The state’s non-partisan budget experts met this week and reported the state has a balanced budget with over $1 billion in surplus and reserves. They also expect continued growth and a strong economy through the next fiscal year. Iowa ended fiscal year 2014 with $6.5 billion in revenue with over a $650 million surplus and an [...]
Representative Kirsten Running-Marquardt is serving her 3rd term in the Iowa House of Representatives. Kirsten was elected in a special election in Nov. 2009 and currently serves as a Ranking Member on the Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee and also serves on the full Appropriations, Local Government, and Labor Committees. Rep. Kirsten Running-Marquardt is a 6th generation [...]
This past session, the Legislature approved a measure granting all U.S. military veterans with 100% service connect disability to be exempt from property taxes for their place of residence. In addition, this includes surviving spouses of veterans who died on active duty or died due to their 100% service connected disability. This exemption can be applied [...]
The Legislature ended the session with $25 million for the Resource Enhancement and Protection Fund, often referred to as REAP, from annual funding sources this year. In their 2014 annual report, the REAP Congress, which directs the workings of REAP and provide REAP policy suggestions, voted unanimously to recommend that the Iowa Legislature provide REAP with [...]
The Governor signed new protections for victims of human trafficking into law. Many of these protections will go into effect in July of this year. Senate File 2311 will increase penalties on perpetrators of human trafficking crimes, create additional resources for victims of human trafficking, and provides additional means to stop human trafficking. The bill increases [...]
Nevada educator Kevin Ericson of Maxwell today officially launched his run for State Representative in District 49, which includes most of Story County outside of Ames and the southern part of Hardin County. Ericson has taught in the Nevada Community School District for 17 years and is an active member of the Nevada Community Education Association, [...]
While approved by the Iowa Senate, several attempts were made this session by House Democrats to set basic funding for Iowa schools, as required by law. The Iowa Senate acted on school funding, often called allowable growth, on time to prioritize k-12 education in the state budget. The plan set school funding at 6% increase, or [...]
