Freedom to flourish? Not in Iowa

Gov. Kim Reynolds claims the new state logo sends the message “Iowa is the state where people can reach their full potential.”

This new branding, paid for with pandemic relief funds, is intended to attract businesses, expand the workforce, and grow the state’s population.

However, if Kim Reynolds wants Iowa to “flourish,” it’s going to take a lot more than new road signs.

Here are some results of the 2023 legislative session.

The Republican supermajority voted to subsidize private schools amounting to almost one billion dollars in the next four years.

Iowa private schools — 10 percent of total schools — will certainly flourish with that windfall.

But what about public schools? They will continue to be underfunded as they have year after year.

Iowa water quality suffered a blow this year when our State Sen. Dan Zumbach led the effort to defund water quality monitoring in our rivers and streams.

Limited access to affordable child care and mental health services still need to be addressed.

In 2023 the Iowa Republicans reached deep into Iowan’s lives by restricting women’s health care choices, outlawing gender affirming care for our youth, dictating curriculum in schools, book banning and even enacting a bill stating which bathroom students should use.

Is that any way to attract new businesses and citizens to Iowa?

Carefully research our candidates for office.

Who supports an environment where we can all flourish?

Deb Lechtenberg

Dundee