Statewide, Iowa – A bill to give the company that makes Roundup some liability protection from lawsuits that allege the weed killer causes cancer failed to pass the Iowa House again this year.
Governor Kim Reynolds says it’s a common sense bill and she wishes she could sign it into law. A plant in Muscatine makes most of the Roundup used in North America.
Reynolds says federal officials have determined the weed killer is not a carcinogen.
Monsanto developed Roundup and Bayer bought Monsanto in 2018. As of last month, Bayer has paid about $11 billion to settle 100,000 Roundup lawsuits. Roundup has been a federally registered pesticide since 1974 and it’s used today on 70 percent of Iowa soybean fields and 63 percent of corn fields in the state.
In 2020 the EPA reviewed the product and said there are no risks to human health if customers use Roundup according to the instructions on its label. Reynolds says the company shouldn’t be sued, then, for failing to warn customers there are health risks.
Reynolds made her comments during an appearance on “Iowa Press” on Iowa PBS. The bill passed the Senate this year — as it did in 2023. Opponents of the bill say Iowans who believe they’ve been harmed from the use of Roundup should be able to go to court and make their case for damages.
All that said, Governor Reynolds signed a bill into law last month that’s meant to address Iowa’s shortage of doctors and other health care workers. It uses federal money to expand medical residency programs at Iowa’s 14 teaching hospitals and creates new residency slots in some specialties.
An additional 115 residency slots will be created each year.
The plan also merges the five state programs that help medical professionals repay their college loans and makes $8 million available. That’s nearly double the amount being spent on the programs this year. Reynolds says the priority will be loan repayment assistance to medical staff in high demand specialties, like psychiatry.
The legislation also provides $3 million to support training programs for health care workers seeking a new credential. State officials this past month announced 14 programs already have been selected, where 399 people will be enrolled. The group will be studying to be registered or licensed nurses, certified nursing assistants and certified medical assistants.
Reynolds signed another bill into law last month that increases the potential penalties for those convicted of assaulting administrative staff, volunteers or medical students in the hospital. Under current law, there are enhanced penalties for assaults in hospitals, but only if the person attacked a doctor, nurse or a hospital employee who provides patient care.
Reynolds signed the bills into law at Guthrie County Hospital in Guthrie Center. Chris Stipe is the hospital’s CEO.
Iowa is among 40 states that have raised penalties for assaulting health care staff. An Iowa Hospital Association survey found hospitals in the state reported nearly 3,700 incidents of what it classified as workplace violence in 2023. That included verbal threats as well as being kicked, punched and scratched.
According to the American College of Surgeons, health care workers are five times more likely to experience workplace violence than employees in other industries.
KIWA Staff Photo
