Amanda Ragan

Amanda Ragan
Member of the Iowa Senate
from the 27th district
10th (2002 – Present)
In office
March 18, 2002[1] – Present
Preceded by Merlin Bartz
Succeeded by N/A
Personal details
Born (1954-09-20) September 20, 1954
Mason City, Iowa
Political party Democratic
Residence Mason City, Iowa
Website Ragan's website

Amanda Ragan (born September 20, 1954) is an Iowan State Senator from the 27th District. A member of the Democratic Party, she has served in the Iowa Senate since 2002. In 2016, Ragan was appointed Iowa Dem Senate "Whig". She has also served as the Executive Director of Meals on Wheels and of Community Kitchen of Northern Iowa.

Ragan served on several committees in the Iowa Senate - the Appropriation committee; the Natural Resources committee; the Rules and Administration committee; the Veterans Affairs committee; and the Human Resources committee, where she is chair. She also serves on the Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee, where she is vice chair.

Early life and education

Ragan was born and raised near Rockwell, and graduated from Rockwell-Swaledale High School. Ragan enrolled in North Iowa Area Community College receiving her A.A. She graduated cum laude from Buena Vista University with a B.A. in Human Services.

Iowa State Senate

Ragan is currently an assistant majority leader in the Senate. Ragan first joined the Senate when she won a special election to fill the vacancy caused by Republican Senator Merlin Bartz's resignation.[1][2]

In 2005 Ragan was targeted by several groups for her opposition to a proposed amendment banning gay marriage in the state of Iowa.[3]

Ragan was re-elected in 2006 with 15,138 votes (70%), defeating Republican opponent Kenneth D. Young.[4]

In 2008 as chair of the Senate Human Resources Committee Ragan was a direct player in the formulation of health care legislation that would cover more Iowan children and fix health care problems in the state of Iowa.[5]

Ragan was again re-election to the Iowa State Senate in 2010. Ragan defeated Republican candidate James Mills by a margin of 12,908 (60.4%) to 8,452 (39.4%).[6]

Political Stances

Immigration

Ragan voted[7] for an amended[8] form of Senate File 481.[9] This bill eliminated elements of local control by requiring a local officer to comply and detain an immigrant who is guilty of three misdemeanors,[10] non-violent felonies,[11] and felonies[12] until ICE arrives. This bill was opposed by a number of organizations in Iowa, including the Iowa Police Chief Association, the Iowa Catholic Conference, the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa, the Iowa Coalition against Sexual Assault, and the Iowa State Bar Association.[13]

References

  1. 1 2 "Senate Journal: Monday, March 18, 2002". Journal of the Senate. Retrieved August 23, 2009.
  2. ↑ B. Drummond Ayres Jr. (March 3, 2002). "Political Briefing; Mighty Focus on Race In Mason City, Iowa". New York Times. Retrieved August 23, 2009.
  3. ↑ "Family group says Iowa lawmakers trying to quash gay marriage debate, vote | News | wcfcourier.com". wcfcourier.com. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Iowa Secretary of State - Paul D. Pate | 2006 Iowa State Senate elections data" (PDF). sos.state.ia.us. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 14, 2006. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Lawmakers prepare for health care debate | Mason City & North Iowa | globegazette.com". globegazette.com. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  6. ↑ State of Iowa Official Results, 2010 General Election
  7. ↑ Iowa Legislature. "Senate Journal (April 12, 2017)" (PDF). The Iowa Legislature. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  8. ↑ GOP Legislature. "Amendment S-3300". The Iowa Legislature. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  9. ↑ GOP Legislature. "Senate File 481". The Iowa Legislature. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  10. ↑ Immigration & Customs Enforcement. "Immigration Detainer Form (I-247)" (PDF). U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  11. ↑ Immigration & Customs Enforcement. "Immigration Detainer Form (I-247)" (PDF). U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  12. ↑ Immigration & Customs Enforcement. "Immigration Detainer Form (I-247)" (PDF). U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  13. ↑ Iowa Legislature. "Lobbyists Declarations for Senate File 481". Iowa Legislature. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
Iowa Senate
Preceded by
Merlin Bartz		 10th District
March 18, 2002 – January 10, 2005 		Succeeded by
Donald Redfern
Preceded by
Mike Sexton		 7th District
January 10, 2005 – January 14, 2013 		Succeeded by
Rick Bertrand
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