Week in Iowa, Sept. 25, 2023: Recap of news from across the state

Panel says to cut state boards by 43%: A state committee that was convened to review Iowa's administrative boards and commissions gave a final recommendation that 111 boards should be cut or consolidated, which would leave the state with 145 boards. The report came after a monthslong review and public hearing, where some board members expressed concern about the recommendation to cut their boards.

The final recommendations did reverse course on a proposal to cut the state's Commission on Volunteer Services and Midwest Higher Education Compact after advocates said their loss would have jeopardized millions in federal funding. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said she will propose legislation next year to enact the recommendations, which will need to be approved by the majority-Republican Legislature before being signed into law.

Iowa has $1.83 billion budget surplus: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds called for further cuts to the state income tax after announcing Iowa will end the current fiscal year with a $1.83 billion budget surplus. The state also has $902 million in cash reserves and $2.74 billion in the Taxpayer Relief Fund.

Regents ask $1 million for mental health: Iowa's Board of Regents, which governs the state's three public universities, tacked on an extra $1 million to its budget requests for the next legislative session specifically to expand mental health resources at the state universities. The addition brings the board's request to $620 million, an increase of $39.3 million.

Iowa Congress members on shutdown: Iowa U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley said threatening to shut down the government over demands for policy goals — as some far-right Republicans have done — is "idiotic," and said a shutdown would be costly for taxpayers. Grassley and Sen. Joni Ernst, both Republicans, voted on Tuesday to advance a bipartisan short-term spending package.

But in the U.S. House, efforts to keep the government funded before the Saturday deadline were not showing promise. U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn criticized the budgeting process and proposed bills to suspend pay for Congress during a shutdown. Nunn and U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, both Republicans, have requested their pay be withheld if the government shuts down.

Shutdown threatens WIC, farmers: A government shutdown would threaten the nutrition benefits of 58,000 Iowa women, children and infants on the WIC program, and 5,550 Iowa families could lose access to federally funded child care slots. It would affect U.S. Department of Agriculture payments to farmers for conservation efforts and halt federal housing and small business loans. Iowa Democrats this past week urged the state's Republican congressional delegation to work across the aisle with Democrats on a bipartisan budget solution.

School administrative costs match inflation: Iowa's school administrative costs have not risen significantly in the past six years and are not a significant driver of K-12 education spending, according to a new report from state Auditor Rob Sand, a Democrat. Sand said the costs have largely kept pace with inflation, increasing by 20 percent in the last six years. Some Statehouse Republicans have targeted administrative spending as a source of inflating education costs.

They said …

"We’ve seen what the powerful combination of growth-oriented policies and fiscal restraint can create, and now it’s time for Iowans to directly receive the benefits. I look forward to cutting taxes again next legislative session and returning this surplus back to where it belongs — the people of Iowa.” — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on state budget surplus

“Gov. Reynolds talks a big game about relief for Iowa families, but she’s always put rich corporations and special interests first — and she always will." — Iowa Democratic Sen. Janet Petersen on state budget surplus

Odds and ends

2024 watch: Donald Trump was set to return to Iowa on Sunday for a rally in Ottumwa, his second visit in as many weeks as he ramps up campaigning to consolidate support ahead of the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses in January. Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley held a town hall Saturday in Clive.

Election security: Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate urged Iowans to turn to trusted sources for information ahead of the November city-school elections. His office created a video dispelling election "myths," as well as a website where voters can learn the facts about election security.

Water cooler

Davenport council: Davenport Mayor Mike Matson will form a special panel to investigate allegations that a city alderman made racist comments. Alderman Tim Kelley has said Alderman Robby Ortiz justified the use of a racial slur in a conversation with other aldermen.

Linn-Mar on debate stage: Former Vice President Mike Pence mentioned Eastern Iowa’s Linn-Mar school district during a Republican presidential debate Wednesday, criticizing the school's gender support plan. The policy allowed transgender students to request to be called by a new name and pronouns, and left it up to the students to decide whether to notify their parents.