Month: March 2023

For being the second funnel week of the session, this week seemed less hectic than expected. There was no debate this week, but instead a focus on governor appointees. In the Workforce Committee, we have 17 appointees this year. The committee will research, interview, and ultimately make a decision on whether we recommend the appointment of these individuals or not. In previous years, Senate Democrats have blocked the appointment of high-quality candidates. However, with a supermajority this year, Senate Republicans will have full ability to appoint candidates that we deem fit for the role.

With no floor debate this week, I do not have any passed legislation to speak on. However, with this being said, a piece of legislation that many have reached out to me about is HF 565 – Eminent Domain. The House passed this legislation late last week and unfortunately it did not make it to the floor for Senate debate this week.  I was asked about the issue at a forum last week in Oskaloosa and I replied:

“A year ago we passed a bill for ethanol … I wasn’t a huge fan of that bill. I voted for it because most all of you asked me to, but I wasn’t a huge fan of it. However we were told that it was needed to save the farming industry. Now this year, it’s about the pipeline. We are being told by the [Iowa] Corn Growers Association ‘Oh, you’ve got to do it to save the ethanol industry.’ To be honest, I’m a little ticked at this reoccurring narrative of being told every year that we’ve got to do something to save the ethanol industry. That’s not an anti-farmer statement, that’s not an anti-Iowa statement. It just seems like every year it’s ‘Oh, we’ve got to have something else now to save ethanol.’”

There are many reasons for me to be against the pipeline, however that one really upsets me. I don’t know what the plan is, if there is one, for eminent domain. However I will, just as I did on the ethanol bill last year, vote according to what is best for my constituents. There is a lot of talk around this bill, and I appreciate everyone who has voiced their opinions, both for and against the legislation.

On Wednesday I was fortunate enough to be able to visit with 3 different local groups of students. The Pekin FFA chapter, the Fairfield FFA chapter, and a group of seniors from Mount Pleasant. It was GREAT listening to their concerns and plans for the future. It was very fun to be able to visit with these bright young individuals and show them around the Capitol.

In the forum, some individuals suggested the legislature was partly to blame “because we were not aware as to how grave IWU’s financial troubles were.” No one from IWU has ever reached out to me for assistance. No one from IWU has ever contacted me. I am not suggesting if they did the result would be any different, but to even suggest that any part of their closing was due to the lack of state involvement was sad to hear. The first I ever heard about their situation (which was from the Governor’s office, not IWU) was 1 day before IWU announced it to the public.

Governor Reynolds stated that her office endeavors are “not to spend one-time federal dollars on ongoing expenses.” She said that to better understand Iowa Wesleyan’s financial health, her office engaged an independent, third-party accounting firm that found the school’s $26 million loan from the USDA “could be recalled in full as early as November 2023.” In addition, Governor Reynolds said Iowa Wesleyan’s own auditors had expressed “substantial doubt” as to the school’s ability to stay afloat and had pointed out that while enrollment had grown over the past three years, the school’s financial health continued to deteriorate.

Gary Steinkie from the Iowa Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, stated, “Let me tell you something: That was an unbelievably dumb request (from IWU). The governor was never going to provide $12 million in COVID money to a private, not-for-profit college that was on the verge of collapse… To blame the governor is absolutely, 100 percent preposterous.”

I am very sad to hear the IWU will be closing. EVERYONE is. They have been a huge part of Mt. Pleasant for 181 years. The transition moving forward will be difficult for the community, however I am committed to helping the community and the campus to find the best possible solution moving forward. The very day that I learned of this unfortunate news, I started to reach out to see if the ownership of the campus could be transferred to the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, the University of Northern Iowa, or even one of our local community colleges to act as a satellite location. I called others to see what the process would look like to redevelop the campus for a new housing development or an array of other opportunities. I made calls to the Iowa Workforce Department to make sure they had personnel on staff to assist the displaced employees. I looked into ensuring processes were in place so the transition for students that would be relocating to other schools would not lose earned credits and their tuition levels would remain comparable. I want to help where I am able to and to make the best out of a very unfortunate situation.  This is a moment in the Mt Pleasant community for everyone to stop placing blame and to become unified to find the best solutions for the students, the staff, the campus, and the community.

As always, I appreciate the support and hearing your concerns and opinions. Have a GREAT weekend Senate District 44!

Best Regards,

– Week 12 – 

This Week in the Senate
This, the twelfth week, marked the second major legislative deadline of the year. This is the deadline that narrows down which bills have the support to move forward through both the House and the Senate or to possibly be revisited next year. Since House bills needed to be out of committee in the Senate in order to be considered for the rest of session, most of our work this week was in committee and subcommittee meetings, and we saw fewer visitors in the State House this week.

