Iowa's Democrats Push for Change: Health Care Over School Vouchers

Using Education Savings Accounts for Health Care

Iowa's Democrats have introduced a bold plan to repurpose funds from Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) to support health care. Currently, 41,044 students use these accounts to attend private schools, costing the state $327.9 million. Democrats argue that redirecting some of this funding could help over 100,000 Iowans with health care expenses.

Health Care as a Top Priority

Health care remains a critical issue, especially after premiums rose when certain tax credits expired in 2025. Democrats believe this proposal offers a better use of state funds to make health care more affordable.

Republican Opposition

However, Republicans, who control the Iowa House, are unlikely to support the plan. They passed the ESA program in 2023, and Governor Kim Reynolds strongly supports it, arguing that it benefits students, not just schools.

Additional Democratic Proposals

Beyond health care, Democrats have other key initiatives:

• Raising the minimum wage to $15 by 2029
• Allowing local governments to set their own wages
• Freezing utility rates until 2030

They claim these changes will directly benefit everyday Iowans.

Uncertain Future

Given Republican resistance, it remains unclear whether Democrats will succeed. Republicans argue that the ESA program is working well and that health care should be managed at the federal level.