Iowa state house looks to reign in the governor’s authority and stop overreach

This week we passed a piece of legislation reforming the Governor’s emergency powers.  This is a bill for which I have been an advocating for over five years.  The COVID-19 pandemic revealed just how easily a Governor can overreach.  I thought Governor Reynolds exercised restraint that other Governors did not, but you did see vast overreach in states like California, Illinois, and Minnesota.  People’s constitutional rights were impeded.  This bill ensures that this will never happen in Iowa regardless of whether a Democrat or Republican is in charge.  A Governor’s powers, regardless of party, are NOT absolute and cannot be used to suspend the fundamental rights of Iowans.