(Radio Iowa) G-O-P leaders in the legislature say cutting taxes is a goal they share with Governor Reynolds, but it’s unclear if the tax plan she outlined in her annual address to lawmakers will sail through the House and Senate. House Speaker Pat Grassley says his first impression is the governor has made reasonable recommendations, but he says House Republicans will examine the full impact over the next two years.

“I like the agenda she laid out when it comes to tax policy,” Grassley says, “and we look forward to fully engaging as we see what those out years look like.” Last year, Senate Republicans proposed a bill to eliminate the state income tax by the end of this decade, but Senate Republican Leader Jack Whitver says the governor’s plan for a three-and-a-half percent flat income tax rate by 2025 may be an interim step.

“The goal is to get to zero in the state of Iowa,” Whitver says. “Whether we get here in year one (or) year 10, we don’t know, but taking another step forward is certainly progress that we appreciate.” House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst  says about half a million Iowans do not owe any income taxes to the state — and the proposed cuts don’t help them. “We didn’t hear anything tonight about affordable housing, about child care, about utilities,” Konfrst said. “Costs are more about income taxes.”

House Speaker Pat Grassley says there’s interest in both parties in the governor’s plan to raise teacher salaries. “The governor’s been very clear over the last several months that was going to be something she wanted to look at as we came into the legislative session,” Grassley says. “I think you’re going to see a lot of interest in wanting to do something when it comes to getting us into those higher levels.” Konfrst says Democrats have for years supported raising teacher salaries, but they need more details.

“We have a lot of questions, of course,” Konfrst says. “We want to know about the paraprofessionals and other professionals in the school, some of whom are earning less than $10 an hour.” Whitver says Senate Republicans are interested in setting a higher minimum salary for beginning teachers and they’ll see how the governor’s proposal fits in the overall state budget. Reynolds says her teacher pay plan has a 96 million dollar price tag.