This week we are having a discussion to catch up on some key issues that are being discussed and funneled into legislation in the Iowa Legislature.
We are now onto a third straight year where What’s The Frequency shows check in once per month with Republican and Democratic legislators in Iowa to hear their impressions on how the session is going, what they see as key elements so far, and how the session may play out.
We also will check in with a show concerning the main issues in the South Dakota and Nebraska legislatures for a future episode.
As we record this show in the first week of February, The Iowa Legislature is approaching one month of work.
Some of the topics being debated this year are a potential change in how property taxes function in Iowa, how to fund K-12 education and colleges, and much more.
Republicans hold strong majorities in both Iowa chambers, so they are poised to put in place some changes if they can agree.
Discussing those topics this week are two Siouxland members of the Iowa Legislature, with Republican state representative Megan Jones of House District 6 in Clay County and Democratic state senator Catelin Drey, of Sioux City and Senate District 1.
The Iowa Senate subcommittee on Tuesday pushed forward its proposed funding increase for the state’s K-12 schools, to increase state per student funding by 1.75 percent.
The Senate bill would amount to state funding of around $8,100 per student, which would also apply to charter schools and ESA’s used by students at private schools.
The governor has suggested a 2 percent increase. Lawmakers have a self-imposed deadline of Feb. 12 to agree on a school funding plan
Another big topic is a push to restrict the use of eminent domain powers by governments to use private property for public uses. On the other hand, some want a renewable energy pipeline to be built in the state and say that could be killed by such a bill.
Also, Jones and Drey discuss hearing about top of mind legislative topics of constituents. Jones was first elected in 2012 and Drey is in her first year in the Iowa Senate.
Additionally, Drey announced a health condition last week, being diagnosed with uterine cancer. She had a procedure on January 27, and in this show gives an update on her recovery.
*Click on the audio link above to hear the entire show.
What's The Frequency, Episode 93.
