Iowa Republicans reveal priorities in killing bill to help firefighters
Iowa Republicans, including State Senator Jason Schultz (R-Schleswig), prioritized using more than $106 million of Iowa tax dollars to send children to private schools over making sure Iowa’s firefighters have comprehensive disability coverage for cancer treatments.
Last year, Republicans approved a bill that costs state taxpayers more than $106 million to send children to private schools. That money largely went to students who could already afford and were previously enrolled in private schools.
Even though Iowa Republicans decided that was a good use of tax dollars, they failed to make sure that the brave men and women who risk their lives every day to help their communities are covered should they develop cancer. Cancer is the leading cause of death among firefighters according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Iowa Republicans can’t find it in their hearts to protect Iowa’s firefighters over budget concerns, yet they voted for a bill that gives students who are already enrolled in private schools more than $106 million of taxpayer money to further bankroll their education. Their decision to leave Iowa’s firefighters behind and their failure to make sure they are protected if they develop cancer shows how out-of-touch Republican priorities are,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chair Party Rita Hart. “Iowa firefighters put their lives on the line every day to make sure their neighbors and their communities are safe. Our firefighters and their families deserve to know they will be cared for should they develop cancer.”
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