25 WAYS
25 WAYS
IOWA REPUBLICANS VOTED AGAINST VETERANS
November 2017
Iowa veterans were under attack during the 2017 legislative session, the first in nearly two decades with Republican control of the Iowa House of Representatives, the Iowa Senate, and the Governor’s office. The men and women who serve our country deserve our gratitude, but they also deserve sound public policy that recognizes their rights as workers, their ability to receive health care, and have good jobs at decent wages. This report, compiled by Progress Iowa, identifies 25 ways Iowa Republicans cast votes during the 2017 session that were detrimental to Iowa veterans as it pertains to worker’s rights, Medicaid, blocking wage increases, homeownership for veterans, as well as funding cuts to county grants, the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Iowa Veterans Home.
Gutting Worker’s Rights for Veterans This year’s legislature significantly altered chapter 20 of Iowa code, adversely impacting 180,000 public workers and their collective bargaining rights. One out of every five public employees are veterans, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics1. When Republicans in the Iowa House2 and Senate3 voted for House File 291, they were voting to take away the rights of roughly 36,000 working veterans. In addition, House Republicans voted against amendments for the following: • • • • • • •
Against waiting until the full impact of HF 291 on veterans was known4 Against including veterans as public safety employees5 Against preventing HF 291 from impacting the hiring of veterans6 Against excluding veterans from being affected by HF 2917 Against a veteran’s ability to negotiate for mental health coverage in their insurance plans8 Against requiring that companies receiving taxpayer dollars pay women the same as men for the same work9 Against women getting the same pay for the same work as men10
Each one of these amendments would have lessened the impact on Iowa veterans who had their rights taken away by HF 291. Every veteran, and every working Iowan deserves better than to have their rights taken away.
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Trapping Veterans in Iowa’s Medicaid Disaster Iowa’s Medicaid privatization is impacting care, with “low-income Iowans report losing health services” and providers “not being paid by managed care companies.” 11 Recently, one of just three providers dropping out of the program due to mismanagement12, and has been described as a disaster13. According to Families USA, 19,000 Iowa veterans rely on Medicaid for health care14 and are therefore being hurt by this disastrous privatization effort. During this year’s legislative session, efforts were made to provide additional oversight and data collection of the Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) who now administer the state’s Medicaid program. This would have provided Medicaid providers and Iowans who rely on the program, including 19,000, much needed protections, but that additional oversight was rejected by both House15 and Senate16 Republicans. In addition, the House17 and Senate18 rejected terminating the managed care contract for Medicaid, putting an end to privatization and creating a transition period for a fee-to-service system to be reinstated. Unfortunately for those 19,000 veterans and the thousands of Iowans who rely on Medicaid, Republicans in the legislature kept Iowa’s Medicaid disaster in place without any additional oversight. Veterans deserve better than just kind words from elected officials. Veterans deserve good paying jobs, quality health care, and opportunities to succeed. Republicans like to pay lip service to taking care of veterans, however, many of their votes were nothing more than an attack on those who served our country. We must do better by our military families and for every Iowan. Iowa State Rep. Todd Prichard, Iraq war veteran
Lowering Wages for Veterans There are more than 211,000 veterans in Iowa19 and according to the Economic Policy Institute20 one out of every five would benefit from an increase in the minimum wage to $15 per hour, or just over 42,000. During this year’s legislative session, Iowa Republicans not only opposed an increase in the minimum wage21 they voted in the House22 and the Senate23 to lower wages for 65,000 Iowans, meaning any veteran making $7.25 would be earning less than an equivalent worker made during the Vietnam War24. Every worker deserves a decent wage. It’s shameful that so many veterans who would benefit from an increase in the minimum wage have been ignored and attacked by Iowa Republicans.
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The cuts to the veterans home ownership program would hurt Iowa’s efforts to recruit and retain returning veterans and is counter-productive to the efforts put forth by the Home Base Iowa project. And when one out of every five public employees is a veteran, the attacks on collective bargaining passed this year were an attack on our veterans who continue to serve our state. Iowa State Sen. Bill Dotzler
Budget Cuts Veterans Home Ownership Program The Veterans Home Ownership Program provides $5,000 to veterans to be used for house down payments and closing costs, but was reduced by $500,000 in the Health and Human Services budget, hindering their ability to become homeowners. The Governor vetoed this cut, while Republicans in the House25 and Senate26 voted for it.
