Republicans skip out on legislative forum

The Republican Party holds the reins of state government but skipped out on laying their priorities out in an open forum. Democratic leaders in the state House and Senate laid out opportunities for future work.

Statehouse Republican leaders ghosted on an opportunity to answer questions about their plans for the coming legislative session. This was the third time in a row Republican leaders declined to participate in the forum which has been held annually for more than two decades.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds declined to participate. Iowa Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver and Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley never responded to invitations.

“We’re disappointed in that, but we’ll continue working with them and hope for something different in the future,” said Erin Murphy, the Iowa Capitol Press Association.

The ICPA has run the forum since 2021, after taking it over for The Associated Press. The organization advocates for journalists and organizations covering state government, encouraging transparency, access, and conditions in which press corps members can conduct their work safely and effectively.

Democrats did take the opportunity to lay out their visions for the session. Both Iowa House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst and Iowa Senate Minority Leader Janice Weiner answered questions from press. Here are four takeaways:

Drawing a line on hunger

Iowa Democrats emphasized their opposition to policies that make it harder for children to be fed. They’ve tried in the past to get the governor to allow hungry families to make use of Summer EBT. And Weiner said she is looking to get a universal school lunch bill off the ground.

“Iowa House Democrats are not going to support any legislation that makes it harder for a hungry kid to get food,” Konfrst said. “And we’re going to fight back against efforts to make it harder for kids in Iowa who need food to get it.”

But any effort will take Republican buy-in.

Democratic leaders say Republican property tax efforts could harm towns big and small

Leading up to the session, one of the priorities described by Republicans has been to reduce property taxes in the state. Republicans say local governments are charging too much. But ever since Republicans took apartment buildings out of the commercial taxation rate, local governments have reported difficulty managing the cost of services with existing revenue sources.

“Whether the community is large or small, everyone I’ve talked to realize they are coming into a very difficult budget year right now,” Weiner said. “And that is really the result of property tax reform bill that passed two sessions ago.”

Immigration is a workforce issue

Konfrst said she anticipated Republicans making immigration a key issue this session. President Donald Trump has not relented on his calls for mass deportations across the country.

Given Iowa’s dependence on migrant labor, Konfrst said this will be a workforce issue moving forward. She said the big worry is about unintended consequences from legislation that impacts Iowa’s workforce.

“We saw legislation last time about transporting immigrants. We might see that again. We don’t know,” she said. “Our approach continues to be to run this again through a workforce lens. And to look at the issue of the ag economy, look at different plants around the state and make sure that we’re taking care of those who earn money and help this state thrive.”

Life in the minority

As the session kicks off next week, Iowa Republicans will be emboldened with a slightly larger majority following the November elections. In the Iowa House, Republicans have a 67-33 advantage over Democrats. In the state Senate, they have a 34-15 lead. Gov. Kim Reynolds named state Sen. Chris Cournoyer (R-LeClaire) her new lieutenant governor, leaving a vacancy in Senate District 35. 

Konfrst said minority status is a challenge for their work, but it didn’t dampen the reason to be there.

“We represent a huge number of people. And so our job is to be here representing our constituents,” she said. “And they deserve to have a voice at the capital just like those represented by Republicans.”

Zachary Oren Smith is a member of the Iowa Capital Press Association.