Opinions | Welcome to Iowa, a state that doesn’t care if you live or die Lyz Lenz Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) prepares to deliver her Condition of the State address before a joint session of the legislature in Des Moines last month. (Charlie Neibergall/AP) On Friday evening, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) announced that all pandemic restrictions would lift as of 12:01 a.m. on Super Bowl Sunday. There was no explanation, no warning. Nor did the governor consult with the state’s public health department before removing all mask mandates, limits on gatherings and indoor dining restrictions. Whatever thin protections separated Iowans from the coronavirus were just gone. The announcement came the same week that new variants of the virus were detected in the state and just one day after Iowa surpassed 5,000 deaths.
ICYMI – Progress Iowa’s 8th Annual Holiday Party was last night but you can still catch the speeches below on YouTube or on Progress Iowa’s Facebook page
“We are thrilled to be joined by Senators Klobuchar, Booker, and so many terrific Iowa leaders. And we are proud to highlight the amazing work of Sara Anne Willette and the Legislative Black Caucus this year,” said Matt Sinovic, executive director of Progress Iowa. “These leaders stepped up and fought for the truth, progressive values, and crucial protections. At our holiday party we will get the opportunity to look back at the work we all did together in 2020, but also provide a call to action as we move forward into 2021.”