Veterans County Grants Veterans across the state often utilize veteran county commission offices to learn about benefits they are entitled to, and every year those offices are allocated funds for upkeep and operation. This year, however, Republicans in the Iowa House27 and Senate28 voted to cut these county offices by $42,000 in the Health and Human Services budget bill. Each office serves several veterans within their county, and their support should be prioritized, not cut.
Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs The Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs provides programs, services, and benefits for Iowa veterans and their families. Across the state, they work to ensure those who served receive the benefits to which they’re entitled. This year Republicans in the Iowa House29 and Senate30 voted to cut the budget for the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs by $8,000.
Iowa Veteran’s Home The mission of the Iowa Veteran’s Home is to “provide a continuum of care to Iowa’s veterans and their spouses in an environment focusing on individualized services to enhance their quality of life.” Unfortunately, during this year’s legislative session Republicans in the Iowa House31 and Senate32 cut the Iowa Veteran’s Home by $88,000.
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As a veteran and as the Ranking Member of the Iowa House of Representatives Veteran’s Committee, I am concerned with the irresponsible actions taken that negatively affect our state’s veterans in this past session. The detrimental actions against veterans can be found in underfunding services to veterans such as the Iowa Veteran’s Home and by decimating collective bargaining rights for our public employees since veterans make up a considerable share of that workforce. Veteran’s Day is not the only time we should honor veterans. They deserve the best the state can provide them. Republicans in the legislature let down our veterans during this year’s session. Iowa State Rep. Jerry Kearns
Notes Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Situation of Veterans - 2016, March 22, 2017 [House Vote on HF 291 - Passed 53-47, 2/16/17] 3 [Senate Vote on HF 291 - Passed 29-21, 2/16/17] 4 [House Vote on H-1053 - Failed 59-41, 2/16/17] 5 [House Vote on H-1065 - Failed 58-41, 1 absent, 2/16/17] 6 [House Vote on H-1076 - Failed 59-41, 2/16/17] 7 [House Vote on H-1082 - Failed 59-41, 2/16/17] 8 [House Vote on H-1057 - Failed 59-41, 2/16/17] 9 [House Vote on H-1091 - Failed 58-41, 1 absent, 2/16/17] 10 [House Vote on H-1094 - Failed 58-41, 1 absent, 2/16/17] 11 Des Moines Register, Branstad’s private Medicaid ‘success’ that wasn’t, 4/12/17 12 Des Moines Register, AmeriHealth pulling out of Iowa’s controversial Medicaid management program, 10/31/17 13 Omaha Public Radio, Nebraska modifies its privatized Medicaid; Iowa’s called a disaster, 1/4/17 14 Families USA, Cutting Medicaid Would Hurt Veterans, May 2017 15 [House Vote on HF 653, Passed 59-41, 4/19/17] 16 [Senate Vote on HF 653, Final Vote Passed 28-21, 4/20/17] 17 [House Vote on SF 516 - Passed 55-39, 6 absent, 4/21/17] 18 [Senate Vote on SF 516 - Passed 27-13, 10 absent, 4/21/17] 19 U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Iowa State Summary, Accessed 11/8/17 20 Economic Policy Institute, 1 in 5 veterans would benefit from raising the federal minimum wage to $15, 11/7/17 21 [House Vote on H-1130 - ruled not germane - Vote to consider failed 57-41, 2 absent, 3/09/17] 22 [House Vote on HF 295 - Passed 56-41, 3 absent, 3/09/17] 23 [Senate Vote on HF 295 - Passed 29-21, 3/27/17] 24 Economic Policy Institute, Another year of congressional inaction has further eroded the federal minimum wage 7/24/17 25 [House Vote on HF 653, Passed 59-41, 4/19/17] 26 [Senate Vote on HF 653, Final Vote Passed 28-21, 4/20/17] 27 [House Vote on HF 653, previously cited] 28 [Senate Vote on HF 653, previously cited] 29 [House Vote on HF 653, previously cited] 30 [Senate Vote on HF 653, previously cited] 31 [House Vote on HF 653, previously cited] 32 [Senate Vote on HF 653, previously cited] 1 2
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IOWA REPUBLICANS VOTED AGAINST VETERANS
November 2017
Iowa veterans were under attack during the 2017 legislative session, the first in nearly two decades with Republican control of the Iowa House of Representatives, the Iowa Senate, and the Governor’s office. The men and women who serve our country deserve our gratitude, but they also deserve sound public policy that recognizes their rights as workers, their ability to receive health care, and have good jobs at decent wages. This report, compiled by Progress Iowa, identifies 25 ways Iowa Republicans cast votes during the 2017 session that were detrimental to Iowa veterans as it pertains to worker’s rights, Medicaid, blocking wage increases, homeownership for veterans, as well as funding cuts to county grants, the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Iowa Veterans Home.
Gutting Worker’s Rights for Veterans This year’s legislature significantly altered chapter 20 of Iowa code, adversely impacting 180,000 public workers and their collective bargaining rights. One out of every five public employees are veterans, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics1. When Republicans in the Iowa House2 and Senate3 voted for House File 291, they were voting to take away the rights of roughly 36,000 working veterans. In addition, House Republicans voted against amendments for the following: • • • • • • •
Against waiting until the full impact of HF 291 on veterans was known4 Against including veterans as public safety employees5 Against preventing HF 291 from impacting the hiring of veterans6 Against excluding veterans from being affected by HF 2917 Against a veteran’s ability to negotiate for mental health coverage in their insurance plans8 Against requiring that companies receiving taxpayer dollars pay women the same as men for the same work9 Against women getting the same pay for the same work as men10
Each one of these amendments would have lessened the impact on Iowa veterans who had their rights taken away by HF 291. Every veteran, and every working Iowan deserves better than to have their rights taken away.
2
Trapping Veterans in Iowa’s Medicaid Disaster Iowa’s Medicaid privatization is impacting care, with “low-income Iowans report losing health services” and providers “not being paid by managed care companies.” 11 Recently, one of just three providers dropping out of the program due to mismanagement12, and has been described as a disaster13. According to Families USA, 19,000 Iowa veterans rely on Medicaid for health care14 and are therefore being hurt by this disastrous privatization effort. During this year’s legislative session, efforts were made to provide additional oversight and data collection of the Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) who now administer the state’s Medicaid program. This would have provided Medicaid providers and Iowans who rely on the program, including 19,000, much needed protections, but that additional oversight was rejected by both House15 and Senate16 Republicans. In addition, the House17 and Senate18 rejected terminating the managed care contract for Medicaid, putting an end to privatization and creating a transition period for a fee-to-service system to be reinstated. Unfortunately for those 19,000 veterans and the thousands of Iowans who rely on Medicaid, Republicans in the legislature kept Iowa’s Medicaid disaster in place without any additional oversight. Veterans deserve better than just kind words from elected officials. Veterans deserve good paying jobs, quality health care, and opportunities to succeed. Republicans like to pay lip service to taking care of veterans, however, many of their votes were nothing more than an attack on those who served our country. We must do better by our military families and for every Iowan. Iowa State Rep. Todd Prichard, Iraq war veteran
Lowering Wages for Veterans There are more than 211,000 veterans in Iowa19 and according to the Economic Policy Institute20 one out of every five would benefit from an increase in the minimum wage to $15 per hour, or just over 42,000. During this year’s legislative session, Iowa Republicans not only opposed an increase in the minimum wage21 they voted in the House22 and the Senate23 to lower wages for 65,000 Iowans, meaning any veteran making $7.25 would be earning less than an equivalent worker made during the Vietnam War24. Every worker deserves a decent wage. It’s shameful that so many veterans who would benefit from an increase in the minimum wage have been ignored and attacked by Iowa Republicans.
3
The cuts to the veterans home ownership program would hurt Iowa’s efforts to recruit and retain returning veterans and is counter-productive to the efforts put forth by the Home Base Iowa project. And when one out of every five public employees is a veteran, the attacks on collective bargaining passed this year were an attack on our veterans who continue to serve our state. Iowa State Sen. Bill Dotzler
Budget Cuts Veterans Home Ownership Program The Veterans Home Ownership Program provides $5,000 to veterans to be used for house down payments and closing costs, but was reduced by $500,000 in the Health and Human Services budget, hindering their ability to become homeowners. The Governor vetoed this cut, while Republicans in the House25 and Senate26 voted for it.
