Republicans in the Iowa Senate have voted to require able-bodied adults to work, volunteer or go to school for at least 20 hours a week to remain qualified for Medicaid benefits. Senator Jason Schultz, a Republican from Schleswig, says the “Iowa work ethic” is eroding and this will help.

Senator Pam Jochum, a Democrat from Dubuque, says there are better ways to spend the five-million dollars it will cost to keep and analyze the reports Medicaid recipients submit about their work, volunteerism or school attendance.

The bill now goes to the House. The Senate has passed two other bills aimed at making welfare program changes. One created a new crime of illegally possessing more than two food stamp cards and it passed unanimously.