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More PM News 1.7.20: USMCA Latest, Felon Voter Rights & Nebraska Legislative Session

New trade deal for North America has passed another hurdle on its way toward approval in the United States.

The U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement passed out of the Senate finance committee today.

The USMCA will replace the 25-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement.

Two Republicans and one Democrat voted against the agreement. It still needs a vote from the full senate and Canadian approval.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds says all pending voting rights applications from people with felony records will be reviewed before the Iowa Caucuses on February third. 

Iowa is the only state that still bans all people with felony convictions from voting unless they appeal directly to the governor.

Reynolds responded today at a legislative forum hosted by the Associated Press in Des Moines.

“We have 347 that are being processed. 80 of those came in in the last 30 days. I can make the assurance they will be of those 347 they will be completed prior to the February caucuses.”

Reynolds says she’ll keep pushing for a constitutional amendment to restore felon voting rights during the legislative session that starts next week.

Nebraska lawmakers will try to address prison overcrowding problems, approve new tax incentives for businesses and decide how to use a surplus of state tax revenue in the session that begins starts tomorrow.

They’ll also have to work together if they want to pass major property tax legislation, a top priority for many lawmakers and Gov. Pete Ricketts.