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We’re halfway through the week!
And, while we’re fired up to get through, we’d caution against any actual fire as a red flag warning is in effect today.
Now, let’s get into the High Five:
1. HOUSE TO DEBATE ON SNAP: Tomorrow, the Iowa House will debate SF 494, the bill that’d make eligible Iowans jump through hoops in order to feed their families. We know this legislation would only cost Iowa money with increased administrative costs while hurting hungry Iowans. That’s why we’re urging Iowans to contact their legislators before tomorrow’s debate. Please tweet the information below or copy and paste the information to various platforms.
Click to Tweet: I believe no Iowan should go hungry because of a political agenda! That’s why I’m urging my House representative to vote NO on SF 494 tomorrow. Will you join me? #Iowa #IALegis
2. REMEMBERING IOWA LEGEND: One Iowa founder and LGBTQ civil rights leader Sharon Malheiro has unfortunately passed away. Sharon was instrumental in Iowa’s marriage equality decision and inspired many as a “legend”.
3. ABORTION IS SAFE AND LEGAL: Yesterday, the Iowa Supreme Court began to hear arguments on Reynolds’ six-week abortion ban. The opposing sides are debating whether there has been a “substantial change” in Iowa law to allow the revival of this horrible bill. We know that the majority of Iowans support safe, legal abortion, and so it should be up to the people, not politicians to make reproductive decisions.
4. NEPO BABY UNDERMINES INCLUSIVE VOTING PROCESS: The Iowa GOP Chair’s son, Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, has introduced a bill to force all caucus participants to participate in person. This undermines any move to allow for mail in cards, which would help to create a more inclusive nomination process and would sabotage efforts by Iowa Democrats to maintain their early-state caucus status.
5. BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH WEEK: This week is Black Maternal Health Week, which is especially important in our state as Black Iowans are six times more likely to die from childbirth than white Iowans. For more information, there is an important toolkit available here.
Thanks for reading and we’ll be here tomorrow for another High Five! Also, don’t forget to grab your tickets to Progress Iowa’s 11th Birthday Party on April 25th!
– The Progress Iowa Team