Carbon Capture Pipelines Legislation at a Standstill
This year has included much conversation around carbon capture pipelines and potential legislation regulating them. Discussion has centered around the issues of eminent domain, ethanol production, and energy production in Iowa. We have heard many passionate views from all over the political spectrum. Unfortunately, the wide diversity of opinions has prevented a consensus from forming around the issue. I do appreciate all who have reached out on this issue with their personal perspectives and thoughtful opinions on both sides of the argument.

Property Assessment Increases Heighten Focus on Property Taxes

Property assessments began arriving in mailboxes across Iowa this week. This is of interest to homeowners primarily because it is a key aspect determining how much property tax is levied on a property.

Newspapers from around the state have published articles about the issue. The Sioux City Journal, Quad City Times, Radio Iowa, and the Cedar Rapids Gazette all ran stories about the shock and dismay from homeowners regarding the increased assessment of their property. One frustrated homeowner remarked, “How does anyone live a normal life when all you do in the morning is wake up and go work to barely live and pay taxes upon taxes upon taxes?”

The news articles report that statewide assessment increases average 20-30 percent this year. Some Iowans saw their property rise in value by as much as $50,000 or $100,000. Property taxes are a difficult tax for many reasons but primarily they are difficult because they are not tied to Iowans’ income or purchases.

Property taxes are tied to the value of a property that an owner may have purchased decades ago. Their income may have changed because they retired or had another life change. A huge increase in valuations could lead to a massive increase in property taxes. Many Iowans fear that outcome because this has happened on more than one occasion. It does not have to be this way.

The problem with property taxes is rarely an unfair valuation. The problem of property tax increases is brought about by local government spending and taxation. Since property taxpayers have not gotten the relief they seek at the local level, they have come to their Iowa legislators looking for relief.

In the coming weeks the Iowa Senate will continue its work on controlling property tax increases. Senate File 356 is one bill that addresses the issue of rising property taxes. It gets the property tax system back to basics by reinstating hard caps, consolidating dozens of levies, and closing loopholes regularly abused by local governments. The Iowa Legislature is  asking local governments to align their practice with what state government has done for the last six years: control spending and return savings to the taxpayer in the form of permanent, sustainable tax relief.

If property owners do think their valuation exceeds the market value for their homes, they have an option. Taxpayers can challenge their valuations through property tax appeal boards at the county or city level.

Talk of Taxes Continues
Over the last several years, Senate Republicans have lead the charge on implementing historic tax relief packages for Iowans. We have passed a number of income tax relief bills, legislation to ease the tax burden on farmers and small businesses, and last year we passed both a flat tax for all Iowans and a zero tax on retirement income. On Monday the Senate held a subcommittee on Senate Study Bill 1207. This bill contains a proposed constitutional amendment that will raise the threshold required to pass income tax increases on Iowans. Under this constitutional amendment, it would take a two thirds majority vote in both chambers to raise tax rates or the rate of any new income tax on Iowans. The idea behind this proposal is that it should be more difficult to raise taxes and take more money from hard-working Iowans.

Because it contains a constitutional amendment, if SSB 1207 is passed by both chambers of the Iowa Legislature this year, the proposal would need to be passed again the following general assembly before going before the people of Iowa for a vote. SSB 1207 would be an important protection for the tax policies we have passed over the years and would ensure that taxpayers get to keep more of their hard-earned money.

Iowans Support Legislative Priorities
With just a few weeks to go before the end of the 2023 legislative session, much has already been accomplished this year. We passed school choice for all Iowa students, ensuring parents, no matter how much money they make, can send their children to a school that best fits their needs and prepares them for success. We passed Senate File 181, protecting Iowa taxpayers from a potential $120 million tax increase. We have also passed the first major government reorganization bill in forty years, increasing efficiency in government and saving taxpayer money, while re-aligning priorities and services across state government.

Over the last several weeks, the Des Moines Register has been releasing Iowa Poll results, showing despite continued attacks and extreme rhetoric from the opposition, that Iowans support many of the issues already acted on this legislative session. According to the Register, fifty-four percent of Iowa adults are in favor of banning the teaching of gender identity and sexual orientation in elementary schools, and fifty-two percent support a ban on experimental surgeries and sex changes on children in Iowa. Senate File 538, a bill that prohibits doctors from performing gender transition procedures on minors, passed the Iowa Senate earlier this month and was signed into law by Governor Reynolds last week. Legislation on the Parents’ Bill of Rights, which included limits on teaching sexual orientation in kindergarten and elementary schools, passed the Iowa Senate last week. Senate File 496 is now ready for debate in the Iowa House.

There are also several bills in the legislative process that will keep moving our state in the right direction. One of these bills is Senate File 542, which balances safety, educational, and developmental concerns, while removing arbitrary and antiquated barriers for young Iowans wishing to work, whether they are looking to make some money for themselves or looking for experience to further their careers. This proposal has support from fifty percent of Iowans.
Visitors This Week
Associate Pastor Zach Hamilton, Pastor Mick Hall, and his son Brayton Hall from Burlington’s Heritage Baptist Church outside the Senate Chamber on Tuesday.

Best regards,

Mark