• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / News / Budget outline emerges at statehouse

Budget outline emerges at statehouse

April 7, 2016 By O. Kay Henderson

House Speaker Linda Upmeyer. (file photo)

House Speaker Linda Upmeyer. (file photo)

Republicans and Democrats at the statehouse have agreed on new parameters for next year’s state budget. Lawmakers plan to spend about $7.35 billion and this latest agreement sketches out how that will be divided among state agencies.

Republican House Speaker Linda Upmeyer of Clear Lake met with reporters to mark the milestone.

“We were able to fund priorities,” Upmeyer said. “We perhaps, might put some money in different places but that’s the art of the compromise because this is what Iowans have selected, to have a Democrat Senate and a Republican House, so we’ll work it out.”

Upmeyer said with these decisions made, legislators who serve on budget subcommittees will begin making more detailed budget decisions today — deciding which state programs get cut, which get a “status quo” budget and which get a small spending boost. Upmeyer said the ultimate goal is to conclude the 2016 legislative session by April 19.

“I’m going to remain optimistic,” Upmeyer told reporters. “It’s absolutely possible to get done in two weeks, so that’s my goal.”

Senator Bob Dvorsky, a Democrat from Coralville who leads the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued a written statement. Dvorsky said Democrats and Republicans have found “common ground” to avoid state government “gridlock”.

Republican Governor Terry Branstad said no one gets everything they want, but he appreciates the “consensus” that’s developing.

“I think it’s the best we can do under the circumstances,” Branstad said.

Under the plan, the state’s economic development agency will get less money for the budgeting year that begins July 1. There’s some new money reserved in the budget for the three public universities and community colleges, but no word yet on how that will be divvied up among the institutions.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: News, Politics / Govt Tagged With: Democratic Party, Legislature, Republican Party, Terry Branstad

Featured Stories

Reynolds signs her ‘school choice’ bill into law

Governor Reynolds touts 2024 Iowa Caucuses in Inaugural Address

University of Iowa grad presiding over U.S. House Speaker vote

Iowan who was oldest person in the U.S. dies

Iowa Lottery to start making some payments via debit cards

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Iowa State names new receivers coach

No. 2 Iowa visits No. 1 Penn State in wrestling dual Friday night

Iowa’s Clark brings increased exposure to women’s basketball

No. 18 Iowa State women visit TCU

Northern Iowa men host Valparaiso

More Sports

Archives

Copyright © 2023 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC