Des Moines, Iowa (RI) — Three bills that would limit the power of Iowa governors have advanced ahead of Friday’s deadline for committee approval of policy bills — and all three bills involve actions Governor Reynolds took during the pandemic.
One bill would prohibit governors from closing a place of worship, even during a disaster. Another bill would restrict a governor’s authority to decide how long a state of emergency or public health disaster may last — and Iowa governors wouldn’t be allowed to order businesses to close, change election procedures, or stop in-person visits at health care facilities. Republican Representative Samantha Fett of Carlisle led the debate on that bill in a House committee.
A third bill would make it harder for the executive branch to move forward with certain administrative rules. Representative Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, a Democrat from Ames, voted against the bills.
Republican legislators are considering the bills now that Governor Kim Reynolds is not seeking re-election, and voters will choose Iowa’s next governor in the November 3rd election.
KIWA Staff Photo
