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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. 

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.

A diverse coalition of Iowans are encouraging voter participation today, and calling for every vote cast in this year’s election to be counted so that the voice of every Iowan and American is heard. 

Progress Iowa and Protect Our Care have released a new health care voter guide for Iowans detailing what’s at stake this election. Several elected officials have misled Iowans, hiding their voting records and positions regarding the Affordable Care Act.

As President Trump flies toward Iowa for a campaign event with the potential to be a super spreader of COVID-19, fifty-one percent of likely voters in Iowa believe that the Supreme Court nomination process should be put on hold until after the election, and the same number believe that holding today’s event is irresponsible, according to a new poll released today by the advocacy group Progress Iowa. 

A new Change Research poll on behalf of Protect Our Care released today shows voters in states with competitive Senate races, including Iowa, overwhelmingly disapprove of the Trump-Republican lawsuit to overturn the Affordable Care Act — which would rip coverage from more than 20 million Americans, including 227,000 Iowans, and remove protections for more than 135 million people with a pre-existing condition, including 1,288,400 Iowans.

Protect Our Care released a new report detailing the impact that overturning the Affordable Care Act would have on people with pre-existing conditions. The report comes as Senator Joni Ernst and Senate Republicans work to obscure their records on pre-existing conditions protections by voting for meaningless bills in an effort to falsely reassure voters.

Last night multiple news outlets reported that President Trump plans to nominate Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the United States Supreme Court. Judge Barrett has publicly stated her opposition to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and disagreed with Chief Justice Roberts’ ruling in the 2012 case upholding the landmark law. On November 10th, the court will hear arguments in California v. Texas, the case being promoted by the President and Republican Attorneys General to overturn the ACA. According to the Economic Policy Institute, if the ACA is repealed, 230,000 Iowans would lose health insurance, and more than 6,000 Iowans would lose their job.

Senator Ernst owes Iowans an explanation and apology

Progress Iowa Executive Director Matt Sinovic issued the following statement in response to recordings released today of President Trump saying that COVID-19 “is deadly stuff” on February 7th, while Senator Joni Ernst was mocking the disease more than three weeks later at a private event, on February 29th:

Corruption, dishonesty, mismanagement led to tragic and unnecessary deaths; At current pace, COVID-19 could trail only heart disease and cancer for cause of death in Iowa

Progress Iowa executive director Matt Sinovic issued the following statement in response to Iowa surpassing 1,000 deaths from COVID-19:

On Thursday, Senator Ernst and her colleagues adjourned the Senate—choosing to go home until September while American families suffer the crushing economic impacts of Donald Trump’s failed coronavirus pandemic response. 

Reynolds should be laser focused on recovery, not Pence’s political visit

Des Moines, Iowa — Progress Iowa executive director Matt Sinovic issued the following statement calling on Gov. Kim Reynolds to demand a Presidential Disaster Declaration and as much federal assistance as possible following Monday’s derecho storm: