How can the 2024 legislature account for itself? Because of their supermajority, Republican extremists have been able to do anything they want, refusing to listen to the opposition and rushing bills without time to read them before late night votes. This is no democracy. How do any of these reckless bills do anything to improve the property. safety and quality of life for West Central Iowa citizens?

AEAs: HF-2612 limits critical services such as special education and mental health while shifting oversight duties currently performed by the agencies to the governor’s state education bureaucracy.

Mandated history curriculum: Instead of trusting teachers, HF-2544 mandates a curriculum written by a conservative out-of-state company that will limit what Iowa students can learn.

Arming teachers: HF-2586 permits our teachers - people who want to educate our children - to bring a firearm into the classroom and prepare to use deadly force.

Immigration: SF-2340 allows state judges to order the deportation of undocumented immigrants, part of our labor supply, with local law enforcement officials transporting migrants to US ports of entry.

Educational savings accounts: Deceptively named HF-68 is a misuse of taxpayer funds to subsidize private schools at the expense of public districts hundreds of millions will be siphoned away to largely upper-class urban students.

Instead, we need to elect state legislators that focus on economic opportunity in Western Iowa. How about legislation to open four lane highway access to the interstate create regional small business incubators, encourage employment opportunities and welding, biotech, and distance management? Before you vote in November 2024, remember that you have choices. You don't have to vote for Republicans if you disagree with the above legislation. Listen to and consider choosing one of the Democratic candidates for Iowa House Districts 11, 12 and 15.

Larry Peterson,
Denison, IA

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