Important work remains before the session adjourns

Week 14 of the 2022 legislative session featured several hours on the Senate floor celebrating the service of the many retiring senators in the Iowa Senate.

In total, 11 senators are retiring. Redistricting led to a higher number most years. Retiring members were thanked for their service, and members from both parties shared stories about their service together.

The 2022 session has been a great success from passing historic tax relief to protecting girls’ sports, but more work remains to be done before session adjourns.

One of those issues is addressing the workforce shortage affecting nearly every industry in Iowa.

The governor introduced a key workforce bill early in session addressing a number of updates to Iowa’s unemployment program. I voted against this bill, however, I’ve had an amendment drafted to address the waiting period week and hope it will be included in the final bill.

Another piece of the governor’s agenda the Senate adopted was her education reforms. For the last couple years parents have been more involved in their children’s education. They have seen suspect curriculum and want a clear and consistent path to engage with their school on the concerns they have.

Finally, state budget negotiations are a feature of the closing days of session. The Iowa House has passed all FY 2023 budgets bills and the spending in those bills is over $72 million more than the target set by the Senate and Gov. Reynolds.

The largest tax increase in Iowa history is workable because of the commitment to fiscal discipline state government has made over the last five years. It is imperative to remain fiscally responsible as these tax cuts are implemented to ensure reliable and sustainable funding increases to areas like law enforcement, mental health, and education.

Protections for Iowans Against Future Tax Increases

As reckless policies continue to flourish in Washington, D.C., Iowans and their families face constant uncertainty, especially when it comes to the grocery store and gas pump. Just this week it was reported inflation hit a record 8.5 percent.

This week, the Senate passed Senate Joint Resolution 2006. It is a proposal for a constitutional amendment requiring a super majority to implement new taxes or increasing the income tax rate for Iowans. The requirement for a super majority would mean any bill to raise income tax rates on Iowans.

Implementing a 3.9 percent flat tax for Iowans was a transformative moment for our state and its future. The requirements in SJR 2006 would protect measures like it, preventing reckless politicians from undoing that work in the future, and provide more certainty and predictability for Iowans and their families.

Raising taxes on Iowans should not be easy. Every day families must budget responsibly, and the government should not act any differently.

Constitutional amendments are required to pass two consecutive general assemblies. If passed by the House this year, this bill would need to pass with the same language again in the next general assembly in order to go to the people of Iowa for a vote.

This week I met with Sen. Joni Ernst and small business owner Jenny Steffensmeier. Jenny hosted us in Pilot Grove at Steffensmeier Welding and Manufacturing, giving us a tour of the facility. Then we took time to discuss issues with hiring, training, SBA reform, and red tape involved in qualifying for government contracts.