Meeting Public Comments

Tom Mohan [Iowa Hunger Coalition Iowa CCI]

HSB 505 looks like a bad bill designed to punish poor families. What evidence do you have that this policy produces significantly more child support payments to custodial households? This is only going to take food away from needy children. During these tough, pandemic times stop punishing hungry children and families.

Brian Carter [Iowa United Methodist Church Legislative Advocacy Team]

I am Brian Carter, a retired United Methodist pastor, the Legislative Advocate for the Iowa UNITED Methodist Church. As United Methodists we represent people from all over the state, and I have served people from Clinton to Sioux City, and from Montezuma to Cedar Falls. I have served five churches in the poorest neighborhoods of Des Moines a total of 21 years. We believe that as Christians we are to support our governments responsibility to provide for all our citizens. My extensive experience with low income families has taught me: 1. They are frugal, 2. They are generous toward neighbors 3. They dont waste their money. 4. They repair before buying new; 5. They work hard when given opportunity; 6. They dont cheat the government 7. They by and large do not abuse drugs; 8. They are often ill, or in debt because of lack of resourcesincluding lack of banking services and adequate health care. 9. They love their children and want more for their children then they have. 10. They are victims of crimes and of greedy people who take advantage of them. 11. They have been homeless. 12. They love God and depend on prayer.Our time and energy is misplaced when we spend time and money on looking for cheats instead of finding ways to increase their ability to feed their families, and become self sufficient.