Week in Iowa, Jan. 8, 2024: Recap of news from across the state

Iowa caucus could be coldest ever: A blizzard swept through much of Iowa on Friday, dumping several inches of snow across the state and making travel conditions treacherous into the weekend. Parts of northwest Iowa had received up to 11 inches of snow by Friday with wind chills projected as low as 40 degrees below zero.

The weather comes just before Iowa's first-in-the-nation Republican presidential caucuses, which are set to be the coldest in modern history. Presidential candidates canceled events in areas of the state Thursday and Friday as weather made travel impossible. Turnout will be a key factor in Monday's caucuses, as candidates with the most dedicated supporters may see an edge due to the weather.

Democratic leader passes on reelection: Iowa Senate Minority Leader Pam Jochum of Dubuque announced this past week that she will not seek reelection this year. Jochum, a Democrat, has served in the Legislature since 1993, and she was Senate president in 2013. She became the Democratic Senate leader last year after the sudden ouster of Sen. Zach Wahls, D-Coralville.

Iowa chief justice wants higher pay for judges: A staff shortage across the spectrum at Iowa's courts is challenging the judicial system, Iowa Chief Justice Susan Christensen told lawmakers during the annual Condition of the Judiciary address. She said investments are needed to attract court reporters and contract attorneys, and a salary boost is needed for judges as applications for vacancies are falling and Iowa judges make well below those in neighboring states.

Reynolds unveils tax plan: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds made her tax cut plans official this past week, promising to accelerate and deepen tax cuts that Republicans passed into law in 2022. Reynolds said the cuts reflect Republicans' conservative budgeting principles and are a response to the government overcollecting from Iowans.

Under Reynolds' proposal, Iowans' income taxes would be set to a flat 3.65 percent starting this year, retroactively to January. In 2025, Iowa taxpayers would pay a 3.5 percent income tax. Democrats have opposed income tax cuts in the past, saying they disproportionately benefit the wealthy and do little for low-income Iowans.

Judge strikes gender balance requirement: A federal judge ruled that a law requiring Iowa's State Judicial Nominating Commission to have an equal number of men and women is unconstitutional. The law, like similar laws requiring a gender balance on Iowa's boards and commissions, was passed in the 1980s to address gender discrimination and the lack of women on the board.

GOP candidates make final pitch: The four leading Republican presidential candidates held dueling media events Wednesday in a competition for attention and eyeballs days before the Iowa caucuses. In a televised debate, Nikki Haley painted Ron DeSantis as a liar and flip-flopper, while DeSantis said Haley was influenced by Wall Street and corporations. Donald Trump held a town hall with Fox News at the same time.

They said ...

“One of the best ways to honor the community of Perry, who just endured this shooting, is to come up with policies that will make it so there’s not another school shooting.” -- Iowa House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights, on Gov. Kim Reynolds’ legislative agenda

“Let me be absolutely clear: The surplus does not mean that we aren’t spending enough; it means we’re still taking too much of Iowans’ hard-earned money.” -- Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on proposed tax cuts

Odds and ends

Ag gag upheld: A pair of so-called "ag gag" laws in Iowa, which create penalties for people who trespass on agricultural property intending to create financial harm, are constitutional, a federal court ruled last week. The appeals court found the laws are not overly restrictive of free speech.

Regents funding: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds proposed a $12.3 million bump to Iowa's public universities, less than a third of the increase the Board of Regents requested from the Legislature this year. The proposal amounts to a 2.5 percent increase over last year.

Water cooler

CO2 pipeline: After attempting to pass laws for two years limiting the eminent domain power of carbon capture pipelines, lawmakers supporting the restrictions said last week state action was unlikely. Instead, they suggested a court challenge could be lodged if a state board approves an application from Summit Carbon Solutions to build a pipeline across the state.

Perry shooting victim remembered: Hundreds of people said goodbye Thursday to 11-year-old Ahmir Jolliff, a week after he was shot to death at Perry High School by an older student who also wounded seven others before killing himself. Perry residents packed a Catholic church and spilled over to a nearby church where the funeral was televised.