House Democratic leader resigns post

DES MOINES -- Rep. Mike Reasoner, a Democrat from Creston, has resigned his post as an assistant House majority leader, citing a difference in opinion with House Speaker Pat Murphy.

Reasoner, who has served as an assistant leader for House Democrats for the last five years, declined to say what issues he disagrees with Murphy about.

Reasoner made his resignation formal Thursday in a letter to Murphy.

"My differences of opinion as to the direction of the caucus are at odds with the direction you believe House Democrats should pursue," Reasoner wrote in the letter. "So as not to send mixed signals to the caucus that the leadership team is not united and out of respect for you as speaker and the caucus as a whole, I hereby resign my position as an assistant leader effective immediately."

Reasoner refused to directly address what issues they disagreed on.

"It's just something that I felt was better for the rest of the caucus, and we'll just leave it at that," Reasoner said.

Reasoner said he would continue to help Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines, pass budget bills and work towards adjournment for the year.

Murphy said Reasoner did not discuss the differences of opinion he had with him and brushed off the idea that Reasoner's resignation is evidence of division in the Democratic ranks.

"I don't think you should read anything into that resignation," Murphy said.

Murphy praised Reasoner as a "good legislator" and said he did a lot of things behind the scenes as an assistant leader.

"I think he's done a great job, and I think he'll continue to do a great job," Murphy said.