TCR’s Iowa Government News
Republicans refused to debate the anti-bullying bill today in the Iowa House. The bill was originally proposed by Governor Branstad and was approved on a bi-partisan 43-7 vote in the Iowa Senate last month. “After three years, I’m disappointed that House Republicans still refuse to debate the anti-bullying bill. There is broad, bi-partisan support for…
Despite our efforts to compromise, the school funding crisis hit another unfortunate milestone this week as schools were forced to set their budget for the upcoming school year without knowing how much money they will get from the state. Iowans are just beginning to learn about the devastating results of the legislative stalemate from pink…
219 GOP Pink Slips to Teachers; Another 332 Positions Unfilled Next Year Web Page Launched on School Funding Crisis According to a survey of Iowa Superintendents, at least 219 teachers will receive pink slips this month and another 332 school positions will go unfilled next year. With just 132 superintendents reporting so far, almost 2/3rd…
WEEKLY BILL TRACKING Thurs. Apr.9 – Wed. Apr.15, 2015 HOUSE DEMOCRATIC RESEARCH STAFF Agriculture HF 583 Effluent from Animal Truck Wash Facilities. Tightens regulations on livestock truck washes by moving them into the animal feeding operations code section (passed Senate 50-0) to Governor Appropriations HF 630 Federal Block Grants. Establishes authorizing legislation for…
House Republicans Refuse to Compromise; Send Members Home Early Des Moines, Iowa – Instead of working to reach compromise and resolve the school funding crisis, House Republicans scrapped debate today and sent many of their members home early for the week. “House Republicans refuse to compromise and resolve the school funding crisis,” said House Democratic…
WEEKLY BILL TRACKING Thurs. Apr.2 – Wed. Apr.8, 2015 HOUSE DEMOCRATIC RESEARCH STAFF Agriculture HF 529 Drainage District Notifications. Makes changes to notice requirements relating to mergers of drainage districts, competitive bidding thresholds, and drainage district elections (passed Senate 48-0) to Governor HF 523 Honey Bee Sales Tax Exemption. Exempts the sale of…
WEEKLY BILL TRACKING Thurs. Mar. 26 – Wed. Apr. 1, 2015 HOUSE DEMOCRATIC RESEARCH STAFF Agriculture HF 578 Observation of Investigation. An owner of a property cannot be prohibited from observing an investigation and taking pictures on their own property (passed 13-0) to Senate Calendar HF 583 Effluent from Animal Truck Wash Facilities. Tightens…
Uber is the most well-known example of a transportation network company (TNC) which allows customers to find rides through a network application or a digital network. While it is important to have these new, innovative companies coming into Iowa’s communities, it’s just as important to have adequate regulations to ensure the safety of the drivers,…
WEEKLY BILL TRACKING Thurs. Mar. 19 – Wed. Mar. 25, 2015 HOUSE DEMOCRATIC RESEARCH STAFF Agriculture HF 503 Show Animals in Lot Counts. Makes show livestock excempt from capacity counts on animal feeding operations. (passed House 97-0) to Senate Agriculture Committee HF 529 Drainage District Notifications. Makes changes to notice requirements relating to mergers…
A non-partisan group of budget experts met last week and they continue to be optimistic about Iowa’s economy, with job growth improving and unemployment claims down. For the current fiscal year (2015), the Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) expects revenues to be $278.4 million higher than last year (FY 2014). They also updated the revenue estimate…