(Radio Iowa) – Thirty Republicans in the Iowa Senate have advanced a proposed amendment that says Iowa’s constitution does not recognize the right to an abortion or public funding of the procedure. 2024 is the earliest Iowans could vote on the amendment if the proposal clears other legislative hurdles. Senate President Jake Chapman of Adel, a Republican, says the amendment would undo a 2018 Iowa Supreme Court ruling that Iowa women have a fundamental right to an abortion under the state constitution.

“It is our responsibility,” Chapman says, “it is our oath-bound duty to rightfully propose to the people of Iowa a constitutional amendment to correct this judicial overreach.” Senator Jackie Smith, a Democrat from Sioux City, says the proposed amendment weakens the right to privacy. “Women deserve the freedom from politicians that interfere in our personal lives,” Smith said. “…Likewise, I believe a woman should be free to access abortion with dignity and respect.”

Senator Jeff Taylor, a Republican from Sioux Center, says abortion is a very tragic cover for unaddressed social problems. “The desire to protect human life, especially the most innocent and vulnerable, is a worthy cause,” Taylor says, “even when it conflicts with other understandable desires and genuine rights.” Senator Amanda Ragan, a Democrat from Mason City, says the ultimate G-O-P objective is to ban access to safe abortion. “Iowans deserve freedom from political interference in their personal lives,” Ragan says. “These private health care decisions belong to a woman and her doctor.”

The proposal goes back to the House, where Republicans approved something similar earlier this year. However, Senate Republicans advanced slightly different wording that must be reviewed and approved by the House. The resolution must clear the Iowa legislature this year or next — then AGAIN in 2023 or 2024 before the proposed constitutional amendment can be submitted to voters.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Senate has sent Governor Kim Reynolds a bill that’s on her priority list. The legislation sets up the rules for state grants to private companies that extend broadband in areas of Iowa where the service is too slow or non-existent. Republican Senator Carrie Koelker of Dyersville says the companies will have to make matching investments in the technology to qualify for the grants. “We know every Iowan deserves to be connected for life and, in many ways, work and learning,” Koelker says.

The bill does NOT provide the money, but does specify the upload and download speeds that companies will be required to provide if they win a grant.  “This bill prioritizes the areas that need it most first,” Koelker says. “…This is the type of policy that we need to be a pro-business state. This is going to help both large and small businesses grow, increase accessible ability to education and ultimately further Iowa’s position as a place for quality of life.”

Senator Janet Petersen, a Democrat from Des Moines, unsuccessfully sought to require that companies getting grants collect fees and set up programs that offer broadband to low-income Iowans at reduced rates. “Let’s establish a program that works from the very beginning, not just to benefit out of state companies that are going to come in and build out our infrastructure,” Petersen says, “but also for Iowans who desperately need it.”

After Petersen’s proposal failed to win G-O-P support, the bill passed unanimously. Governor Reynolds has called on legislators to provide 150 million dollars for these broadband grants in each of the next three years. Legislators say they’ll decide later how much to spend.

(Radio Iowa) – Republicans in the Iowa Senate have approved another big tax change. This one would use state taxes, rather than local property taxes, to finance the state’s mental health system. In addition, the bill approved last (Tuesday) night would create a new elderly property tax CREDIT for low income Iowans age 70 and older and get rid of a property tax LEVY in 27 school districts that’s used to maintain playgrounds and pay for other community education programs. It also would end state payments to schools, cities and county to compensate for lowered commercial property tax rates.

Senator Dan Dawson, a Republican from Council Bluffs, says due to rising home prices, Iowans are facing higher property taxes and this legislation will help reduce those bills. “We did not come here to do halfsies,” Dawson says. “We came here to do bold reforms and this bill, in its entirety, is bold reform.”

Democrats voted against the package. Senator Joe Bolkcom, a Democrat from Iowa City, says county property taxes used for mental health services are a more reliable funding source than appropriations approved by the state legislature. “If this legislation, for some reason, becomes law, it will result in defunding of our mental health system,” Bolkcom said.

House Republicans have expressed caution about making major tax changes this year, due to the economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic. Governor Reynolds has joined a lawsuit over a provision in the latest FEDERAL pandemic relief package that some have interpreted as impeding state efforts to cut taxes. Senate Republicans estimate the bill they passed last (Tuesday) night would eventually reduce property taxes statewide by 100 million dollars.