A three-member panel of financial experts has increased its estimate of state tax receipts in the current budgeting year by nearly $360 million. The Revenue Estimating Conference predicts tax growth this year will be 4.9 percent, but in the following year it will be 1.7 percent as the GOP crafted … [Read more...]
Farm Bureau Health Benefit Plans for 2019 go on sale in 29 days
Farm Bureau officials have announced the organization's new "Health Benefit Plans" will go on sale November 1. A state law approved this past spring authorized Farm Bureau to sell what some call "skinny insurance plans." The plans are not insurance. Premiums are lower because the plans do not … [Read more...]
State tax revenue up 7.5 percent in last quarter
A report from the non-partisan Legislative Services Agency indicates there's been "extremely strong growth" in state tax collections during the past three months. "Fiscal Year 2019 is off to a fast start," Legislative Services Agency senior fiscal analyst Jeff Robinson says. Over the months of … [Read more...]
$127 million state budget surplus as books closed on FY 2018
After higher than expected tax revenue and a mid-year round of budget cuts, the final report on the recently-concluded state fiscal year shows a $127 million surplus. The 12-month state fiscal year ends on June 30, but the books aren't closed until September to account for last minute bills and … [Read more...]
Report says Democrat lawmakers took campaign money from same Medicaid provider as governor
The Des Moines Register reports the legislature's top two Democrats accepted campaign contributions from the same managed care firm the Iowa Democratic Party's chairman blasted Governor Kim Reynolds for taking donations from. On Monday, Iowa Democratic Party chairman Troy Price accused Republican … [Read more...]
Regents to ask for more state money, increase tuition to fund state universities
The Iowa Board of Regents will ask the governor and lawmakers for an additional $20 million in state funding during the next legislative session and also plan to make annual increases in tuition at the three state schools. Board president Michael Richards told the board at their meeting Thursday … [Read more...]
State Ag Secretary candidates differ on volume of tax money needed for soil and water quality initiatives
The two major party candidates for state ag secretary say preserving Iowa's soil and cleaning up the state's lakes and streams are an important mission for the State of Iowa, but they differ on a proposal that's been around nearly eight years to raise more money for that mission. Tim Gannon, the … [Read more...]
State agrees to pay private firms 7.5 percent more to manage Medicaid
State officials have agreed on a 7.5 percent boost in the state and federal governments' payments to the private companies managing Iowa's Medicaid system. More than 680,000 poor, disabled and elderly Iowans are enrolled in Medicaid. Governor Reynolds' administration has been in lengthy … [Read more...]
Reynolds hopes details of HBAs, cheap alternative to insurance, out soon
Governor Kim Reynolds today said she hopes details of the "health benefit" plans the Iowa Farm Bureau and Wellmark will offer Iowans who do not qualify for ObamaCare subsidies will be released sometime next month. Reynolds indicated that will give Iowans time before the sign-up period starts in … [Read more...]
State treasurer and GOP challenger cite priority projects
A former Ames City Councilman is challenging the longest-serving state treasurer in the country in this year's General Election. Michael Fitzgerald is seeking a 10th term. "The treasurer's job is to keep the money safe, kind of the banker for the State of Iowa and we have kept the money safe," … [Read more...]