2 weeks Ago By GAZETTE-LEE DES MOINES BUREAU
Iowa Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird has joined other GOP state attorneys general in support of Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin's request to the U.S.
Supreme Court to allow the state to purge roughly 1,600 suspected noncitizen voters from its rolls. The request comes after a federal appeals court Sunday unanimously upheld a federal judge’s order restoring the registrations of those 1,600 voters, whom the judge said were illegally purged under an executive order by the state’s Republican governor. Youngkin says he ordered the daily removals in an effort to keep noncitizens from voting.
But U.S. District Judge Patricia Giles ruled late last week that Youngkin’s program was illegal under federal law because it systematically purged voters during a 90-day “quiet period” ahead of the November election.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird spoke on “Iowa Press” on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024. The U.
S. Department of Justice, along with civic and immigrant rights groups, sued to block Youngkin’s removals, arguing it violated the National Voter Registration Act, which generally bars states from “systematically” removing ineligible voters within 90 days of a federal election. The Justice Department and coalition of private groups argued the 1993 law is in place to ensure that legitimate voters aren’t removed from the rolls by bureaucratic errors or last-minute mistakes that can’t be rectified in a timely manner.
Bird, in a statement, argued federal law has long made clear that noncitizens cannot vote, and that the federal government is required to work with states to verify the legal status of registered voters. Instead, Bird said the DOJ waited until October and then sued Virginia to force self-identified noncitizens back onto its state voter rolls just ahead of the Nov. 5 election.
“But rather than following the law and partnering with the states to promote election integrity, the Biden-Harris DOJ has been a roadblock. We must ensure election integrity,” Bird said. Iowa joined 24 other states in the Kansas-led amicus brief.
Iowans not eligible for health insurance through Medicare, Medicaid or employer-based insurance can enroll in, renew or change health plans under the Affordable Care Act coverage provisions starting Friday. The Health Insurance Marketplace open enrollment starts Nov. 1 and goes through Jan.
15. Coverage can start as soon as Jan. 1.
Iowans who need help selecting a plan are invited to use Iowa Navigator, a federally funded nonprofit organization that assists people in the process of selecting a plan and applying for financial assistance that helps them pay for their monthly premiums. About 90% of those who enroll receive subsidies to make the insurance more affordable, according to the nonprofit. Federal premium subsidies have increased and are more widely available than they were a few years ago, under new rules.
National trends show that about 4 in 5 people across the country could get a plan for less than $10 per month, according to Iowa Navigator. The organization assists with enrollment applications and helps consumers apply for financial assistance through . From 2019 through August 2024, the Navigator program offered only virtual or phone assistance.
For the upcoming open enrollment period, Iowa Navigator has received $1.25 million per year for the next five years from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. It has hired eight navigators in Iowa to provide in-person enrollment assistance from offices based in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Sioux City.
For coverage starting Jan. 1, sign-up must be completed by Dec. 15.
Coverage begins Feb. 1 for those who enroll in or change plans Dec. 16 through Jan.
15 and pay their first premium. Individuals who already have a plan and need to re-enroll are encouraged to double-check the network and prescription drug coverage for any changes and update their information in case they qualify for additional cost savings. The Iowa Navigator program is available for free in-person or telephone assistance.
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