Capitol Notebook: Iowa Senate advances amendment increasing number of votes needed to raise taxes

DES MOINES — The legislature's voting threshold for bills that raise taxes would increase under a joint resolution advanced by the Iowa Senate Tuesday.

Senate Joint Resolution 11 proposes an amendment to the state constitution that would require bills that increase income taxes or corporate income taxes, as well as legal and special reserves taxes, to pass with a two-thirds majority. That would mean 34 votes in the Senate and 67 votes in the House instead of a simple majority, which is 50 percent a chamber's members plus one.

Senate Republicans say the constitutional amendment is necessary because Iowans want more limits on the legislature’s ability to raise income taxes.

“It (Iowa Constitution) is a barrier between the citizens and government, not a guardrail, not a little lowly speed bump,” Republican Sen. Rocky De Witt, of Sioux Center, said. “It's a barrier that guarantees those folks that voted us in their freedom and freedom from excessive taxation.”

Democrats, including Sen. Tony Bisignano of Des Moines, said the constitutional change would limit future legislatures’ ability to raise taxes in emergency situations.

“It might seem fine. From good times, things could seem good, but we're seeing a trend that Iowa is not doing so well, and we're losing money, and at the same time we're losing money, we're lowering taxes,” Bisignano said. “This truly binds every legislature in the future.”

The resolution was approved by the Senate 32-15.

This is the second year the Iowa Senate has passed the resolution. The resolution — which has to pass through both chambers during two consecutive general assemblies — could go before voters in 2026 if the House passes the joint resolution this year or next year.

Bill mandating UI Center for Intellectual Freedom heads to governor

The University of Iowa would be required to establish a Center for Intellectual Freedom under legislation approved by Iowa Senate Republicans and en route to Gov. Kim Reynolds for her consideration.

Under the bill, the University of Iowa would be required to create the center, which would be charged with increasing the intellectual diversity of the university’s academic community and fostering civic engagement among students and faculty. The UI center would coordinate with the Center for Cyclone Civics at Iowa State and the Center for Civic Education at the University of Northern Iowa to enable shared course offerings.

Republicans have argued that the center is needed in order to ensure a diversity of ideological thought at the University of Iowa and have noted that ISU and UNI already have similar entities. Democrats in the Senate on Tuesday argued the center is unnecessary because the school’s staff and curriculum already ensure diverse viewpoints are heard.

House File 437 passed the Senate on a party-line, 32-15 vote with all Republicans supporting and all Democrats opposing. Having previously passed the House on a similarly party-line 60-37 vote, the bill heads to Reynolds’ desk.

Cancer coverage for firefighters and first responders goes to the governor

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Expanded cancer coverage for Iowa firefighters and first responders is one step closer to becoming law after the House advanced the legislation for the final time.

House File 969 would add all types of cancers to first responders’ disability and death coverage. Fourteen types of cancer are currently covered.

The House passed the legislation in previous sessions, but this year was the first time the Senate took the bill up. The Senate passed the legislation last week, but added a small amendment so it was sent back to the House for final approval before going to the governor’s desk.

“Finally, after six subcommittees, six committee votes, and what will be our fourth and hopefully final floor vote, we are finally going to get this bill for cancer coverage, screening for first responders down to the governor's desk,” Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, R-Wilton, said.

Kaufmann and Rep. Josh Turek, D-Council Bluffs, thanked a group of firefighters, first responders and their family sitting in the House gallery during the House vote for helping push the legislation forward. The House passed the amended bill 94-0.

“This is what we are here to do, is to take care of our citizens, protect our citizens, particularly our heroes,” Turek said.

State submits Medicaid work requirement waiver request

Iowa has formally requested a federal waiver that would allow the state to require most able-bodied Iowa Medicaid patients to work at least 80 hours per month as a condition of receiving coverage, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Tuesday.

Reynolds, a Republican, directed the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to submit the waiver request to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The waiver request is similar to legislation being advanced by Republican state lawmakers.

Exemptions to the work requirements would include people who are receiving unemployment benefits, are disabled, are under 19 years old or over 64 years old, are the caretaker of a dependent under 6 years old, are a woman with a high-risk pregnancy, or are receiving substance abuse treatment.

“It has always been a priority of mine to make sure our government programs reflect a culture of work. It is common sense and good policy,” Reynolds said in a statement. “If you are an able-bodied adult who can work, you should work. We need to return Medicaid back to its core purpose — to provide coverage to the people who truly need it.”

CMS procedure requires Iowa HHS to conduct a 30-day public comment period and to host two public hearings on the proposed waiver.

Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau