I have zero tolerance for petty partisan politics, both Republicans and Democrats do it a pox on both of their houses. I have called out the Republican Party of Iowa in the past for it, most recently for comments directed at D
Iowa Senate Democrats engaged in partisan hackery this week by calling the Iowa Senate Republicans up for re-election in 2020 “The Shady Bunch.”
Can we no longer have a policy disagreement without impugning the character of those with whom we disagree?
Senate Minority Leader Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, shared a meme from the Iowa Senate Majority Facebook page (they need to update their name) on Tuesday afternoon:
I know they probably think this is a cute take on The Brady Bunch, a reference lost on most Millennials, but it’s just another example of partisan politics that most Iowans reject.
Why are these state senators “shady”? Because, according to Iowa Senate Democrats, they are “taking away healthcare, stripping workers’ rights, and underfunding our public schools.”
They did not take away healthcare; they transitioned Iowa’s Medicaid program to managed care. Now Democrats may not like what they did, but they did not take away health care.
Complaining about the collective bargaining reform will be a non-starter in 2020 as it, as an issue, swing state legislative and the gubernatorial races for Democrats in 2018. Most Iowans don’t feel sorry for state employees contributing more towards their health insurance; most people in the private sector have to do that. The prior law, almost as old as I am, held taxpayers over a barrel.
The school funding argument is nonsense. No Democrat has answered this debate’s fundamental question, “how much is enough?” State spending on education has increased every year.
Now you may disagree with Republicans have done, but it doesn’t make Iowa Senate Republicans “shady.”
Instead of discussing sound policy, it’s much easier to be a partisan hack to boost one’s fundraising efforts. It may appeal to a party’s base, but it doesn’t benefit Iowa voters.
