Issues – Carolyn Wiezorek

Economy

  • Costs and farm bankruptcies have increased
  • Economic development, personal income growth, and GDP are down
  • Workers’ rights have been diminished
  • College-educated young adults are leaving the state
  • Predatory corporations and private equity firms have consumed businesses, housing (including mobile home parks), healthcare facilities, and nursing homes

Health

  • Cancers rates have climbed to 2nd highest in the nation (1st in rising cases)
  • Insurance costs and deductibles have risen
  • More than 250 healthcare facilities have closed than have opened
  • Privatization of Medicaid resulted in a 900% increase in illegal denials of care
  • Iowa is 50th in the nation for OB/GYNs per capita

Education

  • Iowa’s education rank has fallen from top five in the nation to 27th
  • Iowa’s public schools have been chronically underfunded
  • $314 million in tax dollars have been diverted to private schools, without any mechanism for accountability

Environment

  • Unhealthy water quality
  • Poor soil quality