With over 500 statewide COVID-19 cases and “grim” long-term projections after weeks of being ill-equipped to stem the virus, Iowa is set to receive $1.25 billion for hospitals and small businesses and ‘significant additional funding‘ for Iowans out of work due to the crisis – despite Senator Ernst’s efforts to block vital aid. 

Rather than put Iowans first and ensure the $2.2 trillion package delivered relief where Iowa needs it the most, Senator Ernst voted twice for a corporate slush fund without adequate protections against stock buybacks and CEO bonuses, instead of robust unemployment boosts for laid-off Iowa workers and aid for health providers strapped for protective wear and lifesaving equipment.

While Iowa hospitals were making “urgent requests” for relief, Senator Ernst was “pointing fingers” and failed to fight for the aid Iowa communities needed. But that hasn’t stopped her from claiming credit for urgent measures added to the final package by Senate Democrats, which Ernst told Breitbart News were “absolutely nothing” just days before she bragged on their inclusion.

THE CORPORATION-FIRST RELIEF BIL SENATOR ERNST VOTED TWICE FOR:

  • A $500 billion slush fund for corporations to be doled out by the Trump Administration without adequate oversight
  • Measures that put CEO bonuses over worker protections
  • Shortchanged hospitals and frontline workers, already starved for resources

THE PEOPLE-FIRST FINAL PACKAGE WITH EXPANDED AID AND OVERSIGHT, WHICH ERNST CALLED “VIRTUALLY THE SAME:”

  • Four months of unemployment insurance, with an extra $600/week
  • $55 billion in additional funding for our beleaguered hospitals 
  • $150 billion for a state, local, and tribal Coronavirus Relief fund
  • Stricter oversight of loans and investments to massive corporations, including banning stock buybacks, real-time reporting, and robust worker protections
  • $10 billion more in small business emergency grants and $17 billion more in loans
  • $30 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund
  • A retention  tax credit rewarding companies who retain workers on payroll
  • Eliminated a $3 billion bailout for Big Oil