Capitol was an act of terrorism aimed at undermining our democracy, and spurred on by a President who will be a danger to the American people every moment he remains in office. President Trump cannot be trusted to protect our safety. He has actively encouraged violence and there are still nearly two weeks for him to inflict even more damage.”
“In order to protect the American people, we are calling on the Vice President and the cabinet to immediately invoke the 25th amendment and remove President Trump from office. In addition, the House of Representatives should also move immediately to impeach the President, and the Senate should swiftly vote to convict and remove him.”
Experts React to Gov. Reynolds Failed Pandemic Response That Differs From CDC Mask Guidance
Worse than no mandate. Critical loopholes. She fell short. Medical professionals and business owners are reacting to the latest failure on the part of Gov. Kim Reynolds to fight back against the coronavirus pandemic.
(more…)Progress Iowa released an exit poll in a briefing sharing Iowans’ top priorities at the ballot box. The poll, conducted by Public Policy Polling, shows that Iowa voters want more to be done to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, and that they support policies such as a dramatic increase in funding for education and increasing the minimum wage.
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