Statewide, Iowa – Governor Kim Reynolds delivered the annual “Condition of the State” address this past Tuesday night at the Capitol, outlining her policy priorities for the year. She’s asking legislators to require that public schools, at a minimum, ban students from using cell phones while they’re in class.
Reynolds says it’s time for legislators to require motorists to only use a cell phone in hands-free or voice-activated mode while driving.
Later in the speech, Reynolds told the crowd her husband’s lung cancer is in remission and she praised Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver for his fortitude as he undergoes treatment for a brain tumor.
Reynolds submitted her overall state budget plan to lawmakers this past Tuesday. It includes nearly 14 million dollars for disaster aid. Most would go toward repairing homes hit by historic floods and powerful tornadoes last year.
The governor is proposing a tax exemption for developers building homes in communities hit by those disasters. Governor Reynolds is again recommending a cut in the tax Iowa businesses pay into the state trust fund that pays out unemployment benefits, but she is not making a recommendation on how legislators should approach their debate about property tax relief.
However, the governor is issuing an executive order to create a task force to find more efficiencies in both state and local government.
House Speaker Pat Grassley isn’t surprised Reynolds did not offer her own plan to limit property tax growth, but Grassley says the governor will be a partner as Republican legislators review options.
Democrats like House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst say the governor failed to address long-term housing needs throughout the state or how to make child care more affordable for Iowa parents.
Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner says rather than cutting the taxes businesses pay to support unemployment benefits, the number of weeks Iowans are eligible for unemployment should be extended.
Last year, Governor Reynolds signed a bill that cut the maximum number of weeks someone is eligible for unemployment from 26 to 16.
