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Capitol Notebook: Iowa Senate confirms Reynolds’ appointees for state boards
Also, the Senate advanced a ban on DEI funding for local governments and community colleges
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DES MOINES — Three of Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ nominees to state boards were confirmed by the Iowa Senate by the slimmest of margins Friday.
The Senate confirmed Christine Hensley to the Iowa Board of Regents, Cheryl Elsloo to the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, and Whitney Smith McIntosh to the Iowa Human Rights Board.
Gubernatorial appointees to state boards and commissions require a confirmation vote of approval from two-thirds of the 50-member Iowa Senate. Hensley, Elsloo and Smith McIntosh were each confirmed by 34-16 votes, with all 34 Senate Republicans voting to confirm and all 16 Senate Democrats voting against.
During the floor votes, only one Democrat spoke in opposition to any of the three gubernatorial appointees. Sen. Claire Celsi, D-Des Moines, spoke in opposition to Smith McIntosh over “disconcerting” comments made by Smith McIntosh in the past.
One Iowa, a nonprofit advocacy group for LGBTQ+ Iowans, last month issued guidance to supporters encouraging them to ask their senators to oppose the confirmations of Elsloo and Smith McIntosh. One Iowa alleged Smith McIntosh has made “hurtful, inflammatory statements against LGBTQ Iowans,” and noted that Elsloo has supported legislative proposals as a lobbyist that the group believes would harm LGBTQ+ Iowans.
No Democrats spoke during the confirmation votes of Elsloo or Hensley.
Hensley was appointed to the Board of Regents last September to fill a vacancy left by Mike Richards, who resigned last April after eight years on the board, including seven as president.
Senate advances ban on DEI funding for local governments, community colleges
The Iowa Senate advanced legislation that would prohibit local governments and community colleges from using funds to hire diversity, equity and inclusion officers or employees.
House File 856 is an expansion of a 2024 law that barred Iowa public universities from funding DEI efforts.
A section of the bill that would have prohibited private colleges and universities that participate in the Iowa Tuition Grant Program from funding DEI offices and officers was struck. The legislation passed out of the House along party lines in March.
Democratic lawmakers criticized the legislation, arguing that it would set back progress made in uplifting and representing marginalized and underrepresented groups in Iowa.
“Diversity, equity and inclusion programs are not mere administrative entities,” Sen. Molly Donahue, D-Cedar Rapids, said. “They are life lines for students from diverse backgrounds to provide support systems that help students navigate challenges related to race, gender, sexual orientation and social economic status.”
The bill’s floor manager, Sen. Ken Rozenboom, R-Pella, said the bill was necessary to make sure taxpayer dollars are not going towards “politically divisive ideologies.”
“House File 856 is required because of the direction of some on the extreme to push DEI initiatives in our state institutions,” Rozenboom said.
The bill, which passed out of Senate 34-16 with Republican support, will go back to the House for lawmakers to vote on additional amendments that were added Friday.
Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau
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