Democrats in the Iowa legislature gathered this morning to “reinforce” for voters the proposals in their “Putting Iowans First” agenda.
“It’s time to say, ‘Goodbye,’ to the backroom deals, bickering and corporate tax give-aways that have infected our politics today,” House Democratic Leader Mark Smith of Marshalltown said to open a statehouse news conference.
Smith said stagnant wages and fewer state tax dollars for education are hurting “everyday” Iowans.
“Republicans promised Iowans growth, yet the only thing that’s growing is the budget disaster they’ve created,” said Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen of Des Moines. “Iowans know you cannot cut your way to prosperity. Iowans want legislators to focus on our future.”
Republicans hold a majority of seats in both the Iowa Senate and House, giving the GOP control over the legislature’s agenda last year and again this year. Democrats like Senator Petersen say their alternative agenda includes things like sending more state money into schools and finding ways to expand broadband access to rural areas.
“I think Iowans want to know what Democrats stand for and want to see a positive agenda,” Petersen said. “If you look at the growth agenda Republicans are touting, the first bill out of the shoot in the Iowa Senate is a massive budget cut, programs and services that Iowans depend on.”
This afternoon, a Senate committee will review a GOP plan to cut 52 million dollars from the current year’s state budget. The cuts take into account lower-than-projected state tax revenue and leave a “cushion” of several million dollars if state tax receipts continue to fall below expectations between now and June 30.