Branstad commends Legislature for 2013 work

Gov. Terry Branstad today is hailing the members of split-control Legislature for their landmark session achievements.

The five-term GOP governor says lawmakers succeeded in approving significant property tax relief, transformational education reform, and meaningful health modernization that focuses on quality outcomes for low-income patients while modernizing of the Medicaid system.

The governor noted that the priorities outlined in his Condition of the State address last January have been fulfilled.

“We have demonstrated today that Des Moines is not Washington, D.C.,” Branstad said in a statement.

“We worked together the Iowa way. Both parties in both chambers came together to pass the most significant legislative achievements we have seen in a generation,” he added. “These results will benefit generations to come, ensuring higher student achievement, job creation and healthier Iowans.”

Among the 2013 session accomplishments:

PROPERTY TAXES

• Approve largest tax cut in Iowa history
• Provide permanent property tax relief
• Provide about $90 million in annual income tax savings to Iowa taxpayers
• Prevent shift of the tax burden to other classes of property
• Cap of 3 percent growth for agricultural/residential property classes
• Fully fund local property tax credits in fiscal 2014 with an extra $33 million

EDUCATION

• Enact transformational, systemic education reform
• Make teaching profession more attractive with leadership roles and higher pay
• Create a new process that calls for reliable student assessments
• Offer school choice with independent accreditation for private schools
• Strengthens home-school options
• Replace “allowable growth” with 100 percent state aid in the school finance formula

EXPAND HEALTH CARE

• Iowa is the national leader for patient outcomes for our Medicaid population
• Create new model for providing health care for low-income individuals
• Quality Iowa approach for federal financing
• Provide backup financing to protect Iowa taxpayers should federal funding end
• Establish first system to have Medicaid patients pay premiums
• Commit $2 million for medical residency programs in Iowa
• Provide $2 million to launch the Rural Physician Loan Repayment Program