Des Moines, Iowa — Senate Republicans say their overall target for state spending in the next budgeting year matches the one Governor Kim Reynolds proposed in January, but they’re still working on the details.
Republicans on the Senate Appropriations Committee have voted to advance four bills with a general outline of where money might be spent in dozens of state agencies. Senator Tim Kraayenbrink, a Republican from Fort Dodge, says the goal is to come to some agreement on these bills with House Republicans, who are proposing slightly more spending in certain areas.
Senator Janet Petersen, a Democrat from Des Moines, says with the governor’s major realignment of state government operations underway, more scrutiny is necessary.
Senate Republicans say they’ve met with agency leaders to ask questions, get answers and set up a budget framework, but they’ll figure out the spending details later after negotiations with House Republicans and the governor. House Republicans released more detailed budget numbers last week and have held some public meetings with state officials to discuss government operations.
