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Republicans in House and Senate haven’t started negotiations over state budget

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April 7th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The chairman of the House Appropriations Committee says by this time next week, Iowans should see the details of next year’s state spending plans from House Republicans. Representative Gary Mohr, a Republican from Bettendorf, says the bills, in total, would spend about 89 percent of projected state tax revenue.

That’s about one percent higher than the spending level Governor Kim Reynolds recommended in January. House Republicans say their budget includes the extra money the legislature approved for schools in February and they are proposing more state support of nursing homes than the governor suggested. Senate Republicans have released a series of budget bills this week, but none show dollar amounts. Mohr says every legislative year is different.

April 28th is the 110th day of the 2023 legislative session. It’s a target date for adjournment, but state law does not require that lawmakers end then. It is, however, the final day legislators get daily expense money to cover things like accommodations and travel to Des Moines.