Veterans County Grants Veterans across the state often utilize veteran county commission offices to learn about benefits they are entitled to, and every year those offices are allocated funds for upkeep and operation. This year, however, Republicans in the Iowa House27 and Senate28 voted to cut these county offices by $42,000 in the Health and Human Services budget bill. Each office serves several veterans within their county, and their support should be prioritized, not cut.
Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs The Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs provides programs, services, and benefits for Iowa veterans and their families. Across the state, they work to ensure those who served receive the benefits to which they’re entitled. This year Republicans in the Iowa House29 and Senate30 voted to cut the budget for the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs by $8,000.
Iowa Veteran’s Home The mission of the Iowa Veteran’s Home is to “provide a continuum of care to Iowa’s veterans and their spouses in an environment focusing on individualized services to enhance their quality of life.” Unfortunately, during this year’s legislative session Republicans in the Iowa House31 and Senate32 cut the Iowa Veteran’s Home by $88,000.
4
As a veteran and as the Ranking Member of the Iowa House of Representatives Veteran’s Committee, I am concerned with the irresponsible actions taken that negatively affect our state’s veterans in this past session. The detrimental actions against veterans can be found in underfunding services to veterans such as the Iowa Veteran’s Home and by decimating collective bargaining rights for our public employees since veterans make up a considerable share of that workforce. Veteran’s Day is not the only time we should honor veterans. They deserve the best the state can provide them. Republicans in the legislature let down our veterans during this year’s session. Iowa State Rep. Jerry Kearns
Notes Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Situation of Veterans - 2016, March 22, 2017 [House Vote on HF 291 - Passed 53-47, 2/16/17] 3 [Senate Vote on HF 291 - Passed 29-21, 2/16/17] 4 [House Vote on H-1053 - Failed 59-41, 2/16/17] 5 [House Vote on H-1065 - Failed 58-41, 1 absent, 2/16/17] 6 [House Vote on H-1076 - Failed 59-41, 2/16/17] 7 [House Vote on H-1082 - Failed 59-41, 2/16/17] 8 [House Vote on H-1057 - Failed 59-41, 2/16/17] 9 [House Vote on H-1091 - Failed 58-41, 1 absent, 2/16/17] 10 [House Vote on H-1094 - Failed 58-41, 1 absent, 2/16/17] 11 Des Moines Register, Branstad’s private Medicaid ‘success’ that wasn’t, 4/12/17 12 Des Moines Register, AmeriHealth pulling out of Iowa’s controversial Medicaid management program, 10/31/17 13 Omaha Public Radio, Nebraska modifies its privatized Medicaid; Iowa’s called a disaster, 1/4/17 14 Families USA, Cutting Medicaid Would Hurt Veterans, May 2017 15 [House Vote on HF 653, Passed 59-41, 4/19/17] 16 [Senate Vote on HF 653, Final Vote Passed 28-21, 4/20/17] 17 [House Vote on SF 516 - Passed 55-39, 6 absent, 4/21/17] 18 [Senate Vote on SF 516 - Passed 27-13, 10 absent, 4/21/17] 19 U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Iowa State Summary, Accessed 11/8/17 20 Economic Policy Institute, 1 in 5 veterans would benefit from raising the federal minimum wage to $15, 11/7/17 21 [House Vote on H-1130 - ruled not germane - Vote to consider failed 57-41, 2 absent, 3/09/17] 22 [House Vote on HF 295 - Passed 56-41, 3 absent, 3/09/17] 23 [Senate Vote on HF 295 - Passed 29-21, 3/27/17] 24 Economic Policy Institute, Another year of congressional inaction has further eroded the federal minimum wage 7/24/17 25 [House Vote on HF 653, Passed 59-41, 4/19/17] 26 [Senate Vote on HF 653, Final Vote Passed 28-21, 4/20/17] 27 [House Vote on HF 653, previously cited] 28 [Senate Vote on HF 653, previously cited] 29 [House Vote on HF 653, previously cited] 30 [Senate Vote on HF 653, previously cited] 31 [House Vote on HF 653, previously cited] 32 [Senate Vote on HF 653, previously cited] 1 2
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