Reichman's Remarks

This week Gov. Reynolds signed SF 514, the state government alignment and reorganization bill. If the federal government can operate with 13 cabinet level directors, certainly the State of Iowa can operate on 16 cabinet-level directors. The bill seeks to increase efficiencies and the cost savings over the next four years estimated by the governor’s office to be over $200 million.

The Senate started the appropriations process this week, moving several budget bills out of subcommittee and committee. Senate Republicans and Gov. Reynolds have set a budget target of $8.486 billion. The House, as usual, has set a target about $95 million higher than the governor and the Senate.

Along with being consistent with the target set by Gov. Reynolds, $8.486 billion 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% 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%. This tax relief has been made possible because of budgets just like the one proposed this year.

Disciplined spending ensures promises to K-12 education are kept, promises to public safety are kept, and promises to taxpayers are kept.

Property Tax Assessments Raise Concerns

We continue to receive questions and concerns from taxpayers all over the state as counties send out updated property tax assessments to Iowans. Taxpayers from Sioux City to Davenport are concerned about how the rise in assessments will impact their property tax bill. KWWL reported some viewers said they received 50% to 60% jumps in their assessments.

We have heard these concerns, and it is our primary focus as we head into these last scheduled weeks of the legislative session. Several proposals in the legislature to address these concerns and alleviate the burdens on Iowa property taxpayers are being considered in both chambers. Senate Republicans are focused on getting to the core of the issue by simplifying and consolidating the number of levies used by local governments, limiting levies that seem open-ended for additional spending, reinstating hard levy caps, providing a series of controls to protect taxpayers, and eliminating loopholes abused by local governments to exceed limits that had been set by law. We are simply asking local governments to control spending, invest in important priorities, and give taxpayer money back to those who earned it. Senate Republicans have used these principles to guide us the last several years and it has put us to the strong fiscal place we are today.

Back at Home

I was asked to speak with others, including State Rep. Martin Graber, at the groundbreaking ceremony for Community Health Care as they nearly double in size and help provide additional services in southeast Iowa. I was proud to talk about legislation at the Capitol that I believe will benefit health care in our area, like loan forgiveness for health care workers, $60 million added statewide last year for mental health, adding medical malpractice caps, and the Rural Emergency Hospital bill was signed by the governor recently. I believe this will bring more doctors to our state to practice and help improve health care access in southeast Iowa.

Summer hasn’t started yet however we are already looking forward to the rodeo. I am excited about upcoming band announcements, and this week I was able to introduce Miss Rodeo Iowa 2023 Micah Barnes. Growing up in northwest Iowa, rodeo has been her life since Day One. She’s been blessed to have traveled all over the nation putting on rodeos with her family, and promoting the historical sport of rodeo. Micah will be attending our Tri State Rodeo Sept. 6-8, and represent the Hawkeye State at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant this December in Las Vegas, Nevada.