Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds will not name her new second-in-command until after the upcoming election, Reynolds told reporters Wednesday.
During a news conference at the Iowa Capitol, Reynolds said it would require moving too fast to name a new lieutenant governor before the Nov. 5 election.
Adam Gregg, who Reynolds chose as her lieutenant governor when she became governor in 2017, resigned from the position last month to become the new president and CEO of the Iowa Bankers Association.
“I probably won’t do anything until after the election,” Reynolds said. “I found out right before I left to go on the trade mission (to India). I didn’t have a lot of advance notice, and we just got back from (the trade mission). … And (the election) is not that far away.”
Reynolds said she is putting together a process for choosing a new lieutenant governor, which will include sitting down with candidates who she thinks would make a good partner to discuss their priorities, their passions, policies they would like to work on and their vision “for moving the state forward.”
“We want to get it right, not only for the team, but for Iowans,” Reynolds said. “So I want to be very thoughtful in how I do that.”
Governing, a news and analysis publication for people working in government, named Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds as its 2024 Public Official of the year.
The magazine, which has honored public officials for 25 years, highlighted the 65-year-old Republican governor’s work to rewrite Iowa’s tax code, overhaul state agencies and upend the state’s approach on issues ranging from abortion to education.
Reynolds is the only governor named to the magazine’s list. Other public officials recognized by Governing included West Virginia Republican state Sen. Patricia Rucker; Milwaukee County (Wis.) County Executive David Crowley; Tulsa, Okla., Mayor G.T. Bynum; Dallas County, Texas, Health and Human Services Director Philip Huang; and Seattle Chief Technology Officer Rob Lloyd.
The magazine called Reynolds one of the nation’s most ambitious governors.
David Oman, a former Iowa GOP co-chair, told the magazine that, “In the ranks of Iowa governors, she (Reynolds) is already a historic governor" for coming close to accomplishing most of her legislative priorities.
“Reynolds has clearly benefited from the state’s shift to the right, with Republicans holding legislative supermajorities, but it’s also clear she’s running the show on many issues,” the magazine article states.
It mentioned Reynolds taking the rare measure in 2022 of endorsing primary challengers to several Republicans who opposed her $55 million private tuition bill, successfully ousting several GOP incumbents, including former House Education Committee chair Dustin Hite of New Sharon.
While controversial, the move was successful. Within a matter of a couple of weeks after the Iowa Legislature gaveled in for the 2023 session, Reynolds signed a private school scholarship bill with a price tag seven times larger than the rejected version.
Reynolds also pushed through a tax overhaul that will drive down the state’s top personal income tax rate down from 9 percent to 3.8 percent. The governor and lawmakers have said they want to continue to ratchet down the tax rate over time, putting Iowa on a path to eliminate the individual income tax.
Reynolds also signed a six-week abortion ban into law last year during a special session and pushed through a bill that reduced the number of cabinet-level agencies from 37 to 16, giving the governor more authority over hiring and firing in the process. In May, she signed legislation cutting or consolidating 111 state boards and commissions.
The latest Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll found that half of Iowans disapprove of Reynolds' job performance, her lowest marks since becoming governor. She has not announced if she will seek re-election in 2026.
“I want to thank Governing magazine for honoring me alongside five other public officials making impactful change in their communities,” Reynolds said in a statement. “Thank you to the Iowa State Legislature for working together and supporting purposeful state government to secure wins for Iowans.”
Reynolds and the Iowa Economic Development Authority announced $190,000 in grants have been awarded to 10 rural Iowa communities to support housing, child care and business/community growth initiatives.
“Rural communities are at the heart of who we are as a state, and we’re committed to ensuring they continue to grow and prosper,” Reynolds said. “These grant opportunities will provide the tools that leaders and innovators need to build vibrant communities in all corners of the state, making Iowa an even better place to live, work and raise a family.”
