Guest Columns
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When I was 8, I asked for my parents’ permission to compete in the Little Miss category of the Miss Iowa Scholarship Organization. They agreed despite their confusion at my interest, as I was an incredibly bashful child. At the time, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I remember being scared to death and practically running off the stage for almost every phase of competition. As you can imagine, I did not walk away with the title. more
Senate File 494 provides oversight of Iowa’s public assistance programs. This bill strikes a balance between protecting Iowa’s welfare programs for Iowans in true need while at the same time protecting the Iowa taxpayer from paying for services for a noneligible individual.  more
Last week moved Senate File 324 that dedicates funds and invests in important initiatives like the More Options for Maternal Support (MOMS) program. The bill would allocate $2 million to the MOMS program to help pregnant women looking for help and resources and allows Iowa’s Health and Human Services department to award fatherhood engagement grants to nonprofits and community-based organizations that address the needs of fathers, whether it is employment, financial obligations, or parenting skills. The bill also establishes a state-funded fellowship program for family medicine and obstetric practitioners in rural and underserved areas. Additionally, it increases funding for families seeking adoptions and expanded scholarship opportunities for Iowa foster kids. more
The Iowa Senate and Gov. Kim Reynolds have set a budget target of $8.486 billion, which will begin the budget process over the next several weeks. The target represents a sustainable increase in spending for education and public safety, while also ensuring tax relief for hardworking Iowans. Iowa’s income tax rates have decreased from 8.98 to 6 percent this year, in addition to the elimination of the tax on retirement income. By 2026 the income tax rate will be a flat 3.9 percent. This tax relief has been made possible because of budgets just like the one proposed this year. more
This was an exciting week for me personally in the Iowa Legislature because I had my first bill signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds. Senate File 445 is a bill I ran to expedite the property assessment challenge process. This topic is very timely as property owners are receiving their reassessed values right now. more
On March 24, the Iowa Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling that will likely change the way the Iowa Legislature establishes the state budget for years to come. And in the process, they may have created an additional issue for themselves. more
Iowa Supreme Court justice Thomas Waterman, of Davenport, wrote this March 24 opinion concluding the Iowa legislature used illegal “logrolling,” or packaging unrelated legislation for last-minute passage. Missouri-based powerline builder LS Power Midcontinent, LLC sued Iowa after the legislature amended a budget bill with an unrelated provision barring LS from bidding on Iowa utility line work, unless Iowa utility firms declined to bid under a right of first refusal. more
I heard a lot from constituents this week after they received their new property tax assessments. The value of a property is of interest to homeowners for several reasons, not least of which is because it is a key aspect determining how much property tax is levied on a property. more
Ask any librarian about the topic of book banning and you will get a reaction. Within minutes, you’ll hear a passionate response about how their purpose is to “find and provide resources that our patrons seek, without judgment.” more
Walk into any library or bookstore and you are greeted with shelves upon shelves of books of every genre, reading level, and topic imaginable. more
The 2022 session of the Iowa Legislature began Jan. 10, much as lawmakers have convened for most of the past 175 years: with speeches and ceremony, the reuniting of friends and the renewal of partisan enmity. more
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