New GOP Senate majority leader eliminates Economic Growth Committee

CEDAR RAPIDS - The 2017 legislative session doesn't convene for another month, but the disagreements already have started.

Senate Majority Leader-elect Bill Dix, R-Shell Rock, has announced the elimination of the Economic Growth Committee, explaining that every Senate committee is 'charged with moving forward legislation that will foster economic growth in this state.”

The Senate GOP plans to continue the Economic Development Committee, so the Economic Growth Committee is 'redundant and unnecessary,” he said.

Senate Minority Leader-elect Rob Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids, criticized the decision and pointed out the Republican Iowa House leadership is continuing its Economic Growth Committee.

'Senate Republicans should reconsider their decision to gut legislative oversight of Iowa's job creation efforts,” Hogg said. 'The Senate Economic Growth Committee has helped Iowans create jobs with innovative programs in infrastructure, community development and emerging technologies. The committee's job is to improve these efforts and provide a safeguard against crony capitalism.”

Senate Republicans, Dix said, are 'focused unwaveringly on economic growth” and the committee assignments reflect their intent to implement 'positive, limited government, pro-growth policies.”

Dix announced the appointment of the following committee leaders:

- Appropriation - Sen. Charles Schneider, West Des Moines.

- Agriculture - Sen. Dan Zumbach, Ryan.

- Commerce - Sen. Bill Anderson, Pierson.

- Education - Sen. Amy Sinclair, Allerton.

- Ethics - Sen. Jerry Behn, Boone.

- Human Resources - Sen. Mark Segebart, Vail.

- Judiciary - Sen. Brad Zaun, Urbandale.

- Labor - Sen. Jason Schultz, Schleswig.

- Local Government - Sen. Julian Garrett, Indianola.

- Natural Resources - Sen. Ken Rozenboom, Oskaloosa.

- Rules - Dix.

- State Government - Sen. Roby Smith, Davenport.

- Transportation - Sen. Tim Kapucian, Keystone.

- Veterans Affairs - Sen. Mark Costello, Imogene.

- Ways and Means - Sen. Randy Feenstra, Hull.

Appropriations subcommittee leaders are as follows: Administration and Regulation - Sen. Dennis Guth, Klemme; Agriculture & Natural Resources - Sen. Tom Shipley, Nodaway; Economic Development - Sen. Mark Lofgren, Muscatine; Education - Sen. Tim Kraayenbrink, Fort Dodge; Justice Systems - Sen. Mark Chelgren, Wapello; Health and Human Services - Costello; and Transportation, Infrastructures and Capitals - Sen. Rick Bertrand, Sioux City.

Also: Administrative Rules Review - Chelgren; Legislative Council - Dix; International Relations - Schneider.