Five cities — Denison, Durant, Hampton, Jefferson and Iowa Falls — each received $20,000 to study housing needs through a partnership with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
The cities of Holy Cross and Spencer, Rock Rapids Kids Club and Hardin County Conservation east received $20,000 in child care planning grants.
Keokuk County Economic Development received a $10,000 grant to assist community and business leaders in developing plans for attract people, businesses and investment to the area.
The Empower Rural Iowa grants are funded through an appropriation from the Iowa Legislature. Applicants, who are required to provide a financial match, were scored based on criteria that included economic need, partners, readiness and strategic goals.
A full list of the 2024 Empower Rural Grant recipients is available here.
Republican Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird joined an Arkansas and Indiana-led lawsuit challenging a Federal Communications Commission law about prisoner phone access.
The FCC voted in July to cap rates and limit fees for phone calls by inmates, calling them “exorbitant.” It also eliminated the ability of prisons to receive commissions from service providers or to up-charge for such things as call monitoring.
“Communities nationwide benefit from incarcerated people staying connected to their families,” the FCC stated. It said the new rules close “final loopholes in the communications system which has had detrimental effects on families and recidivism rates nationwide,” and allow for “comprehensive, just and reasonable rates.“
Bird, in a statement, argues the new rules deprive prisons of funding and resources on which they depend “to reduce risks and solve crimes.”
“Budgets are already tight for many jails and prisons, and with these new restrictions, they will be stretched to their limits or unable to afford phones to continue communication services for inmates,” according to a statement from Bird’s office.
“Jails and prisons will be forced to seek new funding at the local taxpayers’ expense. With limited funding, correctional facilities will also be caught at the crossroads of choosing whether to continue inmate communication services or cut other vital programs.”
The states contend the FCC’s new rule violates the Administrative Procedure Act.
www.thegazette.com
During a news conference at the Iowa Capitol, Reynolds said it would require moving too fast to name a new lieutenant governor before the Nov. 5 election.
Adam Gregg, who Reynolds chose as her lieutenant governor when she became governor in 2017, resigned from the position last month to become the new president and CEO of the Iowa Bankers Association.
“I probably won’t do anything until after the election,” Reynolds said. “I found out right before I left to go on the trade mission (to India). I didn’t have a lot of advance notice, and we just got back from (the trade mission). … And (the election) is not that far away.”
Reynolds said she is putting together a process for choosing a new lieutenant governor, which will include sitting down with candidates who she thinks would make a good partner to discuss their priorities, their passions, policies they would like to work on and their vision “for moving the state forward.”
“We want to get it right, not only for the team, but for Iowans,” Reynolds said. “So I want to be very thoughtful in how I do that.”
Reynolds named Governing magazine's Public Official of the Year
Governing, a news and analysis publication for people working in government, named Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds as its 2024 Public Official of the year.
The magazine, which has honored public officials for 25 years, highlighted the 65-year-old Republican governor’s work to rewrite Iowa’s tax code, overhaul state agencies and upend the state’s approach on issues ranging from abortion to education.
Reynolds is the only governor named to the magazine’s list. Other public officials recognized by Governing included West Virginia Republican state Sen. Patricia Rucker; Milwaukee County (Wis.) County Executive David Crowley; Tulsa, Okla., Mayor G.T. Bynum; Dallas County, Texas, Health and Human Services Director Philip Huang; and Seattle Chief Technology Officer Rob Lloyd.
The magazine called Reynolds one of the nation’s most ambitious governors.
David Oman, a former Iowa GOP co-chair, told the magazine that, “In the ranks of Iowa governors, she (Reynolds) is already a historic governor" for coming close to accomplishing most of her legislative priorities.
“Reynolds has clearly benefited from the state’s shift to the right, with Republicans holding legislative supermajorities, but it’s also clear she’s running the show on many issues,” the magazine article states.
