Writing about the Iowa Legislature and its maddening agenda has become exhausting. Probably double for you, the reader at large. Maybe triple.
But it still seems like there needs to be some summing up after more than 100 days of endurance. Regurgitating my largely futile arguments is too much to bear.
So, I’m going to let the numbers do the talking. Here are some that reflect the action and inaction of the the 2004 session.
The final general fund budget for Fiscal year 2025, which starts July 1, approved by lawmakers — $8.9 billion.
The amount, under Iowa law, the Legislature could have spent, according to the nonpartisan Legislative services agency — $11.1 billion.
The projected ending balance surplus at the end of the 2025 budget year — $2.4 billion.
The projected surplus for Fiscal Year 2024, which ends June 30 --- $1.95 billion.
The actual surplus remaining after the FY 2023 — $1.83 billion.
What Iowa’s Taxpayer Relief Fund is projected to hold at the end of FY 2025 — $3.7 billion.
The reduction of state revenue over the next two years after adopting a flat 3.8% income tax, according to the Legislative Services Agency — $933 million.
The percentage of the cuts that will go to the wealthiest top 20% of households according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy — 68%.
The state income tax rate that will be paid by a hog baron — 3.8%.
The state income tax rate for employees of a meatpacking plant — 3.8%.
Donations of $1,000 or more to Gov. Kim Reynolds during 2023 — 251, part of $1.38 million in contributions.
Total state aid to public schools in FY 2025 — $3.78 billion.
Increase in state aid to public schools in FY 2025 — $147 million, or 3%.
Total spending on publicly funded education scholarships for private school students in FY 2025 — $179.1 million
Increase in state spending on private Education Savings Accounts — $51.2 million, or 30%.
The year-two projected cost of scholarships when the bill creating them was passed in 2023 — $156.3 million.
The funding cut for Area Education Agencies approved by lawmakers for FY 2025 — $32.5 million.
The number of AEAs Gov. Kim Reynolds said would be closed by her redesign plan — zero.
The number of AEA employees who are leaving their jobs in the wake of Reynolds’ plan — nearly 350.
The amount being spent on creating a new bureaucracy in the Department of Education to control AEAs — $10 million.
Number of groups that supported Reynolds’ original AEA bill — one (Americans for Prosperity).
The number of women who could receive expanded postpartum care for one year under Medicaid — 2,700.
The number of women and babies who would be ineligible for care after lawmakers lowered the wage threshold for eligibility — 1,700.
The estimate for needed repairs and upgrades in Iowa’s state parks — $100 million.
The 2025 budget for parks maintenance approved by lawmakers — $7.2 million.
Under a constitutional amendment pushed by Republican lawmakers, the number of House and Senate members who could block any future effort to raise income taxes — 34 and 17.
State lawmakers requiring a plurality of votes to get elected — 150.
The new fines for government officials who knowingly break open meetings laws — $5,000 to $12,000.
The number of establishments in the U.S. authorized to sell lab-created meat that now requires labeling under Iowa legislation — zero.
The percentage limit of THC per-serving in a hemp-infused drink -- 4%
Iowans who will be able to buy a Gadsden Flag “Don’t Tread on Me” license plate after lawmakers scrapped the bill --- zero.
The number of times slavery is mentioned in new curriculum rules for social studies cribbed from a conservative think tank and approved by Republican lawmakers — zero.
The number of major bills approved addressing substandard care in Iowa nursing homes and assisted living facilities — zero.
The number of major bills approved addressing Iowa’s dirty water -- zero.
The number of major bills responding to Iowa’s growing cancer rate -- zero.
The number of bills expanding access to free and reduced school lunch -- zero.
Amount spent mostly on food and beverages at legislative receptions sponsored by special interest groups during the 2024 session — $330,000.
The date of the next election — Nov. 5.
