(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Legislative Black Caucus is calling on Republican Governor Kim Reynolds to intervene on so-called “back the blue” legislation. In January, Reynolds proposed a package that included enhanced penalties for those who riot and who harass and attack police as well as provisions to address racial profiling by police. Representative Ras (like “Ross”) Smith, a Democrat from Waterloo, says the Republican majority in the legislature is leaving a key part out.

Smith says after the police reform package that passed unanimously last June, the G-O-P controlled legislature appears to be taking Iowa backwards.

Smith cites bills to prohibit the teaching of a New York Times project on slavery in Iowa public schools and to get rid of voluntary diversity plans in five Iowa school districts.

Four other black members of the Iowa House joined Smith for an online news conference this (Thursday) morning. All five are Democrats. A spokesman for the governor has not responded to a request for comment.