It mentioned Reynolds taking the rare measure in 2022 of endorsing primary challengers to several Republicans who opposed her $55 million private tuition bill, successfully ousting several GOP incumbents, including former House Education Committee chair Dustin Hite of New Sharon.
While controversial, the move was successful. Within a matter of a couple of weeks after the Iowa Legislature gaveled in for the 2023 session, Reynolds signed a private school scholarship bill with a price tag seven times larger than the rejected version.
Reynolds also pushed through a tax overhaul that will drive down the state’s top personal income tax rate down from 9 percent to 3.8 percent. The governor and lawmakers have said they want to continue to ratchet down the tax rate over time, putting Iowa on a path to eliminate the individual income tax.
Reynolds also signed a six-week abortion ban into law last year during a special session and pushed through a bill that reduced the number of cabinet-level agencies from 37 to 16, giving the governor more authority over hiring and firing in the process. In May, she signed legislation cutting or consolidating 111 state boards and commissions.
The latest Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll found that half of Iowans disapprove of Reynolds' job performance, her lowest marks since becoming governor. She has not announced if she will seek re-election in 2026.
“I want to thank Governing magazine for honoring me alongside five other public officials making impactful change in their communities,” Reynolds said in a statement. “Thank you to the Iowa State Legislature for working together and supporting purposeful state government to secure wins for Iowans.”
Iowa awards $190K to 10 communities for housing, child care
Reynolds and the Iowa Economic Development Authority announced $190,000 in grants have been awarded to 10 rural Iowa communities to support housing, child care and business/community growth initiatives.
“Rural communities are at the heart of who we are as a state, and we’re committed to ensuring they continue to grow and prosper,” Reynolds said. “These grant opportunities will provide the tools that leaders and innovators need to build vibrant communities in all corners of the state, making Iowa an even better place to live, work and raise a family.”
Five cities — Denison, Durant, Hampton, Jefferson and Iowa Falls — each received $20,000 to study housing needs through a partnership with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
The cities of Holy Cross and Spencer, Rock Rapids Kids Club and Hardin County Conservation east received $20,000 in child care planning grants.
Keokuk County Economic Development received a $10,000 grant to assist community and business leaders in developing plans for attract people, businesses and investment to the area.
The Empower Rural Iowa grants are funded through an appropriation from the Iowa Legislature. Applicants, who are required to provide a financial match, were scored based on criteria that included economic need, partners, readiness and strategic goals.
A full list of the 2024 Empower Rural Grant recipients is available here.
Iowa Attorney General sues over prisoner phone access
formation of a statewide cold case unit. There are about 400 unsolved cases in the state. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)Republican Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird joined an Arkansas and Indiana-led lawsuit challenging a Federal Communications Commission law about prisoner phone access.
The FCC voted in July to cap rates and limit fees for phone calls by inmates, calling them “exorbitant.” It also eliminated the ability of prisons to receive commissions from service providers or to up-charge for such things as call monitoring.
“Communities nationwide benefit from incarcerated people staying connected to their families,” the FCC stated. It said the new rules close “final loopholes in the communications system which has had detrimental effects on families and recidivism rates nationwide,” and allow for “comprehensive, just and reasonable rates.“
Bird, in a statement, argues the new rules deprive prisons of funding and resources on which they depend “to reduce risks and solve crimes.”
“Budgets are already tight for many jails and prisons, and with these new restrictions, they will be stretched to their limits or unable to afford phones to continue communication services for inmates,” according to a statement from Bird’s office.
“Jails and prisons will be forced to seek new funding at the local taxpayers’ expense. With limited funding, correctional facilities will also be caught at the crossroads of choosing whether to continue inmate communication services or cut other vital programs.”
The states contend the FCC’s new rule violates the Administrative Procedure Act.
Capitol Notebook: Iowa Gov. Reynolds won’t appoint new lieutenant governor until after election
Also, Iowa AG Bird joins lawsuit against federal law to cap rates and limit fees on phone calls by inmates
www.thegazette.com