(319) 398-8262; todd.dorman@thegazette.com
www.thegazette.com
But it still seems like there needs to be some summing up after more than 100 days of endurance. Regurgitating my largely futile arguments is too much to bear.
So, I’m going to let the numbers do the talking. Here are some that reflect the action and inaction of the the 2004 session.
The final general fund budget for Fiscal year 2025, which starts July 1, approved by lawmakers — $8.9 billion.
The amount, under Iowa law, the Legislature could have spent, according to the nonpartisan Legislative services agency — $11.1 billion.
The projected ending balance surplus at the end of the 2025 budget year — $2.4 billion.
The projected surplus for Fiscal Year 2024, which ends June 30 --- $1.95 billion.
The actual surplus remaining after the FY 2023 — $1.83 billion.
What Iowa’s Taxpayer Relief Fund is projected to hold at the end of FY 2025 — $3.7 billion.
The reduction of state revenue over the next two years after adopting a flat 3.8% income tax, according to the Legislative Services Agency — $933 million.
The percentage of the cuts that will go to the wealthiest top 20% of households according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy — 68%.
The state income tax rate that will be paid by a hog baron — 3.8%.
The state income tax rate for employees of a meatpacking plant — 3.8%.
Donations of $1,000 or more to Gov. Kim Reynolds during 2023 — 251, part of $1.38 million in contributions.
Total state aid to public schools in FY 2025 — $3.78 billion.
Increase in state aid to public schools in FY 2025 — $147 million, or 3%.
Total spending on publicly funded education scholarships for private school students in FY 2025 — $179.1 million
Increase in state spending on private Education Savings Accounts — $51.2 million, or 30%.
The year-two projected cost of scholarships when the bill creating them was passed in 2023 — $156.3 million.
The funding cut for Area Education Agencies approved by lawmakers for FY 2025 — $32.5 million.
The number of AEAs Gov. Kim Reynolds said would be closed by her redesign plan — zero.
The number of AEA employees who are leaving their jobs in the wake of Reynolds’ plan — nearly 350.
The amount being spent on creating a new bureaucracy in the Department of Education to control AEAs — $10 million.
Number of groups that supported Reynolds’ original AEA bill — one (Americans for Prosperity).
The number of women who could receive expanded postpartum care for one year under Medicaid — 2,700.
The number of women and babies who would be ineligible for care after lawmakers lowered the wage threshold for eligibility — 1,700.
The estimate for needed repairs and upgrades in Iowa’s state parks — $100 million.
The 2025 budget for parks maintenance approved by lawmakers — $7.2 million.
Under a constitutional amendment pushed by Republican lawmakers, the number of House and Senate members who could block any future effort to raise income taxes — 34 and 17.
State lawmakers requiring a plurality of votes to get elected — 150.
The new fines for government officials who knowingly break open meetings laws — $5,000 to $12,000.
The number of establishments in the U.S. authorized to sell lab-created meat that now requires labeling under Iowa legislation — zero.
The percentage limit of THC per-serving in a hemp-infused drink -- 4%
Iowans who will be able to buy a Gadsden Flag “Don’t Tread on Me” license plate after lawmakers scrapped the bill --- zero.
The number of times slavery is mentioned in new curriculum rules for social studies cribbed from a conservative think tank and approved by Republican lawmakers — zero.
The number of major bills approved addressing substandard care in Iowa nursing homes and assisted living facilities — zero.
The number of major bills approved addressing Iowa’s dirty water -- zero.
The number of major bills responding to Iowa’s growing cancer rate -- zero.
The number of bills expanding access to free and reduced school lunch -- zero.
Amount spent mostly on food and beverages at legislative receptions sponsored by special interest groups during the 2024 session — $330,000.
The date of the next election — Nov. 5.
(319) 398-8262; todd.dorman@thegazette.com
Opinion: Iowa’s 2024 legislative session by the numbers
Here are numbers that reflect the action and inaction of the the 2004 session.
www.thegazette.com
