Des Moines, Iowa — Republicans in the Iowa Senate have approved Governor Kim Reynolds’ nearly 1,600 page bill to revamp state government, shrinking the number of agencies from 37 to 16, and giving the governor authority to set the pay for her top administrators.
Reynolds touted her government realignment plan Tuesday morning during a speech to members of the Iowa Bankers Association.
Critics have been saying the plan shifts too much authority from the legislature to the governor, and Senator Jason Schultz of Schleswig asked his fellow Republicans to approve the governor’s original plan without adjustments.
Democrats argue the bill will destroy the independence of key officials who review civil rights complaints, oversee fire safety complaints and manage programs for blind Iowans. Senator Liz Bennett, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, says the advocate for consumers when utilities seek rate hikes will be stifled, too.
Senator Sarah Trone-Garriott, a Democrat from Waukee, says there was no effort by Republican Senators to shape the legislation.
Schultz says the bill’s needed because Iowa currently spends more, per capita, on state government than five of our six neighboring states.
Although there are no layoffs outlined in the bill, a Legislative Services Agency analysis indicates the bill, as written, would save about $12.4 million next year, mostly due to the elimination of more than 200 full-time positions in state government that are not currently filled.
In January, the governor’s staff indicated the plan would reduce more than 500 full-time positions and save more than $200 million over the next four years, which does include the sale of farmland the state owns.
